An ergonomics intervention study into the physiological, perceptual and productivity effects of three citrus harvesting bag designs in the Eastern Cape of South Africa : a combined laboratory and field approach
- Bassey-Duke, Elizabeth Misan
- Authors: Bassey-Duke, Elizabeth Misan
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Citrus -- Harvesting -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Lifting and carrying -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Manual work -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Blue collar workers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Work -- Physiological aspects , Human mechanics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5176 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018908
- Description: Background: Agriculture plays a vital role in the economy of any industrially developing country, including South Africa. In the Eastern Cape of South Africa citrus farming is a significant contributor to the local economy (Johnson et al., 2005). The harvesting phase of citrus farming is performed manually and exposes workers to physical risks, which can lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders. In particular, the standard harvesting bag comprises of a single shoulder strap and promotes asymmetrical load carriage which results in shoulder and lower back pain complaints. The current study compared the physiological (EMG), perceptual (RPE), usability (PUEU) and productivity effects of two new harvesting bag designs (a hip belt and a backpack bag design) to the standard harvesting bag design. This was performed in a laboratory as well as a field setting. Methods (Laboratory phase): 36 participants (12 males and 24 females) were assigned to one worker group. The “tall ladder worker” group was comprised of only males and the “step ladder worker” and “ground worker” group of females. Each participant was required to simulate a citrus harvesting task while utilizing each of the bag designs on different days. On each day/test session, participants performed three harvesting cycles. Muscle activity was measured throughout the entire testing session and RPE were recorded at the end of each cycle. Results (Laboratory phase): The EMG and RPE results indicate that the backpack design was the most ideal design to reduce asymmetry, while the standard harvesting bag design was the worst. Although not significant, there was greater muscle asymmetry (p=0.109) and a significantly higher perceived exertion when using the standard bag (p=0.0004), in comparison to using the backpack. Methods (Field phase): 17 Xhosa-speaking citrus harvesters (6 females and 11 males) participated in this study. Each harvester worked with one of the three bag designs on a different day. Productivity of each worker was assessed every hour by recording the number of bags filled with fruit and at the end of the shift. A Perceived Usefulness & Ease of Use questionnaire was presented to each participant to obtain feedback on worker acceptance to the new bag designs. Results (Field phase): A general trend in support of the hip belt bag design over the other two bag designs were found, even within the different worker demographic groups (age, sex and worker experience). The workers perceived less exertion (7.98 ± 1.86) and were more productive (9.90 ± 2.11 bags/hour) when using the hip belt design; they also found this bag the most useful (1.02 ± 0.09) and easy to use (1.07 ± 0.25). In contrast, the backpack bag design had significantly poorer responses when compared to the other two bag designs and this was evident in all the dependent variables assessed (RPE, productivity and PUEU). Conclusion: The results from the laboratory phase supported the expectation that the backpack bag design reduces asymmetry and hence, is more suitable than the standard harvesting bag. However, results from the field show that the hip belt bag design was the most preferred and the backpack was the least preferred. Bao & Shahnavaz (1989) highlight the need for ergonomics researcher to convey laboratory findings into the field context. However, as shown by the current study, there are numerous challenges associated with field work, making it difficult for laboratory findings to be successfully conveyed to the field. Limitations and Recommendations: For the laboratory phase of the project, no biomechanical and cardiovascular responses were assessed. However, for a holistic approach, these variables should be considered in future studies. Due to high variability from one harvesting cycle to another, more than three harvesting cycles should also be performed to accurately replicate the harvesting process as done in the field over extended durations of time. For the field phase, data should be collected from more than one citrus farm and thus a larger sample size could be obtained. This would improve the validity of the study. In addition to this, data should be collected for a full working day, especially if environmental conditions are not a hindrance, as well as for a whole season, since workloads vary, depending on the time of the harvesting season. , Name on Graduation Programme: Bassey-Duke, Elizabeth Missan
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Bassey-Duke, Elizabeth Misan
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Citrus -- Harvesting -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Lifting and carrying -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Manual work -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Blue collar workers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Work -- Physiological aspects , Human mechanics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5176 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018908
- Description: Background: Agriculture plays a vital role in the economy of any industrially developing country, including South Africa. In the Eastern Cape of South Africa citrus farming is a significant contributor to the local economy (Johnson et al., 2005). The harvesting phase of citrus farming is performed manually and exposes workers to physical risks, which can lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders. In particular, the standard harvesting bag comprises of a single shoulder strap and promotes asymmetrical load carriage which results in shoulder and lower back pain complaints. The current study compared the physiological (EMG), perceptual (RPE), usability (PUEU) and productivity effects of two new harvesting bag designs (a hip belt and a backpack bag design) to the standard harvesting bag design. This was performed in a laboratory as well as a field setting. Methods (Laboratory phase): 36 participants (12 males and 24 females) were assigned to one worker group. The “tall ladder worker” group was comprised of only males and the “step ladder worker” and “ground worker” group of females. Each participant was required to simulate a citrus harvesting task while utilizing each of the bag designs on different days. On each day/test session, participants performed three harvesting cycles. Muscle activity was measured throughout the entire testing session and RPE were recorded at the end of each cycle. Results (Laboratory phase): The EMG and RPE results indicate that the backpack design was the most ideal design to reduce asymmetry, while the standard harvesting bag design was the worst. Although not significant, there was greater muscle asymmetry (p=0.109) and a significantly higher perceived exertion when using the standard bag (p=0.0004), in comparison to using the backpack. Methods (Field phase): 17 Xhosa-speaking citrus harvesters (6 females and 11 males) participated in this study. Each harvester worked with one of the three bag designs on a different day. Productivity of each worker was assessed every hour by recording the number of bags filled with fruit and at the end of the shift. A Perceived Usefulness & Ease of Use questionnaire was presented to each participant to obtain feedback on worker acceptance to the new bag designs. Results (Field phase): A general trend in support of the hip belt bag design over the other two bag designs were found, even within the different worker demographic groups (age, sex and worker experience). The workers perceived less exertion (7.98 ± 1.86) and were more productive (9.90 ± 2.11 bags/hour) when using the hip belt design; they also found this bag the most useful (1.02 ± 0.09) and easy to use (1.07 ± 0.25). In contrast, the backpack bag design had significantly poorer responses when compared to the other two bag designs and this was evident in all the dependent variables assessed (RPE, productivity and PUEU). Conclusion: The results from the laboratory phase supported the expectation that the backpack bag design reduces asymmetry and hence, is more suitable than the standard harvesting bag. However, results from the field show that the hip belt bag design was the most preferred and the backpack was the least preferred. Bao & Shahnavaz (1989) highlight the need for ergonomics researcher to convey laboratory findings into the field context. However, as shown by the current study, there are numerous challenges associated with field work, making it difficult for laboratory findings to be successfully conveyed to the field. Limitations and Recommendations: For the laboratory phase of the project, no biomechanical and cardiovascular responses were assessed. However, for a holistic approach, these variables should be considered in future studies. Due to high variability from one harvesting cycle to another, more than three harvesting cycles should also be performed to accurately replicate the harvesting process as done in the field over extended durations of time. For the field phase, data should be collected from more than one citrus farm and thus a larger sample size could be obtained. This would improve the validity of the study. In addition to this, data should be collected for a full working day, especially if environmental conditions are not a hindrance, as well as for a whole season, since workloads vary, depending on the time of the harvesting season. , Name on Graduation Programme: Bassey-Duke, Elizabeth Missan
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of change communication in ensuring the sustainability of change at Barclays Africa's first "green" building
- Authors: Magubane, Nokuzola
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Barclays Bank , Sustainable buildings -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Organizational change -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Communication in organizations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:849 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017517
- Description: The purpose of the study was to conduct an evaluation on the effectiveness of the change communications distributed to the occupants of Barclays Towers West, Barclays Africa‟s first green building, in ensuring the sustainability of the change after the move into the building. In addition, recommendations are made to improve the change communications directed towards the building occupants to ensure the sustainability of the change and for future moves to green buildings. The research paper is made up of the following three distinct sections: Section One – Evaluation Research Report: this section outlines the organisational and research context for the study, the objectives of the research and rationale for conducting the research. A brief overview of the key theories and models on change communication that were utilised in the study are discussed, and definitions of important terms are presented. The research methodology is also described which includes an explanation on the evaluation research approach utilised as well as the use of both qualitative and quantitative data in the study. In addition, the results from the research conducted are presented, based on three data collection methods utilised: document analysis, semi-structured interviews and a survey. The results are then analysed and discussed in relation to the literature reviewed on change communication. Recommendations are made on improvements that can be made to the change communications to ensure the sustainability of the change. Section Two – Literature Review: the literature, theories and important concept definitions of organisational change management, change sustainability, change communication and green buildings which are relevant for the research topic and have been used as the theoretical base of the study are explored in this section. A key component of the literature review is the description of the change communication theories and models: communication theory, Armenakis, Harris and Field (2007) Model, and the Barrett (2002) Model. An understanding of the theories and models is imperative, as the effectiveness of the change communications after the move into Barclays Towers West is assessed based on the elements of the change communication theories and models. Section Three – Research Methodology: the research methodology for the study is described in this section. Specifically, the research aims and objectives, the research paradigm, the population and sampling, data collection, data analysis and ethical considerations are outlined. A key component of the section is the explanation on how the data was collected and analysed in the study and the sequence. The post move communications and artefacts and meeting presentations were collected first. The qualitative data was analysed and used to determine the questions for the semi structured interviews. Semi-structured one on one interviews were then conducted. The qualitative data and the change communication theories and models used in this study were used to determine the questions for the online survey. An online survey tool was used to administer a predominantly five point Likert scale questionnaire with an invitation to participate emailed to the building occupants. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistical analysis. Research Findings: The key research findings revealed that the messages communicated to the occupants after the move into the building have been mainly focused on operational matters and rarely on educating occupants on the green aspects of the building. A large majority of the survey respondents were aware of the building facilities, details and required behaviour. However it was found that the occupants, Line Managers and Senior Management are not displaying the required behaviour for a green building and do not know how to use some of the building facilities. A major gap was found in communicating with people moving into the building. In addition it was found that some of the information communicated to occupants is outdated. Written communications are used extensively and face to face communication is rarely used to communicate with the occupants. As a result, a number of changes are required to improve the effectiveness of the change communications to the occupants of Barclays Towers West. The improvements include communicating to new occupants; utilising additional communication channels; focusing communication messages on educating occupants on the strategic objectives for the building; rationale for building features and facilities; how to use the facilities and the impact of their behaviour on the building objectives being achieved.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Magubane, Nokuzola
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Barclays Bank , Sustainable buildings -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Organizational change -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Communication in organizations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:849 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017517
- Description: The purpose of the study was to conduct an evaluation on the effectiveness of the change communications distributed to the occupants of Barclays Towers West, Barclays Africa‟s first green building, in ensuring the sustainability of the change after the move into the building. In addition, recommendations are made to improve the change communications directed towards the building occupants to ensure the sustainability of the change and for future moves to green buildings. The research paper is made up of the following three distinct sections: Section One – Evaluation Research Report: this section outlines the organisational and research context for the study, the objectives of the research and rationale for conducting the research. A brief overview of the key theories and models on change communication that were utilised in the study are discussed, and definitions of important terms are presented. The research methodology is also described which includes an explanation on the evaluation research approach utilised as well as the use of both qualitative and quantitative data in the study. In addition, the results from the research conducted are presented, based on three data collection methods utilised: document analysis, semi-structured interviews and a survey. The results are then analysed and discussed in relation to the literature reviewed on change communication. Recommendations are made on improvements that can be made to the change communications to ensure the sustainability of the change. Section Two – Literature Review: the literature, theories and important concept definitions of organisational change management, change sustainability, change communication and green buildings which are relevant for the research topic and have been used as the theoretical base of the study are explored in this section. A key component of the literature review is the description of the change communication theories and models: communication theory, Armenakis, Harris and Field (2007) Model, and the Barrett (2002) Model. An understanding of the theories and models is imperative, as the effectiveness of the change communications after the move into Barclays Towers West is assessed based on the elements of the change communication theories and models. Section Three – Research Methodology: the research methodology for the study is described in this section. Specifically, the research aims and objectives, the research paradigm, the population and sampling, data collection, data analysis and ethical considerations are outlined. A key component of the section is the explanation on how the data was collected and analysed in the study and the sequence. The post move communications and artefacts and meeting presentations were collected first. The qualitative data was analysed and used to determine the questions for the semi structured interviews. Semi-structured one on one interviews were then conducted. The qualitative data and the change communication theories and models used in this study were used to determine the questions for the online survey. An online survey tool was used to administer a predominantly five point Likert scale questionnaire with an invitation to participate emailed to the building occupants. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistical analysis. Research Findings: The key research findings revealed that the messages communicated to the occupants after the move into the building have been mainly focused on operational matters and rarely on educating occupants on the green aspects of the building. A large majority of the survey respondents were aware of the building facilities, details and required behaviour. However it was found that the occupants, Line Managers and Senior Management are not displaying the required behaviour for a green building and do not know how to use some of the building facilities. A major gap was found in communicating with people moving into the building. In addition it was found that some of the information communicated to occupants is outdated. Written communications are used extensively and face to face communication is rarely used to communicate with the occupants. As a result, a number of changes are required to improve the effectiveness of the change communications to the occupants of Barclays Towers West. The improvements include communicating to new occupants; utilising additional communication channels; focusing communication messages on educating occupants on the strategic objectives for the building; rationale for building features and facilities; how to use the facilities and the impact of their behaviour on the building objectives being achieved.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of intervention strategies into gangsterism in the Helenvale area
- Authors: Jonas, Branton
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Gang members -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa Social work with youth -- South Africa Juvenile delinquency -- South Africa -- Prevention , Problem youth -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/10890 , vital:26833
- Description: The impact of intervention strategies to reduce gang related violence by Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the community at large has so far not attracted much attention or support from provincial and national authorities. Helenvale and its surrounding areas plays an integral part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality as the economic-hub of the Eastern Cape Province. But its gang problem has evolved over decades of socio-economic difficulties and struggle for a better life in the predominantly Coloured community. In order for this problem to be overcome a more strategically focused intervention strategy is required by local, provincial, and national authorities. This research study evaluates the gang intervention strategies in the Helenvale area and seeks to provide a primary research base from which key policies and strategies could be developed to address this challenge in an effort to bring about peace and stability in this community and other affected areas within close proximity of the area of study. At the heart of providing possible solutions to practices of gangsterism amongst mostly the youth, should be a well-coordinated intergovernmental high impact intervention strategy in partnership with NGO’s, civil society and other sectors of the community. Further solutions are the investment by authorities in rehabilitation centres, with skills development and job-creation opportunities as a key exit strategy for those involved in gangs. Acknowledgement that the enhancement and development of mediation skills of community based structures through the sharing of critical conflict theory and mediation practices, could make a substantial contribution to greater peace and stability in our communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Jonas, Branton
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Gang members -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa Social work with youth -- South Africa Juvenile delinquency -- South Africa -- Prevention , Problem youth -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/10890 , vital:26833
- Description: The impact of intervention strategies to reduce gang related violence by Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the community at large has so far not attracted much attention or support from provincial and national authorities. Helenvale and its surrounding areas plays an integral part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality as the economic-hub of the Eastern Cape Province. But its gang problem has evolved over decades of socio-economic difficulties and struggle for a better life in the predominantly Coloured community. In order for this problem to be overcome a more strategically focused intervention strategy is required by local, provincial, and national authorities. This research study evaluates the gang intervention strategies in the Helenvale area and seeks to provide a primary research base from which key policies and strategies could be developed to address this challenge in an effort to bring about peace and stability in this community and other affected areas within close proximity of the area of study. At the heart of providing possible solutions to practices of gangsterism amongst mostly the youth, should be a well-coordinated intergovernmental high impact intervention strategy in partnership with NGO’s, civil society and other sectors of the community. Further solutions are the investment by authorities in rehabilitation centres, with skills development and job-creation opportunities as a key exit strategy for those involved in gangs. Acknowledgement that the enhancement and development of mediation skills of community based structures through the sharing of critical conflict theory and mediation practices, could make a substantial contribution to greater peace and stability in our communities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of knowledge sharing as a knowledge management mechanism in public libraries in Cape Town, Western Cape Province , South Africa
- Authors: Tatana, Vuyokazi
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Knowledge management Information services Organizational learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5138 , vital:29090
- Description: This study aimed to investigate into knowledge sharing as a mechanism for managing knowledge in the City of Cape Town public libraries, Western Cape, South Africa. The study sought to achieve the following objectives: To find out the extent to which knowledge sharing takes place in the City of Cape Town public libraries; To establish how knowledge is shared between the less experienced and the more experienced librarians; To explore the influence of knowledge sharing on service delivery in the City of Cape Town public libraries; To identify and discuss the impediments to knowledge sharing the City of Cape Town public libraries; The findings of the study would provide insight useful in addressing the challenges that confront public libraries as far as knowledge sharing and is concerned. This study would assist to maintain the best practices of knowledge sharing in the City of Cape Town public libraries.This study would also help the City of Cape Town policy makers and library management to come up with knowledge‐sharing/ knowledge management intervention measures from an informed point of view.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Tatana, Vuyokazi
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Knowledge management Information services Organizational learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5138 , vital:29090
- Description: This study aimed to investigate into knowledge sharing as a mechanism for managing knowledge in the City of Cape Town public libraries, Western Cape, South Africa. The study sought to achieve the following objectives: To find out the extent to which knowledge sharing takes place in the City of Cape Town public libraries; To establish how knowledge is shared between the less experienced and the more experienced librarians; To explore the influence of knowledge sharing on service delivery in the City of Cape Town public libraries; To identify and discuss the impediments to knowledge sharing the City of Cape Town public libraries; The findings of the study would provide insight useful in addressing the challenges that confront public libraries as far as knowledge sharing and is concerned. This study would assist to maintain the best practices of knowledge sharing in the City of Cape Town public libraries.This study would also help the City of Cape Town policy makers and library management to come up with knowledge‐sharing/ knowledge management intervention measures from an informed point of view.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of security issues in cloud-based file sharing technologies
- Authors: Fana, Akhona
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Cloud computing -- Security measures Computer networks -- Security measures Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1841 , vital:27565
- Description: Cloud computing is one of the most promising technologies for backup and data storage that provides flexible access to data. Cloud computing plays a vital role in remote backup. It is so unfortunate that this computing technique has flaws that thrilled and edgy end users in implementing it effectively. These flaws include factors like lack of integrity, confidentiality and privacy to information. A secure cloud is impossible unless the computer-generated environment is appropriately secured. In any form of technology it is always advisable that security challenges must be prior identified and fixed before the implementation of that particular technology. Primarily, this study will focus on finding security issues in cloud computing with the objective of finding concerns like credential theft and session management in the ―Cloud‖. Main arguments like HTTP banner disclosure, Bash ―ShellShock‖ Injection and password issues were discovered during the stages of study implementation. These challenges may provide information that will permit hackers in manipulating and exploiting cloud environment. Identifying credential theft and session management in cloud-based file sharing technologies a mixed method approach was implemented throughout the course of the study due to the nature of study and unity of analysis. Penetration tests were performed as security testing technique. Prevention and guideline of security threats leads to a friendly and authentic world of technology.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Fana, Akhona
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Cloud computing -- Security measures Computer networks -- Security measures Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1841 , vital:27565
- Description: Cloud computing is one of the most promising technologies for backup and data storage that provides flexible access to data. Cloud computing plays a vital role in remote backup. It is so unfortunate that this computing technique has flaws that thrilled and edgy end users in implementing it effectively. These flaws include factors like lack of integrity, confidentiality and privacy to information. A secure cloud is impossible unless the computer-generated environment is appropriately secured. In any form of technology it is always advisable that security challenges must be prior identified and fixed before the implementation of that particular technology. Primarily, this study will focus on finding security issues in cloud computing with the objective of finding concerns like credential theft and session management in the ―Cloud‖. Main arguments like HTTP banner disclosure, Bash ―ShellShock‖ Injection and password issues were discovered during the stages of study implementation. These challenges may provide information that will permit hackers in manipulating and exploiting cloud environment. Identifying credential theft and session management in cloud-based file sharing technologies a mixed method approach was implemented throughout the course of the study due to the nature of study and unity of analysis. Penetration tests were performed as security testing technique. Prevention and guideline of security threats leads to a friendly and authentic world of technology.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of the effectiveness of organisational communication : a case of student-directed communication strategies at University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus
- Authors: Ncube, Sizalobuhle
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Communication in organizations--South Africa--Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Communication
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17395 , vital:40964
- Description: Organisational communication entails the interaction that the management has with its stakeholders. Communication is never complete if the message sent has not been fully understood by the receiver. Hence, for communication to be effective, the sender has to provide two-way open channels of communication as it allows dialogue which stimulates reaching a consensus. Thus, this study was done to find out about the effectiveness of organisational communication in relation to the student-directed communication strategies at University of Fort hare, Alice campus. Data were collected from the participants through four focus groups consisting of ten randomly picked students, and in-depth interviews with five SRC members and five University management staff. A qualitative methodological approach was therefore used in this study for data collection and analysis. Furthermore, the data analysed were categorised into different themes. The findings of this study indicate that the right communication messages and channel must always be used by organisations when communicating with stakeholders. The study also found out that communication will be effective if messages are received as intended by the sender. Conclusively, the study notes that stakeholders should be included in decision making processes in the organisation and that if their needs are also catered for, this will make them to be fully involved in understanding organisational concerns positively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Ncube, Sizalobuhle
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Communication in organizations--South Africa--Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Communication
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17395 , vital:40964
- Description: Organisational communication entails the interaction that the management has with its stakeholders. Communication is never complete if the message sent has not been fully understood by the receiver. Hence, for communication to be effective, the sender has to provide two-way open channels of communication as it allows dialogue which stimulates reaching a consensus. Thus, this study was done to find out about the effectiveness of organisational communication in relation to the student-directed communication strategies at University of Fort hare, Alice campus. Data were collected from the participants through four focus groups consisting of ten randomly picked students, and in-depth interviews with five SRC members and five University management staff. A qualitative methodological approach was therefore used in this study for data collection and analysis. Furthermore, the data analysed were categorised into different themes. The findings of this study indicate that the right communication messages and channel must always be used by organisations when communicating with stakeholders. The study also found out that communication will be effective if messages are received as intended by the sender. Conclusively, the study notes that stakeholders should be included in decision making processes in the organisation and that if their needs are also catered for, this will make them to be fully involved in understanding organisational concerns positively.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of the implementation of education training and development policy in the Eastern Cape: the case of Cacadu health district
- Authors: Feni, Monde Ludick
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Employees -- Training of -- Evaluation , Manpower policy -- South Africa , Personnel management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8261 , vital:26317
- Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of the Education, Training and Development Policy of the Eastern Cape Department of Health: A Case Study of Cacadu District. The Cacadu Health District as with all Districts is the Eastern Cape Department of Health experiences a few challenges with the implementation of the Education, Training and Development Policy. Through observation these problems seem to be stalling progress in the implementation of this policy. The study seeks to investigate whether there can be an improvement in the implementation of the Education, Training and Development Policy. The focus of the study will be the Cacadu Health District. Provision of Education, Training and Development is key to any organisation especially if performance of employees needs to be of high standard. If the performance of employees is of high standard service delivery will improve. Chapter one provided an introduction which gave a brief overview of the study, problem statement, research objectives and questions, preliminary literature review and research methodology to be employed by the study. Chapter two provided a literature review of education, training and development framework and legislative framework for guiding the development and provision of education, training and development in an organisation. The chapter also looked into mentoring and mentoring strategies. Chapter three looked into detail on the training evaluation strategies and what training evaluation entails. It looked at the different approaches that can be used in evaluating training in an organisation. Chapter four provides proposals for the approaches and strategies to improve the implementation of the Education, Training and Development Policy of the Eastern Cape Department of Health in the Cacadu District. The chapter will also provide an analysis of participants’ responses from the questionnaire. Chapter five will give a summary with concluding remarks and recommendations. This chapter came up with conclusions about the study and gave recommendations and way forward on how best to improve the implementation of the education, training and development policy in the Eastern Cape Department of Health: Cacadu District.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Feni, Monde Ludick
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Employees -- Training of -- Evaluation , Manpower policy -- South Africa , Personnel management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8261 , vital:26317
- Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of the Education, Training and Development Policy of the Eastern Cape Department of Health: A Case Study of Cacadu District. The Cacadu Health District as with all Districts is the Eastern Cape Department of Health experiences a few challenges with the implementation of the Education, Training and Development Policy. Through observation these problems seem to be stalling progress in the implementation of this policy. The study seeks to investigate whether there can be an improvement in the implementation of the Education, Training and Development Policy. The focus of the study will be the Cacadu Health District. Provision of Education, Training and Development is key to any organisation especially if performance of employees needs to be of high standard. If the performance of employees is of high standard service delivery will improve. Chapter one provided an introduction which gave a brief overview of the study, problem statement, research objectives and questions, preliminary literature review and research methodology to be employed by the study. Chapter two provided a literature review of education, training and development framework and legislative framework for guiding the development and provision of education, training and development in an organisation. The chapter also looked into mentoring and mentoring strategies. Chapter three looked into detail on the training evaluation strategies and what training evaluation entails. It looked at the different approaches that can be used in evaluating training in an organisation. Chapter four provides proposals for the approaches and strategies to improve the implementation of the Education, Training and Development Policy of the Eastern Cape Department of Health in the Cacadu District. The chapter will also provide an analysis of participants’ responses from the questionnaire. Chapter five will give a summary with concluding remarks and recommendations. This chapter came up with conclusions about the study and gave recommendations and way forward on how best to improve the implementation of the education, training and development policy in the Eastern Cape Department of Health: Cacadu District.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of the implementation of Mercedes Benz production system (MPS) and the employee change readiness at Mercedes Benz commercial vehicles South Africa
- Authors: McAllister, Rozane Ronardo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft , Organizational change -- South Africa , Organizational behavior -- South Africa , Employees -- Attitudes , Continuous improvement process -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:850 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017518
- Description: The evaluation report section describes the evaluation of the implementation of Mercedes Benz Production System (MPS) at Mercedes Benz Commercial Vehicles, which is a division of Mercedes Benz South Africa’s manufacturing plant situated in East London. The section evaluates the changes the implementation of MPS brought to the Key Performance Indicators (KPI’S) of the division and evaluates the change readiness of the employees in the division prior to the change. The change implementation was initiated by the management of MBCV as a strategic organisational change to bring about continuous improvement to the KPI’s of the organisation. These KPI’s are Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Morale (SQDCM). The reason behind the change at the time was deemed critical to MBCV in order to meet the annual KPI targets and remain cost competitive and sustainable. The evaluation report further describes the results of the change with regards to the organisational KPI’s and the level of employee change readiness which was conducted through a questionnaire survey. A brief literature review is included in the Evaluation Report under section one describing key concepts about Production Systems, Lean Manufacturing and Change Management. The evaluation section includes recommendations based on the results of the research findings and ends with a conclusion. The literature review section explores the literature that supports production systems, lean manufacturing and change management concepts, its definitions, importance and benefits. The literature review describes and critiques key concepts of the research such as productions systems, MPS in particular, lean manufacturing concepts and related change management topics relevant to the research. The literature review defines production systems and the concepts of lean manufacturing, highlighting the benefits of the concepts to enhance organisations’ manufacturing capabilities. An integrated part of lean manufacturing is people and the implementation of lean manufacturing into an organisation requires change management theories therefore key understanding in this particular research was to discuss change management concepts, in particular, employee change readiness. The literature will discuss different tools to assess employee change readiness and from this develop an employee change readiness tool. The change management concepts evaluated change readiness and the consequences if organisations are not ready for change. The research methodology section describes how that the research was conducted in two phases, one to evaluate the implementation of MPS with regards to the organisational KPI’s (SQDCM). This was assessed through reports from projects and presentations made by the project teams on improvements of the organisational KPI’s. The second phase evaluated the change readiness of the employees prior to the implementation of MPS. This phase of the research was intended to retrieve quantitative data with an adapted questionnaire which was distributed to employees. To evaluate the change readiness, a change model known as ADKAR was used as an evaluation instrument. The modified ADKAR questionnaire was distributed to employees in hard copies and completed during a weekly team meeting. The results were summarised and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the final results. Microsoft Excel (2010 version) was used to illustrate and display the graphs. Section three discussed the research methodology in more detail. The study shows that although there were some positive changes that came from the implementation of MPS in MBCV, especially to the following KPI’s (Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost), real consideration should be given to employee morale and the level of change readiness of MBCV employees.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: McAllister, Rozane Ronardo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft , Organizational change -- South Africa , Organizational behavior -- South Africa , Employees -- Attitudes , Continuous improvement process -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:850 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017518
- Description: The evaluation report section describes the evaluation of the implementation of Mercedes Benz Production System (MPS) at Mercedes Benz Commercial Vehicles, which is a division of Mercedes Benz South Africa’s manufacturing plant situated in East London. The section evaluates the changes the implementation of MPS brought to the Key Performance Indicators (KPI’S) of the division and evaluates the change readiness of the employees in the division prior to the change. The change implementation was initiated by the management of MBCV as a strategic organisational change to bring about continuous improvement to the KPI’s of the organisation. These KPI’s are Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and Morale (SQDCM). The reason behind the change at the time was deemed critical to MBCV in order to meet the annual KPI targets and remain cost competitive and sustainable. The evaluation report further describes the results of the change with regards to the organisational KPI’s and the level of employee change readiness which was conducted through a questionnaire survey. A brief literature review is included in the Evaluation Report under section one describing key concepts about Production Systems, Lean Manufacturing and Change Management. The evaluation section includes recommendations based on the results of the research findings and ends with a conclusion. The literature review section explores the literature that supports production systems, lean manufacturing and change management concepts, its definitions, importance and benefits. The literature review describes and critiques key concepts of the research such as productions systems, MPS in particular, lean manufacturing concepts and related change management topics relevant to the research. The literature review defines production systems and the concepts of lean manufacturing, highlighting the benefits of the concepts to enhance organisations’ manufacturing capabilities. An integrated part of lean manufacturing is people and the implementation of lean manufacturing into an organisation requires change management theories therefore key understanding in this particular research was to discuss change management concepts, in particular, employee change readiness. The literature will discuss different tools to assess employee change readiness and from this develop an employee change readiness tool. The change management concepts evaluated change readiness and the consequences if organisations are not ready for change. The research methodology section describes how that the research was conducted in two phases, one to evaluate the implementation of MPS with regards to the organisational KPI’s (SQDCM). This was assessed through reports from projects and presentations made by the project teams on improvements of the organisational KPI’s. The second phase evaluated the change readiness of the employees prior to the implementation of MPS. This phase of the research was intended to retrieve quantitative data with an adapted questionnaire which was distributed to employees. To evaluate the change readiness, a change model known as ADKAR was used as an evaluation instrument. The modified ADKAR questionnaire was distributed to employees in hard copies and completed during a weekly team meeting. The results were summarised and descriptive statistics were used to analyse the final results. Microsoft Excel (2010 version) was used to illustrate and display the graphs. Section three discussed the research methodology in more detail. The study shows that although there were some positive changes that came from the implementation of MPS in MBCV, especially to the following KPI’s (Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost), real consideration should be given to employee morale and the level of change readiness of MBCV employees.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of the Integrated Quality Management System at selected schools within the Lukhanji Circuit, Queenstown District
- Authors: Gongqa, Mxolanisi Michael
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Total quality management in education -- South Africa -- Queenstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3285 , vital:20420
- Description: The study focused on the evaluation of the integrated management system (IQMS) at selected schools within the Queenstown Education District. A quantitative research method was used for the study and questionnaires were used as a research tool to collect data. The respondents were members of the school management teams (SMT) which comprised the principals, deputy principals, heads of departments, senior educators and educators. These are key role-players in the management and implementation of IQMS. The rationale was to obtain pertinent information which would address the research questions and objectives of the study. The primary objective of the study as outlined above was to evaluate the impact of IQMS implementation in the Queenstown district with specific reference to the Lukhanji Circuit, on the performance of the high schools selected. It was envisaged that the results of the study would contribute towards developing measures to ensure that IQMS implementation achieves the desired objectives. The research questions were: To what extent can IQMS implementation be used as a tool to measure and improve teaching and learning? What measures have been put in place by the district to support and build capacity of the educators to perform? What factors hinder the effective IQMS implementation? The key findings of the study reveal that IQMS as a tool to improve teaching and learning had the overwhelming support of the majority of the respondents. However, a reasonable percentage of the respondents were of the view that IQMS constituted an administrative burden to educators. There are educators who displayed a negative attitude towards the implementation of IQMS. The respondents also felt that the district office needs to provide more support for IQMS implementation so that its objectives can be fully realised. The study makes clear recommendations such as the de-linking of IQMS from salaries and pay progression, provision of more support by the district, to make IQMS more user-friendly to educators and additional budget and teacher training to enhance educators’ professional development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Gongqa, Mxolanisi Michael
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Total quality management in education -- South Africa -- Queenstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3285 , vital:20420
- Description: The study focused on the evaluation of the integrated management system (IQMS) at selected schools within the Queenstown Education District. A quantitative research method was used for the study and questionnaires were used as a research tool to collect data. The respondents were members of the school management teams (SMT) which comprised the principals, deputy principals, heads of departments, senior educators and educators. These are key role-players in the management and implementation of IQMS. The rationale was to obtain pertinent information which would address the research questions and objectives of the study. The primary objective of the study as outlined above was to evaluate the impact of IQMS implementation in the Queenstown district with specific reference to the Lukhanji Circuit, on the performance of the high schools selected. It was envisaged that the results of the study would contribute towards developing measures to ensure that IQMS implementation achieves the desired objectives. The research questions were: To what extent can IQMS implementation be used as a tool to measure and improve teaching and learning? What measures have been put in place by the district to support and build capacity of the educators to perform? What factors hinder the effective IQMS implementation? The key findings of the study reveal that IQMS as a tool to improve teaching and learning had the overwhelming support of the majority of the respondents. However, a reasonable percentage of the respondents were of the view that IQMS constituted an administrative burden to educators. There are educators who displayed a negative attitude towards the implementation of IQMS. The respondents also felt that the district office needs to provide more support for IQMS implementation so that its objectives can be fully realised. The study makes clear recommendations such as the de-linking of IQMS from salaries and pay progression, provision of more support by the district, to make IQMS more user-friendly to educators and additional budget and teacher training to enhance educators’ professional development.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of the performance management and development system at the Department of Safety and Liaison in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Menemene, Nonkosi Arnoria
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Performance -- Management -- Evaluation Performance -- Management Employees -- Rating of
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9875 , vital:26629
- Description: The performance management and development system (PMDS) is a tool that is used by government to measure the performance of individuals in the organisation. PMDS was developmental in its nature in identifying the development of employees and training in case of poor performance. The main aim of the PMDS is to motivate officials in the organisation by rewarding a performance bonus at the end of the financial year. There are challenges that affect the PMDS: officials felt that the system did not motivate them; it is perceived as a 14th cheque and some of them felt the system should be terminated. The main aim of the study is to evaluate the performance management and development system at the Department of Safety and Liaison in the Eastern Cape. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected through questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaires were distributed to officials from levels 1 - 8 and interviews were conducted with assistant managers, managers and senior managers. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the questionnaires and transcriptions were used to interpret the interviews. The results of the study reflect that most officials in the Department are young and new to the public service. The findings show that the employees of the Department are average in their performance and the Department perceives that the PMDS is not used to identify poor performance and training. The system is not implemented effectively and efficiently. Based on the findings and recommendations made to management to facilitate the training on PMDS and also to allow the processes and procedures to be more efficient. Furthermore allowing performance from all staff to achieve the core objectives of the department.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Menemene, Nonkosi Arnoria
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Performance -- Management -- Evaluation Performance -- Management Employees -- Rating of
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9875 , vital:26629
- Description: The performance management and development system (PMDS) is a tool that is used by government to measure the performance of individuals in the organisation. PMDS was developmental in its nature in identifying the development of employees and training in case of poor performance. The main aim of the PMDS is to motivate officials in the organisation by rewarding a performance bonus at the end of the financial year. There are challenges that affect the PMDS: officials felt that the system did not motivate them; it is perceived as a 14th cheque and some of them felt the system should be terminated. The main aim of the study is to evaluate the performance management and development system at the Department of Safety and Liaison in the Eastern Cape. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected through questionnaires and interviews. Questionnaires were distributed to officials from levels 1 - 8 and interviews were conducted with assistant managers, managers and senior managers. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the questionnaires and transcriptions were used to interpret the interviews. The results of the study reflect that most officials in the Department are young and new to the public service. The findings show that the employees of the Department are average in their performance and the Department perceives that the PMDS is not used to identify poor performance and training. The system is not implemented effectively and efficiently. Based on the findings and recommendations made to management to facilitate the training on PMDS and also to allow the processes and procedures to be more efficient. Furthermore allowing performance from all staff to achieve the core objectives of the department.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of the potential for implementing adaptive co-management in the Waodani social-ecological system in the Ecuadorian Amazon
- Authors: Bryja, Malgorzata Anna
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Adaptive natural resource management -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Huao Indians -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Natural resources -- Co-management -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Social ecology -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Sustainable development -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Resource-based communities -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni (Ecuador) -- Economic conditions , Huao Indians -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4784 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018192
- Description: Adaptive co-management (ACM), one of the most prominent management approaches to emerge in the recent years, combines iterative learning, flexibility, and adaptation promoted by adaptive management with the principles of nurturing diversity and fostering collaboration among different partners that underpin co-management philosophy. ACM has been proposed as an approach to address the deficiencies of centralized management in ensuring sustainability of social-ecological systems (SESs) in face of future uncertainties. This thesis aims to evaluate the readiness of resource users (the Waodani) as well as external actors (the Ecuadorian State and NGOs) for future implementation of ACM and thus enhancing the long-term social-ecological sustainability of the Waodani SES located in the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Qualitative data obtained by means of focus groups with the Waodani and individual interviews with external actors and Waodani leaders revealed different levels of readiness for ACM. Firstly, in the case of the Waodani, the insufficient fulfillment of some conditions required for successful ACM as well as intercommunity differences in regards to these conditions can complicate the implementation of ACM, unless sufficient external assistance is offered to the SES. The analysis of NGOs demonstrated, on the other hand, a relative readiness for ACM, providing that such aspects as sufficient funding, long-term commitment to collaboration, and inter-institutional linkages are strengthened. The study also found that the Ecuadorian government’s potential to contribute to ACM is hindered by the lack of readiness to work with the indigenous society as well as by funding and communication challenges. Furthermore, the resource based economy supported by the State limits the scope of innovation and adaptation. Still, as in the case of other actors, overcoming the challenges and transitioning towards adaptive governance and thus ACM could be possible in the long-term, if recent legal and political changes are truly implemented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Bryja, Malgorzata Anna
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Adaptive natural resource management -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Huao Indians -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Natural resources -- Co-management -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Social ecology -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Sustainable development -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Resource-based communities -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni , Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni (Ecuador) -- Economic conditions , Huao Indians -- Ecuador -- Reserva de Biosfera Yasuni -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4784 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018192
- Description: Adaptive co-management (ACM), one of the most prominent management approaches to emerge in the recent years, combines iterative learning, flexibility, and adaptation promoted by adaptive management with the principles of nurturing diversity and fostering collaboration among different partners that underpin co-management philosophy. ACM has been proposed as an approach to address the deficiencies of centralized management in ensuring sustainability of social-ecological systems (SESs) in face of future uncertainties. This thesis aims to evaluate the readiness of resource users (the Waodani) as well as external actors (the Ecuadorian State and NGOs) for future implementation of ACM and thus enhancing the long-term social-ecological sustainability of the Waodani SES located in the Yasuni Biosphere Reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Qualitative data obtained by means of focus groups with the Waodani and individual interviews with external actors and Waodani leaders revealed different levels of readiness for ACM. Firstly, in the case of the Waodani, the insufficient fulfillment of some conditions required for successful ACM as well as intercommunity differences in regards to these conditions can complicate the implementation of ACM, unless sufficient external assistance is offered to the SES. The analysis of NGOs demonstrated, on the other hand, a relative readiness for ACM, providing that such aspects as sufficient funding, long-term commitment to collaboration, and inter-institutional linkages are strengthened. The study also found that the Ecuadorian government’s potential to contribute to ACM is hindered by the lack of readiness to work with the indigenous society as well as by funding and communication challenges. Furthermore, the resource based economy supported by the State limits the scope of innovation and adaptation. Still, as in the case of other actors, overcoming the challenges and transitioning towards adaptive governance and thus ACM could be possible in the long-term, if recent legal and political changes are truly implemented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An evaluation of treasury oversight and budget under-spending in selected Eastern Cape Provincial Departments
- Authors: Daniels, Nokuthula
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Expenditures, Public , Legislative auditing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fiscal year -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3265 , vital:20418
- Description: The investigation of this study focused on the ability of provincial government departments in South Africa to spend allocated revenues on activities adequately, with a direct bearing on social and economic development. The research presents an analysis of two selected Eastern Cape Provincial Government departments’ expenditure for a three-year timeframe (the fiscal years from 2009–2012), with a focus on the oversight role played by the Provincial Planning and Treasury department in instilling fiscal discipline in the provinces, and the potentially detrimental effect of under-spending on provincial service delivery. Among other things mentioned and discussed are, firstly, the fiscal policy; secondly, the funding of provincial departments; thirdly, the role and responsibilities of the Provincial Planning and Treasury department. The study adopted a qualitative methodology which focussed on the perspective of the insider who has experienced first-hand the activities or procedures under scrutiny in the selected provincial departments. Further, the qualitative researcher believed that first-hand experience provides the most meaningful data. In support of this, the respondents were asked twenty-two questions, the first five of which were based on the need to understand their personal particulars. A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed to 43 officials and 22 of those questionnaires were returned.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Daniels, Nokuthula
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Expenditures, Public , Legislative auditing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fiscal year -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3265 , vital:20418
- Description: The investigation of this study focused on the ability of provincial government departments in South Africa to spend allocated revenues on activities adequately, with a direct bearing on social and economic development. The research presents an analysis of two selected Eastern Cape Provincial Government departments’ expenditure for a three-year timeframe (the fiscal years from 2009–2012), with a focus on the oversight role played by the Provincial Planning and Treasury department in instilling fiscal discipline in the provinces, and the potentially detrimental effect of under-spending on provincial service delivery. Among other things mentioned and discussed are, firstly, the fiscal policy; secondly, the funding of provincial departments; thirdly, the role and responsibilities of the Provincial Planning and Treasury department. The study adopted a qualitative methodology which focussed on the perspective of the insider who has experienced first-hand the activities or procedures under scrutiny in the selected provincial departments. Further, the qualitative researcher believed that first-hand experience provides the most meaningful data. In support of this, the respondents were asked twenty-two questions, the first five of which were based on the need to understand their personal particulars. A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed to 43 officials and 22 of those questionnaires were returned.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An examination of the challenges in intergrated development planning and budget alignment at Amathole District Municipality, (Eastern Cape)
- Authors: Links, Ralph Ronald
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local budgets -- Political aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/3176 , vital:28329
- Description: The traditional mandate of local government is to deliver sustainable services to communities. The evolution of local government has since put more emphasis on evidence based planning in the form of IDP and sound financial management. The relationship between the IDP and Budget is that, a) the IDP contains community needs, objectives and strategies on how these will be responded or dealt with by the municipality, and b) the budget is the financial plan to execute strategies that need to be employed. The purpose of the study was to examine challenges in integrated development plan and the budget alignment of Amathole District Municipality. The study moved from the premise that municipalities are different and ADM has been in the fore front in terms of producing IDP and Budget. The study therefore is based on the assumption that the Amathole District Municipality has challenges in the IDP and Budget alignment. The study proposed to give a background of the scholarly literature of the IDP and Budget of local government. The empirical survey and research methodology used in the study is described and explained in-depths and followed by data collection in the form of the questionnaire. The research findings of the empirical survey are then analysed and reported in statistical form.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Links, Ralph Ronald
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local budgets -- Political aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/3176 , vital:28329
- Description: The traditional mandate of local government is to deliver sustainable services to communities. The evolution of local government has since put more emphasis on evidence based planning in the form of IDP and sound financial management. The relationship between the IDP and Budget is that, a) the IDP contains community needs, objectives and strategies on how these will be responded or dealt with by the municipality, and b) the budget is the financial plan to execute strategies that need to be employed. The purpose of the study was to examine challenges in integrated development plan and the budget alignment of Amathole District Municipality. The study moved from the premise that municipalities are different and ADM has been in the fore front in terms of producing IDP and Budget. The study therefore is based on the assumption that the Amathole District Municipality has challenges in the IDP and Budget alignment. The study proposed to give a background of the scholarly literature of the IDP and Budget of local government. The empirical survey and research methodology used in the study is described and explained in-depths and followed by data collection in the form of the questionnaire. The research findings of the empirical survey are then analysed and reported in statistical form.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An examination of the Mobisam project and Grocott's Mail : towards mobile social accountability monitoring in Grahamstown
- Authors: Reinecke, Romi Kami
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Grocott's Mail (Grahamstown, South Africa) , Electronic discussion groups -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Citizen journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Government accountability -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Social action -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Municipal services -- Citizen participation , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3541 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017782
- Description: This thesis critically examines the nature and purpose of the MobiSAM partnership, in relation to its value as a model resonating with normative theories on the role of the media in South African democratic society. The MobiSAM project introduces a mobile polling application, designed for citizens to provide real-time, user-generated data on crucial municipal service delivery such as clean water in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The project has partnered with the local community newspaper, Grocott's Mail, to broadcast this data, with the aim to facilitate citizen participation in public problem solving and support local government accountability in service delivery. Despite pervasive poverty in areas such as the Eastern Cape, mobile penetration in South Africa is near universal. The MobiSAM partnership is an ongoing effort to forge new links between social accountability monitors, new media, traditional media, citizens and local government around public issues in Grahamstown, in line with the development objectives of the post-apartheid South African state. The overall theoretical framework for this thesis is taken from Christians, Glasser, McQuail, Nordenstreng and White's Normative Theories of the Media, which provides an analysis of four roles of the media in a democratic society, that is: the monitorial, the facilitative, the radical and the collaborative roles. Within each of these roles, the stated journalistic approach is explored, that is investigative journalism, public journalism, radical journalism and development journalism. Public journalism is focused on as having the most resonance with the goals of the MobiSAM partnership. The chosen research design is a critical realist case study with the selected methods of thematic document analysis and, primarily, in-depth interviews with key project participants. The research goals were to analyse this primary data against the normative theory on the role of the media in a democratic society, and the 'real world' constraints posed by the project’s specific political and socioeconomic context. The findings conclude by offering certain recommendations and areas for further research, such as the central importance of a dedicated municipal reporter for covering complex public issues. This critical realist case study, drawing on qualitative interviews with both the accountability monitors and the media practitioners, interrogates the philosophical understandings on the role of the media in this new project, towards an empirical model for advancing substantive socio-economic change through media in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Reinecke, Romi Kami
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Grocott's Mail (Grahamstown, South Africa) , Electronic discussion groups -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Citizen journalism -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Government accountability -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Social action -- South Africa -- Grahamstown , Municipal services -- Citizen participation , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Grahamstown
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:3541 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017782
- Description: This thesis critically examines the nature and purpose of the MobiSAM partnership, in relation to its value as a model resonating with normative theories on the role of the media in South African democratic society. The MobiSAM project introduces a mobile polling application, designed for citizens to provide real-time, user-generated data on crucial municipal service delivery such as clean water in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The project has partnered with the local community newspaper, Grocott's Mail, to broadcast this data, with the aim to facilitate citizen participation in public problem solving and support local government accountability in service delivery. Despite pervasive poverty in areas such as the Eastern Cape, mobile penetration in South Africa is near universal. The MobiSAM partnership is an ongoing effort to forge new links between social accountability monitors, new media, traditional media, citizens and local government around public issues in Grahamstown, in line with the development objectives of the post-apartheid South African state. The overall theoretical framework for this thesis is taken from Christians, Glasser, McQuail, Nordenstreng and White's Normative Theories of the Media, which provides an analysis of four roles of the media in a democratic society, that is: the monitorial, the facilitative, the radical and the collaborative roles. Within each of these roles, the stated journalistic approach is explored, that is investigative journalism, public journalism, radical journalism and development journalism. Public journalism is focused on as having the most resonance with the goals of the MobiSAM partnership. The chosen research design is a critical realist case study with the selected methods of thematic document analysis and, primarily, in-depth interviews with key project participants. The research goals were to analyse this primary data against the normative theory on the role of the media in a democratic society, and the 'real world' constraints posed by the project’s specific political and socioeconomic context. The findings conclude by offering certain recommendations and areas for further research, such as the central importance of a dedicated municipal reporter for covering complex public issues. This critical realist case study, drawing on qualitative interviews with both the accountability monitors and the media practitioners, interrogates the philosophical understandings on the role of the media in this new project, towards an empirical model for advancing substantive socio-economic change through media in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An exploration into the conditions enabling and constraining the implementation of quality assurance in higher education: the case of a small comprehensive university in South Africa
- Authors: Masehela, Langutani Meriam
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: University of Venda -- Evaluation , Education, Higher -- South Africa -- Evaluation , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Auditing , Quality assurance -- South Africa , Quality assurance -- Standards -- South Africa , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Evaluation , Educational accountability -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- Standards -- South Africa , Educational evaluation -- South Africa , Critical realism , Social realism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1334 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020312
- Description: At an international level, demands for accountability in respect of the quality of teaching and learning in higher education are increasing. This is also the case in South Africa. The response to these demands has taken the form of the introduction of quality assurance systems to higher education. In South Africa, a formal national external quality assurance was introduced to the higher education system in 2001 as a result of the establishment of the Higher Education Quality Committee. The Higher Education Quality Committee is a standing committee of the South African Council on Higher Education. Like other quality assurance agencies across the world, the Higher Education Quality Committee has the responsibility for i) auditing institutions of higher education and ii) accrediting learning programmes. The first cycle of institutional audits ran from 2004 until 2011. As quality assurance was introduced to the higher education system and the first cycle of institutional audits began, universities in South Africa developed policies and procedures intended to assure quality in three areas of their core functioning: research, teaching and learning and community engagement. The University of Venda, which is the focus of the study on which this thesis is based, was no exception. As a practitioner in the Centre for Higher Education Teaching and Learning at The University of Venda, it was my observation that the policies and procedures intended to assure quality in teaching and learning were not always implemented by academic staff members. This was in spite of poor student performance data which raised questions about the quality of the teaching and learning processes in place. The study underpinning this thesis was designed to explore this phenomenon. More specifically, it aimed to identify the conditions enabling and constraining the implementation of policies and procedures in two Schools in the University: the School of Health Sciences and the School of Human and Social Sciences. In order to explore these conditions, I adopted Roy Bhaskar’s Critical Realism as an under-labouring philosophy for the study. Critical realism posits a view of reality comprising three strata, none of which can be reducible to the other. The first of these strata is termed the level of the Empirical and consists of the experiences and observations which become apparent to us through the senses. The second layer, the Actual, consists of events from which these experiences and observations emerge. Underpinning both of these layers is a further layer, the Real, which is not accessible by empirical means and which consists of structures and mechanisms which generate both events at the level of the Actual and experiences and observation at the level of the Empirical. The design of my study sought to reach this deepest layer of reality to identify these mechanisms. Bhaskar’s critical realism is philosophy which needs to be operationalized using substantive, or explanatory, theory. For this purpose, I drew on Margaret Archer’s social realism. The design on my study drew on case study methodology and involved in-depth interviews with members of the two Schools which each formed cases within the more overarching case of the University itself. In addition to these interviews, I analysed a range of institutional documents related to the assurance of quality in teaching and learning. The exploration of enabling and constraining conditions at the level of the Real allow me to make a series of recommendations in the final Chapter of my thesis intended to enhance the quality assurance system introduced to the University.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Masehela, Langutani Meriam
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: University of Venda -- Evaluation , Education, Higher -- South Africa -- Evaluation , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Auditing , Quality assurance -- South Africa , Quality assurance -- Standards -- South Africa , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Evaluation , Educational accountability -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- Standards -- South Africa , Educational evaluation -- South Africa , Critical realism , Social realism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1334 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020312
- Description: At an international level, demands for accountability in respect of the quality of teaching and learning in higher education are increasing. This is also the case in South Africa. The response to these demands has taken the form of the introduction of quality assurance systems to higher education. In South Africa, a formal national external quality assurance was introduced to the higher education system in 2001 as a result of the establishment of the Higher Education Quality Committee. The Higher Education Quality Committee is a standing committee of the South African Council on Higher Education. Like other quality assurance agencies across the world, the Higher Education Quality Committee has the responsibility for i) auditing institutions of higher education and ii) accrediting learning programmes. The first cycle of institutional audits ran from 2004 until 2011. As quality assurance was introduced to the higher education system and the first cycle of institutional audits began, universities in South Africa developed policies and procedures intended to assure quality in three areas of their core functioning: research, teaching and learning and community engagement. The University of Venda, which is the focus of the study on which this thesis is based, was no exception. As a practitioner in the Centre for Higher Education Teaching and Learning at The University of Venda, it was my observation that the policies and procedures intended to assure quality in teaching and learning were not always implemented by academic staff members. This was in spite of poor student performance data which raised questions about the quality of the teaching and learning processes in place. The study underpinning this thesis was designed to explore this phenomenon. More specifically, it aimed to identify the conditions enabling and constraining the implementation of policies and procedures in two Schools in the University: the School of Health Sciences and the School of Human and Social Sciences. In order to explore these conditions, I adopted Roy Bhaskar’s Critical Realism as an under-labouring philosophy for the study. Critical realism posits a view of reality comprising three strata, none of which can be reducible to the other. The first of these strata is termed the level of the Empirical and consists of the experiences and observations which become apparent to us through the senses. The second layer, the Actual, consists of events from which these experiences and observations emerge. Underpinning both of these layers is a further layer, the Real, which is not accessible by empirical means and which consists of structures and mechanisms which generate both events at the level of the Actual and experiences and observation at the level of the Empirical. The design of my study sought to reach this deepest layer of reality to identify these mechanisms. Bhaskar’s critical realism is philosophy which needs to be operationalized using substantive, or explanatory, theory. For this purpose, I drew on Margaret Archer’s social realism. The design on my study drew on case study methodology and involved in-depth interviews with members of the two Schools which each formed cases within the more overarching case of the University itself. In addition to these interviews, I analysed a range of institutional documents related to the assurance of quality in teaching and learning. The exploration of enabling and constraining conditions at the level of the Real allow me to make a series of recommendations in the final Chapter of my thesis intended to enhance the quality assurance system introduced to the University.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An exploration of business level strategy at the bottom of the pyramid: a case study of Twizza, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Sityoshwana, Ludwe Lusu
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54486 , vital:26569
- Description: This qualitative study focuses on business level strategy adopted by Twizza to compete in the bottom of the pyramid market in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Twizza enjoyed huge success between the years 2010 - 2014 as a medium to large sized manufacturer of carbonated soft drinks in the Eastern Cape. In light of this, the current study seeks to answer the following: What business level strategy did top management at Twizza adopt to compete and grow in the BoP market in the Eastern Cape, South Africa? The study takes the form of a case study to explore and understand the patterns of decisions adopted by Twizza’s top management in competing at the bottom of the pyramid. As such, the main objective of the study was to identify the business level strategy adopted by Twizza which enabled their superior performance within the BoP market. The study adopts Porter`s typology to explore business level strategy. Stratified, purposive sampling was used to identify 4 top managers as participants in this study. A total of 7, semi-structured, interviews were used to collect critical incidents from top management of Twizza. This was the primary data used in this study. This type of data was combined with relevant information which was gathered via published press articles and on-line commentary. The study found that central to Twizza’s business strategy were four pillars, namely, strict control and management of manufacturing costs, product quality equal to that of market leaders, the ability of the organisation to manufacture its own raw materials and ability to ensure product availability to the market to the market. These findings reveal that Twizza employed a hybrid strategy, anchored by cost leadership. Thus, Twizza incorporated elements of differentiation and best value strategies to offer its customers affordable quality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sityoshwana, Ludwe Lusu
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54486 , vital:26569
- Description: This qualitative study focuses on business level strategy adopted by Twizza to compete in the bottom of the pyramid market in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Twizza enjoyed huge success between the years 2010 - 2014 as a medium to large sized manufacturer of carbonated soft drinks in the Eastern Cape. In light of this, the current study seeks to answer the following: What business level strategy did top management at Twizza adopt to compete and grow in the BoP market in the Eastern Cape, South Africa? The study takes the form of a case study to explore and understand the patterns of decisions adopted by Twizza’s top management in competing at the bottom of the pyramid. As such, the main objective of the study was to identify the business level strategy adopted by Twizza which enabled their superior performance within the BoP market. The study adopts Porter`s typology to explore business level strategy. Stratified, purposive sampling was used to identify 4 top managers as participants in this study. A total of 7, semi-structured, interviews were used to collect critical incidents from top management of Twizza. This was the primary data used in this study. This type of data was combined with relevant information which was gathered via published press articles and on-line commentary. The study found that central to Twizza’s business strategy were four pillars, namely, strict control and management of manufacturing costs, product quality equal to that of market leaders, the ability of the organisation to manufacture its own raw materials and ability to ensure product availability to the market to the market. These findings reveal that Twizza employed a hybrid strategy, anchored by cost leadership. Thus, Twizza incorporated elements of differentiation and best value strategies to offer its customers affordable quality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An exploration of perceptions, adaptive capacity and food security in the Ngqushwa local municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Mazinyo, Sonwabo Perez
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19043 , vital:40107
- Description: Approximately sixty percent of Africans depend on rainfed agriculture for their livelihoods. South Africa is evidenced to be susceptible to inclement climate which impacts on rural livelihoods as well as on farming systems. While South Africa is considered to be food sufficient, it is estimated that approximately 35percent of the population is vulnerable to food insecurity. Therefore with the application of surveys and interviews this study investigates the factors influencing household, subsistence and small-scale farmer perceptions of vulnerability to climate variability as well as the determinants of adaptive capacity. A sample of 308 households is surveyed and four focus group discussions are administered in Ngqushwa Local Municipality as a case study. Furthermore, the study also focuses on the biophysical changes or factors (scientific analysis of the prevailing climatic regimes–rainfall trends); the interrogation of the impact of food systems on both food prices as well as its implications on food sovereignty. The study also interrogates the relationship between crop yield and rainfall data over a 30-year period. Therefore the study adopts a mixed method approach to ensure triangulation. The study finds that rural communities are able to perceive climate variability and its related changes as well as its negative impact on crop production, food access and availability. The perceived rainfall trends also corroborate this Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient reveals that there is a strong correlation between crop yields and rainfall (r = 0.69). Meteorological analyses also show that the rainfall trend has been significantly variable over 112 years (1900 - 2011) with several dry spells threatening the subsistence and small-scale farmers’ sustainable livelihoods. The food systems pose threats to food safety, food security and historical food sovereignty for the rural community of Ngqushwa Local Municipality. Adaptive capacity is greatly impaired by the lack of co-ordination of adaptation strategies, which communally benefit the majority of the farming respondents in the study area. Therefore vulnerability to climate variability impacts on the ability of the respondents to achieve food security. The study also finds that there is perceived competition between the farmers and wild life for the natural resources. The respondents’ perception is that climate variability and change is responsible for such competition. The study recommends that the national, provincial and local governments must foster a new food production model that is not based on the agro-business model and its attendant technologies but on one that is based on robust agro-ecological farming techniques which enhance adaptive capacity; which foster food safety; which promote food sovereignty; and which reduce vulnerability in a sustainable manner. Given the extent of climate variability in the study area the restoration of the NLM weather station infrastructure can also aid the farmers in taking advantage of a robust early warning system for better estimation of climate trends which enhance crop production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Mazinyo, Sonwabo Perez
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19043 , vital:40107
- Description: Approximately sixty percent of Africans depend on rainfed agriculture for their livelihoods. South Africa is evidenced to be susceptible to inclement climate which impacts on rural livelihoods as well as on farming systems. While South Africa is considered to be food sufficient, it is estimated that approximately 35percent of the population is vulnerable to food insecurity. Therefore with the application of surveys and interviews this study investigates the factors influencing household, subsistence and small-scale farmer perceptions of vulnerability to climate variability as well as the determinants of adaptive capacity. A sample of 308 households is surveyed and four focus group discussions are administered in Ngqushwa Local Municipality as a case study. Furthermore, the study also focuses on the biophysical changes or factors (scientific analysis of the prevailing climatic regimes–rainfall trends); the interrogation of the impact of food systems on both food prices as well as its implications on food sovereignty. The study also interrogates the relationship between crop yield and rainfall data over a 30-year period. Therefore the study adopts a mixed method approach to ensure triangulation. The study finds that rural communities are able to perceive climate variability and its related changes as well as its negative impact on crop production, food access and availability. The perceived rainfall trends also corroborate this Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient reveals that there is a strong correlation between crop yields and rainfall (r = 0.69). Meteorological analyses also show that the rainfall trend has been significantly variable over 112 years (1900 - 2011) with several dry spells threatening the subsistence and small-scale farmers’ sustainable livelihoods. The food systems pose threats to food safety, food security and historical food sovereignty for the rural community of Ngqushwa Local Municipality. Adaptive capacity is greatly impaired by the lack of co-ordination of adaptation strategies, which communally benefit the majority of the farming respondents in the study area. Therefore vulnerability to climate variability impacts on the ability of the respondents to achieve food security. The study also finds that there is perceived competition between the farmers and wild life for the natural resources. The respondents’ perception is that climate variability and change is responsible for such competition. The study recommends that the national, provincial and local governments must foster a new food production model that is not based on the agro-business model and its attendant technologies but on one that is based on robust agro-ecological farming techniques which enhance adaptive capacity; which foster food safety; which promote food sovereignty; and which reduce vulnerability in a sustainable manner. Given the extent of climate variability in the study area the restoration of the NLM weather station infrastructure can also aid the farmers in taking advantage of a robust early warning system for better estimation of climate trends which enhance crop production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An exploration of perceptions, adaptive capacity and food security in the Ngqushwa local municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Mazinyo, Sonwabo Perez, Zhou, Leocadia
- Authors: Mazinyo, Sonwabo Perez , Zhou, Leocadia
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19032 , vital:40106
- Description: Approximately sixty percent of Africans depend on rainfed agriculture for their livelihoods. South Africa is evidenced to be susceptible to inclement climate which impacts on rural livelihoods as well as on farming systems. While South Africa is considered to be food sufficient, it is estimated that approximately 35% of the population is vulnerable to food insecurity. Therefore with the application of surveys and interviews this study investigates the factors influencing household, subsistence and small-scale farmer perceptions of vulnerability to climate variability as well as the determinants of adaptive capacity. A sample of 308 households is surveyed and four focus group discussions are administered in Ngqushwa Local Municipality as a case study. Furthermore, the study also focuses on the biophysical changes or factors (scientific analysis of the prevailing climatic regimes–rainfall trends); the interrogation of the impact of food systems on both food prices as well as its implications on food sovereignty. The study also interrogates the relationship between crop yield and rainfall data over a 30-year period. Therefore the study adopts a mixed method approach to ensure triangulation. The study finds that rural communities are able to perceive climate variability and its related changes as well as its negative impact on crop production, food access and availability. The perceived rainfall trends also corroborate this Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient reveals that there is a strong correlation between crop yields and rainfall (r = 0.69). Meteorological analyses also show that the rainfall trend has been significantly variable over 112 years (1900 - 2011) with several dry spells threatening the subsistence and small-scale farmers’ sustainable livelihoods. The food systems pose threats to food safety, food security and historical food sovereignty for the rural community of Ngqushwa Local Municipality. Adaptive capacity is greatly impaired by the lack of co-ordination of adaptation strategies, which communally benefit the majority of the farming respondents in the study area. Therefore vulnerability to climate variability impacts on the ability of the respondents to achieve food security. The study also finds that there is perceived competition between the farmers and wild life for the natural resources. The respondents’ perception is that climate variability and change is responsible for such competition. The study recommends that the national, provincial and local governments must foster a new food production model that is not based on the agro-business model and its attendant technologies but on one that is based on robust agro-ecological farming techniques which enhance adaptive capacity; which foster food safety; which promote food sovereignty; and which reduce vulnerability in a sustainable manner. Given the extent of climate variability in the study area the restoration of the NLM weather station infrastructure can also aid the farmers in taking advantage of a robust early warning system for better estimation of climate trends which enhance crop production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Mazinyo, Sonwabo Perez , Zhou, Leocadia
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Food security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19032 , vital:40106
- Description: Approximately sixty percent of Africans depend on rainfed agriculture for their livelihoods. South Africa is evidenced to be susceptible to inclement climate which impacts on rural livelihoods as well as on farming systems. While South Africa is considered to be food sufficient, it is estimated that approximately 35% of the population is vulnerable to food insecurity. Therefore with the application of surveys and interviews this study investigates the factors influencing household, subsistence and small-scale farmer perceptions of vulnerability to climate variability as well as the determinants of adaptive capacity. A sample of 308 households is surveyed and four focus group discussions are administered in Ngqushwa Local Municipality as a case study. Furthermore, the study also focuses on the biophysical changes or factors (scientific analysis of the prevailing climatic regimes–rainfall trends); the interrogation of the impact of food systems on both food prices as well as its implications on food sovereignty. The study also interrogates the relationship between crop yield and rainfall data over a 30-year period. Therefore the study adopts a mixed method approach to ensure triangulation. The study finds that rural communities are able to perceive climate variability and its related changes as well as its negative impact on crop production, food access and availability. The perceived rainfall trends also corroborate this Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient reveals that there is a strong correlation between crop yields and rainfall (r = 0.69). Meteorological analyses also show that the rainfall trend has been significantly variable over 112 years (1900 - 2011) with several dry spells threatening the subsistence and small-scale farmers’ sustainable livelihoods. The food systems pose threats to food safety, food security and historical food sovereignty for the rural community of Ngqushwa Local Municipality. Adaptive capacity is greatly impaired by the lack of co-ordination of adaptation strategies, which communally benefit the majority of the farming respondents in the study area. Therefore vulnerability to climate variability impacts on the ability of the respondents to achieve food security. The study also finds that there is perceived competition between the farmers and wild life for the natural resources. The respondents’ perception is that climate variability and change is responsible for such competition. The study recommends that the national, provincial and local governments must foster a new food production model that is not based on the agro-business model and its attendant technologies but on one that is based on robust agro-ecological farming techniques which enhance adaptive capacity; which foster food safety; which promote food sovereignty; and which reduce vulnerability in a sustainable manner. Given the extent of climate variability in the study area the restoration of the NLM weather station infrastructure can also aid the farmers in taking advantage of a robust early warning system for better estimation of climate trends which enhance crop production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An exploration of the effect of world politics on SADC's capacity to manage and resolve violent conflict
- Authors: Matsanga, Mavis
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Conflict management -- Zimbabwe , Non-governmental organizations -- Zimbabwe , Humanitarian intervention -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6886 , vital:21157
- Description: The rise of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOS) in the post-Cold War era in Africa exerted pressure on conflict resolution mechanisms as governments responded to perceived and real pressure from external, mainly Western countries. INGOs are well resourced and conduct ‘humanitarian’ and other work funded by donors. The issue of funding is critical to control and legitimacy. It is also tied to achievement of intended goals. The study explores the relationships and in some cases conflict between Western NGOs in Zimbabwe and the government during the period when the latter was experiencing diplomatic estrangement with Western countries. The qualitative study seeks to establish whether INGO operations were influenced by political relations. The researcher interviewed twenty experts in NGO and governmental operations using an interview guide. Data was collected and entered into Nvivo software where it was thematically analysed. The major findings of the study are that the political strand is the main relational context that determined the relationship between the government and INGOs. INGOs were viewed as active conflict drivers mostly due to the bias towards certain political parties and being conduits of Western initiatives. Local conflict resolution mechanisms were also established to be inadequate. The study recommends that the government of Zimbabwe needs to work on maladministration and resolve differences with Western countries. Local NGOs and INGOs should not meddle in politics in order to have a trustworthy relationship with government while donor funds are more appreciated when channelled through governments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Matsanga, Mavis
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Conflict management -- Zimbabwe , Non-governmental organizations -- Zimbabwe , Humanitarian intervention -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6886 , vital:21157
- Description: The rise of International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOS) in the post-Cold War era in Africa exerted pressure on conflict resolution mechanisms as governments responded to perceived and real pressure from external, mainly Western countries. INGOs are well resourced and conduct ‘humanitarian’ and other work funded by donors. The issue of funding is critical to control and legitimacy. It is also tied to achievement of intended goals. The study explores the relationships and in some cases conflict between Western NGOs in Zimbabwe and the government during the period when the latter was experiencing diplomatic estrangement with Western countries. The qualitative study seeks to establish whether INGO operations were influenced by political relations. The researcher interviewed twenty experts in NGO and governmental operations using an interview guide. Data was collected and entered into Nvivo software where it was thematically analysed. The major findings of the study are that the political strand is the main relational context that determined the relationship between the government and INGOs. INGOs were viewed as active conflict drivers mostly due to the bias towards certain political parties and being conduits of Western initiatives. Local conflict resolution mechanisms were also established to be inadequate. The study recommends that the government of Zimbabwe needs to work on maladministration and resolve differences with Western countries. Local NGOs and INGOs should not meddle in politics in order to have a trustworthy relationship with government while donor funds are more appreciated when channelled through governments.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An exploration of the effects of mindfulness on people with an HIV positive diagnosis living in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: McIntyre, Tracy-Leigh
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Stress management HIV infections
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9903 , vital:26631
- Description: Mindfulness research is growing considerably, though there is very little research in the area of HIV and mindfulness. This study explored and described the experience of a sample of HIV positive people, before and after an 8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme, to ascertain whether mindfulness can positively impact the CD4 count of the participants, with the consequent improvement to their immune systems. The incidence of depression, anxiety and stress levels were also explored. The research sample consisted of 17 participants recruited from a local hospital clinic. Purposive sampling was used to source participants. The mixed method approach of data gathering was made up of a pre-test post-test battery of questionnaires and blood tests. Mindfulness levels were assessed with the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) at 3 intervals, while depression, anxiety and stress were assessed by means of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Key findings included the following: the drop out rate for this population group was large, mindfulness practices do not always have a positive effect on immune functioning when there are other confounding variables at play, all participants reported they benefited from the 8 week MBSR course, though their results did not always indicate this. In conclusion it is proposed that mindfulness is potentially beneficial.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: McIntyre, Tracy-Leigh
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Stress management HIV infections
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9903 , vital:26631
- Description: Mindfulness research is growing considerably, though there is very little research in the area of HIV and mindfulness. This study explored and described the experience of a sample of HIV positive people, before and after an 8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme, to ascertain whether mindfulness can positively impact the CD4 count of the participants, with the consequent improvement to their immune systems. The incidence of depression, anxiety and stress levels were also explored. The research sample consisted of 17 participants recruited from a local hospital clinic. Purposive sampling was used to source participants. The mixed method approach of data gathering was made up of a pre-test post-test battery of questionnaires and blood tests. Mindfulness levels were assessed with the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) at 3 intervals, while depression, anxiety and stress were assessed by means of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Key findings included the following: the drop out rate for this population group was large, mindfulness practices do not always have a positive effect on immune functioning when there are other confounding variables at play, all participants reported they benefited from the 8 week MBSR course, though their results did not always indicate this. In conclusion it is proposed that mindfulness is potentially beneficial.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015