Normative indicators for grade 3 and grade 7 isiXhosa-speaking children on the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test (Second Edition)
- Authors: Palmer, Hanli
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Bender-Gestalt Test Psychological tests for children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6346 , vital:29583
- Description: Selecting appropriate normative data for the purpose of evaluating psychometric test scores forms an integral part of the interpretative psychological assessment process. This highlights the well-known problem of utilising measures developed in the United Kingdom (UK), or the United States (US) and accepting their norms unreservedly for the practice on local populations, which questions the tests’ validity and reliability. The current study, which aimed to collect normative indicators on the Bender Gestalt Test (Second Edition), forms part of the continuing effort to develop norms for psychological tests in South Africa, and to focus on the valid and reliable use of measures within the context of South Africa’s multicultural and multilingual population groups. The participants of the research were Black isiXhosa-speaking Grade 3 and Grade 7 learners aged 8 to 9 years (N = 38 ), and 12 to 13 years (N = 23), obtaining their school education in the disadvantaged educational setting of the former Department of Education and Training (ex-DET) schools. The tests were scored according to the Bender Gestalt Test (Second Edition) manual, using the Global Scoring System. Thereafter, the raw scores were converted to Standard Scores, T-scores and Percentile Ranks using the US normative tables, according to chronological age categories. When the two groups were compared to the US norms, the results equated favourably for the present study sample. There were no significant findings in relation to the classroom size or any difference in performance between the schools who participated. The only significant difference revealed between male and female participants was with the Grade 7 sample group, where the males scored significantly lower than females on the Recall phase. These results support the prospect of the continuous revision of norms, and it is suggesting that the cognitive processes measured by this test are likely to derive from robust neurological substrates that are relatively stable across cultural groups.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Palmer, Hanli
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Bender-Gestalt Test Psychological tests for children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6346 , vital:29583
- Description: Selecting appropriate normative data for the purpose of evaluating psychometric test scores forms an integral part of the interpretative psychological assessment process. This highlights the well-known problem of utilising measures developed in the United Kingdom (UK), or the United States (US) and accepting their norms unreservedly for the practice on local populations, which questions the tests’ validity and reliability. The current study, which aimed to collect normative indicators on the Bender Gestalt Test (Second Edition), forms part of the continuing effort to develop norms for psychological tests in South Africa, and to focus on the valid and reliable use of measures within the context of South Africa’s multicultural and multilingual population groups. The participants of the research were Black isiXhosa-speaking Grade 3 and Grade 7 learners aged 8 to 9 years (N = 38 ), and 12 to 13 years (N = 23), obtaining their school education in the disadvantaged educational setting of the former Department of Education and Training (ex-DET) schools. The tests were scored according to the Bender Gestalt Test (Second Edition) manual, using the Global Scoring System. Thereafter, the raw scores were converted to Standard Scores, T-scores and Percentile Ranks using the US normative tables, according to chronological age categories. When the two groups were compared to the US norms, the results equated favourably for the present study sample. There were no significant findings in relation to the classroom size or any difference in performance between the schools who participated. The only significant difference revealed between male and female participants was with the Grade 7 sample group, where the males scored significantly lower than females on the Recall phase. These results support the prospect of the continuous revision of norms, and it is suggesting that the cognitive processes measured by this test are likely to derive from robust neurological substrates that are relatively stable across cultural groups.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Notebook of unremembered poems
- Authors: McKeown, Jean Wallace
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6013 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021233
- Description: My poems contain narrative elements and explore themes of identity, motherhood, sexuality, and fear of relinquishing control. Sharon Olds, in her book Stag’s Leap, sums up my intention: “and I saw again how blessed my life has been, / first, to have been able to love, / then, to have the parting now behind me.” My collection chronicles a path towards acceptance of self from childhood onwards, and, more than that, a pleasure and pride in self, and I have tried to find the forms which will reflect this path in the reader’s own experience. Most of the poems are written in a conversational voice and a free-form style which gives me creative licence to explore transition and transformation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: McKeown, Jean Wallace
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6013 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1021233
- Description: My poems contain narrative elements and explore themes of identity, motherhood, sexuality, and fear of relinquishing control. Sharon Olds, in her book Stag’s Leap, sums up my intention: “and I saw again how blessed my life has been, / first, to have been able to love, / then, to have the parting now behind me.” My collection chronicles a path towards acceptance of self from childhood onwards, and, more than that, a pleasure and pride in self, and I have tried to find the forms which will reflect this path in the reader’s own experience. Most of the poems are written in a conversational voice and a free-form style which gives me creative licence to explore transition and transformation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Observational cosmology with imperfect data
- Authors: Bester, Hertzog Landman
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463 , vital:19961
- Description: We develop a formalism suitable to infer the background geometry of a general spherically symmetric dust universe directly from data on the past lightcone. This direct observational approach makes minimal assumptions about inaccessible parts of the Universe. The non-parametric and Bayesian framework we propose provides a very direct way to test one of the most fundamental underlying assumptions of concordance cosmology viz. the Copernican principle. We present the Copernicus algorithm for this purpose. By applying the algorithm to currently available data, we demonstrate that it is not yet possible to confirm or refute the validity of the Copernican principle within the proposed framework. This is followed by an investigation which aims to determine which future data will best be able to test the Copernican principle. Our results on simulated data suggest that, besides the need to improve the current data, it will be important to identify additional model independent observables for this purpose. The main difficulty with current data is their inability to constrain the value of the cosmological constant. We show how redshift drift data could be used to infer its value with minimal assumptions about the nature of the early Universe. We also discuss some alternative applications of the algorithm.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bester, Hertzog Landman
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463 , vital:19961
- Description: We develop a formalism suitable to infer the background geometry of a general spherically symmetric dust universe directly from data on the past lightcone. This direct observational approach makes minimal assumptions about inaccessible parts of the Universe. The non-parametric and Bayesian framework we propose provides a very direct way to test one of the most fundamental underlying assumptions of concordance cosmology viz. the Copernican principle. We present the Copernicus algorithm for this purpose. By applying the algorithm to currently available data, we demonstrate that it is not yet possible to confirm or refute the validity of the Copernican principle within the proposed framework. This is followed by an investigation which aims to determine which future data will best be able to test the Copernican principle. Our results on simulated data suggest that, besides the need to improve the current data, it will be important to identify additional model independent observables for this purpose. The main difficulty with current data is their inability to constrain the value of the cosmological constant. We show how redshift drift data could be used to infer its value with minimal assumptions about the nature of the early Universe. We also discuss some alternative applications of the algorithm.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Occupational stress and intrinsic motivation as determinants of job engagement in the South African Police Service in Greater Kokstad Municipality
- Authors: Jojo, Avela
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Police -- Job stress -- South Africa Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1995 , vital:27592
- Description: Occupational stress, intrinsic motivation and job engagement are areas of importance for today’s management. The main objective of this study was to explore the combined effect of occupational stress and intrinsic motivation in determining job engagement in the South African Police Service. Moreover, the study investigated the relationship between occupational stress, intrinsic motivation and job engagement. The study also sought to enquire into the effects rank and gender has on the study variables. A quantitative approach was adopted. A structured self – administered questionnaire comprising of four sections: biographical information, police stress questionnaire, intrinsic motivation inventory and job engagement scale was used to collect data. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data, and both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized. The results revealed a negative relationship between occupational stress and job engagement. A positive relationship between intrinsic motivation and job engagement was also found. There was no combined effect of occupational stress and intrinsic motivation on job engagement. Lastly, no significant differences in the way police experience stress were found among rank and gender. The researcher concluded that even when police officers are under great amounts of stress they are still engaged in their jobs. Where levels of intrinsic motivation were high for the police officers, so were the levels of job engagement. Demographic variables did not yield any significant relationships to the study variables. These findings are of significance in creating a police force which is productive and meets the goals and objectives of the South African Police Service.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Jojo, Avela
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Police -- Job stress -- South Africa Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/1995 , vital:27592
- Description: Occupational stress, intrinsic motivation and job engagement are areas of importance for today’s management. The main objective of this study was to explore the combined effect of occupational stress and intrinsic motivation in determining job engagement in the South African Police Service. Moreover, the study investigated the relationship between occupational stress, intrinsic motivation and job engagement. The study also sought to enquire into the effects rank and gender has on the study variables. A quantitative approach was adopted. A structured self – administered questionnaire comprising of four sections: biographical information, police stress questionnaire, intrinsic motivation inventory and job engagement scale was used to collect data. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse data, and both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized. The results revealed a negative relationship between occupational stress and job engagement. A positive relationship between intrinsic motivation and job engagement was also found. There was no combined effect of occupational stress and intrinsic motivation on job engagement. Lastly, no significant differences in the way police experience stress were found among rank and gender. The researcher concluded that even when police officers are under great amounts of stress they are still engaged in their jobs. Where levels of intrinsic motivation were high for the police officers, so were the levels of job engagement. Demographic variables did not yield any significant relationships to the study variables. These findings are of significance in creating a police force which is productive and meets the goals and objectives of the South African Police Service.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
On luminescence stimulated from deep traps using thermally-assisted time-resolved optical stimulation in α-Al2O3: C
- Nyirenda, Angel N, Chithambo, Makaiko L, Polymeris, G S
- Authors: Nyirenda, Angel N , Chithambo, Makaiko L , Polymeris, G S
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124627 , vital:35639 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2016.01.016
- Description: We report a study of charge transfer mechanisms of electrons stimulated optically from very deep traps, also known as donor traps, in α-Al2O3:C. The investigations were carried out using thermally-assisted time-resolved optical stimulation, thermoluminescence and by way of residual thermoluminescence from the main electron trap. When the charges are optically stimulated from the deep traps, they are redistributed via the conduction band to the main electron trap and the shallow trap from where they are optically or thermally released for recombination at luminescence centres. The luminescence is strongly quenched at high measurement temperature as evident by very short luminescence lifetimes at these temperatures. The main peak due to residual thermoluminescence is located at a higher temperature than the conventional main peak.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Nyirenda, Angel N , Chithambo, Makaiko L , Polymeris, G S
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124627 , vital:35639 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radmeas.2016.01.016
- Description: We report a study of charge transfer mechanisms of electrons stimulated optically from very deep traps, also known as donor traps, in α-Al2O3:C. The investigations were carried out using thermally-assisted time-resolved optical stimulation, thermoluminescence and by way of residual thermoluminescence from the main electron trap. When the charges are optically stimulated from the deep traps, they are redistributed via the conduction band to the main electron trap and the shallow trap from where they are optically or thermally released for recombination at luminescence centres. The luminescence is strongly quenched at high measurement temperature as evident by very short luminescence lifetimes at these temperatures. The main peak due to residual thermoluminescence is located at a higher temperature than the conventional main peak.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2016
Oncoming traffic
- Authors: Manaka, Maakomele R
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6008 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1021220
- Description: The poems in my collection Oncoming Traffic mainly look at the silence in my personal conflicts. Fusing different styles and tones of writing from the lyrical to the surreal, these poems grapple with issues I struggle with on a daily basis. First as a man, second as a man with a physical disability, and lastly as a black man dealing with the reality of living in a dysfunctional/disabled society. The silence in my personal conflicts means, writing what I cannot say, stripping myself bare and vulnerable. My inspiration has come from poets who articulate such silences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Manaka, Maakomele R
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:6008 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/1021220
- Description: The poems in my collection Oncoming Traffic mainly look at the silence in my personal conflicts. Fusing different styles and tones of writing from the lyrical to the surreal, these poems grapple with issues I struggle with on a daily basis. First as a man, second as a man with a physical disability, and lastly as a black man dealing with the reality of living in a dysfunctional/disabled society. The silence in my personal conflicts means, writing what I cannot say, stripping myself bare and vulnerable. My inspiration has come from poets who articulate such silences.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Optical limiting response of multi-walled carbon nanotube-phthalocyanine nanocomposite in solution and when in poly (acrylic acid)
- Sekhosana, Kutloano E, Nyokong, Tebello
- Authors: Sekhosana, Kutloano E , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188628 , vital:44770 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2016.03.067"
- Description: Bis{23-(3,4-di-yloxybenzoic acid)-(2(3), 9(10), 16(17), 23(24)-(hexakis-pyridin-3-yloxy phthalocyaninato)} dineodymium (III) acetate (3) is linked to amino-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to form 3-MWCNT. Z-scan technique was employed to experimentally determine the nonlinear absorption coefficient from the open-aperture data. The limiting threshold values as low as 0.045 J cm−2 were found in solution. The conjugate (3-MWCNT) gave better optical limiting behavior than complex 3 alone.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Sekhosana, Kutloano E , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/188628 , vital:44770 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2016.03.067"
- Description: Bis{23-(3,4-di-yloxybenzoic acid)-(2(3), 9(10), 16(17), 23(24)-(hexakis-pyridin-3-yloxy phthalocyaninato)} dineodymium (III) acetate (3) is linked to amino-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to form 3-MWCNT. Z-scan technique was employed to experimentally determine the nonlinear absorption coefficient from the open-aperture data. The limiting threshold values as low as 0.045 J cm−2 were found in solution. The conjugate (3-MWCNT) gave better optical limiting behavior than complex 3 alone.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Optically active BODIPYs
- Lu, Hua, Mack, John, Nyokong, Tebello, Kobayashi, Nagao, Shen, Zhen
- Authors: Lu, Hua , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello , Kobayashi, Nagao , Shen, Zhen
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/240421 , vital:50833 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2016.03.015"
- Description: This review highlights and summarizes various optically active BODIPY molecules and describes the analysis of their circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectroscopy, to provide a platform for the rational design of novel optically active BODIPY structures and the development of new chiroptical applications. Possible future research directions are also discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Lu, Hua , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello , Kobayashi, Nagao , Shen, Zhen
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/240421 , vital:50833 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2016.03.015"
- Description: This review highlights and summarizes various optically active BODIPY molecules and describes the analysis of their circular dichroism (CD) and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) spectroscopy, to provide a platform for the rational design of novel optically active BODIPY structures and the development of new chiroptical applications. Possible future research directions are also discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Optimisation of clearcoat viscosity
- Authors: Bukula, Nwabisa Asanda
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Coating processes , Automobiles -- Bodies -- Maintenance and repair
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4814 , vital:20707
- Description: Modern automobiles are painted with basecoat, technology which is either metallic, solid colour or pearlescent. This requires protection from chemicals, scratching, weathering and UV light by applying a protective top coat (clearcoat) over the basecoat. For the clearcoat to cure into a hard protective shell it undergoes an irreversible crosslinking process. This usually takes place over the first four to five hours, depending on the formulation and weather conditions. The speed of crosslinking can be enhanced by temperature. Pot life is important as it can affect the overall quality of the painted surface. If crosslinking occurs too quickly, before the clearcoat is applied onto the surface, the clearcoat cannot be used to produce a good quality finish. The “expired” mixture is thus discarded. If used, the quality of the finished product cannot be guaranteed to last, and the paintwork may have to be redone. This often means removing the underlying paint and primer as well with the clearcoat film. Besides the time lost, the discarded clearcoat mixture often lands in the landfill, polluting ground water and the environment. It is thus important from the point of view of both the environment preservation and waste management, that as much clearcoat as possible is used without being wasted. It was proven in an earlier study (BSc Hon Formulation Science Treatise, 2011) that adding eugenol to a clearcoat mixture after crosslinking had started could reduce its viscosity, which is an indicator of crosslinking progress. Crosslinking subsequently resumed at a lower rate than in traditional blends. If stored away from oxygen and high temperatures, this blend could maintain optimum viscosity indefinitely. In this follow up study an optimum formulation was developed using D - optimal experimental design. It sought to extend the pot life to avoid waste to spray painters while saving the environment from pollution. The formulation that gave the desired viscosity after five hours of pot life was adopted. It was hypothesised that the optimum formulated clearcoat mixture would have a longer pot life than its traditional counterparts, and that it would perform just as well as the traditional clearcoat mixtures. To study the rate of crosslinking (disappearance of functional groups and appearance of the urethane bond), FTIR spectrometry was performed on a mixture produced from the optimized formula in comparison to that of a traditional mixture (the control). The rate of disappearance of functional groups was found to be lower in the eugenol mixture than in the control mixture. After six hours, eugenol was added into the control mixture, and this seemed to reduce the viscosity with the re-emergence of functional groups in the mixture. After 24 hours of crosslinking, an FTIR scan was done on the solid sample and this revealed that the eugenol mixture had crosslinked fully, with no detectable functional groups in the sample.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bukula, Nwabisa Asanda
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Coating processes , Automobiles -- Bodies -- Maintenance and repair
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4814 , vital:20707
- Description: Modern automobiles are painted with basecoat, technology which is either metallic, solid colour or pearlescent. This requires protection from chemicals, scratching, weathering and UV light by applying a protective top coat (clearcoat) over the basecoat. For the clearcoat to cure into a hard protective shell it undergoes an irreversible crosslinking process. This usually takes place over the first four to five hours, depending on the formulation and weather conditions. The speed of crosslinking can be enhanced by temperature. Pot life is important as it can affect the overall quality of the painted surface. If crosslinking occurs too quickly, before the clearcoat is applied onto the surface, the clearcoat cannot be used to produce a good quality finish. The “expired” mixture is thus discarded. If used, the quality of the finished product cannot be guaranteed to last, and the paintwork may have to be redone. This often means removing the underlying paint and primer as well with the clearcoat film. Besides the time lost, the discarded clearcoat mixture often lands in the landfill, polluting ground water and the environment. It is thus important from the point of view of both the environment preservation and waste management, that as much clearcoat as possible is used without being wasted. It was proven in an earlier study (BSc Hon Formulation Science Treatise, 2011) that adding eugenol to a clearcoat mixture after crosslinking had started could reduce its viscosity, which is an indicator of crosslinking progress. Crosslinking subsequently resumed at a lower rate than in traditional blends. If stored away from oxygen and high temperatures, this blend could maintain optimum viscosity indefinitely. In this follow up study an optimum formulation was developed using D - optimal experimental design. It sought to extend the pot life to avoid waste to spray painters while saving the environment from pollution. The formulation that gave the desired viscosity after five hours of pot life was adopted. It was hypothesised that the optimum formulated clearcoat mixture would have a longer pot life than its traditional counterparts, and that it would perform just as well as the traditional clearcoat mixtures. To study the rate of crosslinking (disappearance of functional groups and appearance of the urethane bond), FTIR spectrometry was performed on a mixture produced from the optimized formula in comparison to that of a traditional mixture (the control). The rate of disappearance of functional groups was found to be lower in the eugenol mixture than in the control mixture. After six hours, eugenol was added into the control mixture, and this seemed to reduce the viscosity with the re-emergence of functional groups in the mixture. After 24 hours of crosslinking, an FTIR scan was done on the solid sample and this revealed that the eugenol mixture had crosslinked fully, with no detectable functional groups in the sample.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Optimisation of glass scoring operation
- Authors: Bechoo, Durvesh Sookraj
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Glass -- Mechanical properties , Glass manufacture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9283 , vital:26559
- Description: The economic crisis and prior recession made a huge dent in many industries. Companies want a cheaper manufactured product with same quality to satisfy the customer in order be competitive yet profitable. Shatterprufe is a company that produces automotive glass. The company has a vast number of products and experience short production run lengths because of its order intake from customers. These short production run lengths require accurate setup to have a repeatable and stable process. An incorrect setup will produce a high scrap rate on production runs. Glass being very brittle and machining it incorrectly results in flaws, breakages or edge stresses that lead to latter process failures. The scoring operation of glass is key to achieve good edge quality to prevent such defects. The correct tools and machine parameters influence good edge quality during the setup procedure. Due to the process having many variables it is difficult to have a stable process and a repeatable stable process. This research will analyse the tool, parameters of the tool and machine parameters to achieve best edge quality and correlating these parameters that will lead to a repeatable stable process. An experimental analysis was conducted on 2.1mm and 2.5mm thick glass. These thicknesses are used predominantly at Shatterprufe automotive glass manufacturing company. The first sample and last sample was analysed during a production run. An average production run length is 36 pieces of glass. The edge quality was seen under a microscope and the fissure depth was measured. To achieve ideal edge quality, the fissure depth must be 15-20% deep of the glass thickness. A fissure is a crack propagated during the scoring of glass. A carbide wheel is used to score the glass. The carbide wheel parameters were varied being the wheel angle and wheel diameter. A 145 degree-4.1mm wheel, 145degree-5.6mm wheel and a 155 degree- 4.1mm wheel was used. The following relationships where observed being the wheel diameter and fissure depth. An increase in wheel diameter resulted in an increase in fissure depth but decreases the wheel life as the wheel becomes blunt. There was inconsistency on fissure depth with the larger diameter wheel. An increased in wheel angle from 145 degree to 155 degree promoted flaws in the glass. Larger wheel angles work better on glass thicknesses of 4-5mm as currently used in the Shatterprufe Struandale Company. An investigation on pressure variation in the pneumatic system was analysed using a pressure transmitter. The pressure transmitter measured the pressure per second versus the set pressure and recorded this data on a data logger. There was no pressure variation in the pneumatic system that can influence poor glass edge quality. A load cell analysis will investigate the physical applied pressure on the glass versus the set pressure. This analysis was to determine the relationship between set versus actual on the glass. It will indicate any mechanical fault. A mechanical fault could be a loose coupling or linkage that can influence the fissure depth. A direct proportional relationship was achieved between the set pressure versus the load cell readings. This indicates no mechanical fault on the system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Bechoo, Durvesh Sookraj
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Glass -- Mechanical properties , Glass manufacture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9283 , vital:26559
- Description: The economic crisis and prior recession made a huge dent in many industries. Companies want a cheaper manufactured product with same quality to satisfy the customer in order be competitive yet profitable. Shatterprufe is a company that produces automotive glass. The company has a vast number of products and experience short production run lengths because of its order intake from customers. These short production run lengths require accurate setup to have a repeatable and stable process. An incorrect setup will produce a high scrap rate on production runs. Glass being very brittle and machining it incorrectly results in flaws, breakages or edge stresses that lead to latter process failures. The scoring operation of glass is key to achieve good edge quality to prevent such defects. The correct tools and machine parameters influence good edge quality during the setup procedure. Due to the process having many variables it is difficult to have a stable process and a repeatable stable process. This research will analyse the tool, parameters of the tool and machine parameters to achieve best edge quality and correlating these parameters that will lead to a repeatable stable process. An experimental analysis was conducted on 2.1mm and 2.5mm thick glass. These thicknesses are used predominantly at Shatterprufe automotive glass manufacturing company. The first sample and last sample was analysed during a production run. An average production run length is 36 pieces of glass. The edge quality was seen under a microscope and the fissure depth was measured. To achieve ideal edge quality, the fissure depth must be 15-20% deep of the glass thickness. A fissure is a crack propagated during the scoring of glass. A carbide wheel is used to score the glass. The carbide wheel parameters were varied being the wheel angle and wheel diameter. A 145 degree-4.1mm wheel, 145degree-5.6mm wheel and a 155 degree- 4.1mm wheel was used. The following relationships where observed being the wheel diameter and fissure depth. An increase in wheel diameter resulted in an increase in fissure depth but decreases the wheel life as the wheel becomes blunt. There was inconsistency on fissure depth with the larger diameter wheel. An increased in wheel angle from 145 degree to 155 degree promoted flaws in the glass. Larger wheel angles work better on glass thicknesses of 4-5mm as currently used in the Shatterprufe Struandale Company. An investigation on pressure variation in the pneumatic system was analysed using a pressure transmitter. The pressure transmitter measured the pressure per second versus the set pressure and recorded this data on a data logger. There was no pressure variation in the pneumatic system that can influence poor glass edge quality. A load cell analysis will investigate the physical applied pressure on the glass versus the set pressure. This analysis was to determine the relationship between set versus actual on the glass. It will indicate any mechanical fault. A mechanical fault could be a loose coupling or linkage that can influence the fissure depth. A direct proportional relationship was achieved between the set pressure versus the load cell readings. This indicates no mechanical fault on the system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Optimising design and effort for environmental surveys using dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae):
- Tocco, Claudia, Quinn, Danielle, Midgley, John M, Villet, Martin H
- Authors: Tocco, Claudia , Quinn, Danielle , Midgley, John M , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140670 , vital:37908 , DOI: 10.4039/tce.2016.48
- Description: In biological monitoring, deploying an effective standardised quantitative sampling method, optimised by trap design and sampling effort, is an essential consideration. To exemplify this using dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae) communities, three pitfall trap designs (un-baited (TN), baited at ground level (flat trap, TF), and baited above the trap (hanging trap, TH)), employed with varying levels of sampling effort (number of traps = 1, 2, 3… 10; number of days = 1, 2, 3), were evaluated for sampling completeness and efficiency in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Modelling and resampling simulation approaches were used to suggest optimal sampling protocols across environmentally diverse sites. Overall, TF recovered the greatest abundance and species richness of dung beetles, but behavioural guilds showed conflicting trends: endocoprids preferred TH while paracoprids and telocoprids preferred TF. Resampling simulation of trap type and the two components of sampling effort suggested that six TF traps left for three days was most efficient in obtaining a representative sample and allowed differentiation between trap types, allowing the improved efficiency to be recognised. The effect of trap type on non-target specimens, particularly ants, was also investigated. TF and TH caught almost no by-catch, which is ethically desirable.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Tocco, Claudia , Quinn, Danielle , Midgley, John M , Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/140670 , vital:37908 , DOI: 10.4039/tce.2016.48
- Description: In biological monitoring, deploying an effective standardised quantitative sampling method, optimised by trap design and sampling effort, is an essential consideration. To exemplify this using dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae) communities, three pitfall trap designs (un-baited (TN), baited at ground level (flat trap, TF), and baited above the trap (hanging trap, TH)), employed with varying levels of sampling effort (number of traps = 1, 2, 3… 10; number of days = 1, 2, 3), were evaluated for sampling completeness and efficiency in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Modelling and resampling simulation approaches were used to suggest optimal sampling protocols across environmentally diverse sites. Overall, TF recovered the greatest abundance and species richness of dung beetles, but behavioural guilds showed conflicting trends: endocoprids preferred TH while paracoprids and telocoprids preferred TF. Resampling simulation of trap type and the two components of sampling effort suggested that six TF traps left for three days was most efficient in obtaining a representative sample and allowed differentiation between trap types, allowing the improved efficiency to be recognised. The effect of trap type on non-target specimens, particularly ants, was also investigated. TF and TH caught almost no by-catch, which is ethically desirable.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Optimising the marketing mix to influence consumer purchasing decisions in liquor outlets
- Authors: Mhlatyana, Lovington Unathi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Branding (Marketing) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Consumer behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Liquor industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11712 , vital:26959
- Description: Retailers, Wholesalers, Marketers, Alcohol distributors and Manufacturers continuously fight for volume growth and market-share gain within the total alcohol market. Most of the answers of how much each can gain over a period of time remain a mystery that can only be answered by the consumers. The consumers determine who will have more share of wallet or share of throat more than the other. This is also equally applicable to brands, packs and the various alcohol categories that exist in the market. Why is it important, you possibly wonder? It is important because the alcohol market is an integrated part of our society; it contributes immensely to the South African economy and its value chain is enormous in value. Consumption expenditure increased from R3 513 039 000 in 2004 to R8 558 232 000 by 2013 in the Eastern Cape alone. In the last 10 years there has been an increase of new products that are being introduced into the market across all categories ranging from traditional alcoholic brands to flavoured and ready to drink brands. This presents an opportunity to alcohol consumers, alcohol shoppers and sellers alike. This opportunity meant that the consumer is spoilt for choice and retailers / wholesalers have an opportunity to list more brands which could possibly result in increased margins. Further to the above, South African marketers face both market challenges as well as proposed legislation regarding advertising of alcohol products. Some of the challenges include marketing clutter, competition, diverse nature of the South African consumer, infrastructure issues, government legislations, social media and digital platforms. The liquor industry of the Eastern Cape contributes approximately R7,7 billion to the Gross Geographic Product of the economy of the Eastern Cape through direct and indirect impacts; Approximately 23 620 permanent jobs are supported by the Eastern Cape liquor industry annually; Tax revenue attributable to the liquor industry in the Eastern Cape is R3,9 billion; and the economic impact of the liquor industry on gross capital formation is in the region R3,4 billion per annum. The purpose of this research is to optimise the marketing mix to influence consumer purchasing decisions in liquor outlets within the Border district within the above context. The objective of this study is to identify the marketing mix that influences consumer purchasing decisions in liquor outlets. The study will be conducted within the Border district. The Border district consists of various geographies within the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The area of the study will focus on key municipalities namely; Buffalo city, Amathole, Chris Hani and Joe Gqabi municipalities. The target sample size for this study was 360 consumers. A survey questionnaire was used to measure respondents’ preferences, attitudes, motivations and perceptions. The respondents were instructed to highlight the answer that best described them and / or their preferences. Questions were asked and the respondents had to highlight to what extent they agreed or disagreed with the question. Key findings are that there is high level of agreement that price and promotions influence consumer-purchasing decision in liquor outlets. The highest percentage of respondents are in agreement that beer is a first choice of drink and a second is spirits. 69% of the respondents agree that they change from the usual drink to a different drink when they go out. This can be attributed to the notion that consumers like to badge and want to be seen drinking brands that will be deemed socially acceptable in public, or brands that are the latest trend. The key benefits from the study include improved ability for marketers to reposition brands, give clear recommendations for drinking occasions and better understanding on how to efficiently distribute alcohol portfolios, extend brands and introduce limited editions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mhlatyana, Lovington Unathi
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Branding (Marketing) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Consumer behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Liquor industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11712 , vital:26959
- Description: Retailers, Wholesalers, Marketers, Alcohol distributors and Manufacturers continuously fight for volume growth and market-share gain within the total alcohol market. Most of the answers of how much each can gain over a period of time remain a mystery that can only be answered by the consumers. The consumers determine who will have more share of wallet or share of throat more than the other. This is also equally applicable to brands, packs and the various alcohol categories that exist in the market. Why is it important, you possibly wonder? It is important because the alcohol market is an integrated part of our society; it contributes immensely to the South African economy and its value chain is enormous in value. Consumption expenditure increased from R3 513 039 000 in 2004 to R8 558 232 000 by 2013 in the Eastern Cape alone. In the last 10 years there has been an increase of new products that are being introduced into the market across all categories ranging from traditional alcoholic brands to flavoured and ready to drink brands. This presents an opportunity to alcohol consumers, alcohol shoppers and sellers alike. This opportunity meant that the consumer is spoilt for choice and retailers / wholesalers have an opportunity to list more brands which could possibly result in increased margins. Further to the above, South African marketers face both market challenges as well as proposed legislation regarding advertising of alcohol products. Some of the challenges include marketing clutter, competition, diverse nature of the South African consumer, infrastructure issues, government legislations, social media and digital platforms. The liquor industry of the Eastern Cape contributes approximately R7,7 billion to the Gross Geographic Product of the economy of the Eastern Cape through direct and indirect impacts; Approximately 23 620 permanent jobs are supported by the Eastern Cape liquor industry annually; Tax revenue attributable to the liquor industry in the Eastern Cape is R3,9 billion; and the economic impact of the liquor industry on gross capital formation is in the region R3,4 billion per annum. The purpose of this research is to optimise the marketing mix to influence consumer purchasing decisions in liquor outlets within the Border district within the above context. The objective of this study is to identify the marketing mix that influences consumer purchasing decisions in liquor outlets. The study will be conducted within the Border district. The Border district consists of various geographies within the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The area of the study will focus on key municipalities namely; Buffalo city, Amathole, Chris Hani and Joe Gqabi municipalities. The target sample size for this study was 360 consumers. A survey questionnaire was used to measure respondents’ preferences, attitudes, motivations and perceptions. The respondents were instructed to highlight the answer that best described them and / or their preferences. Questions were asked and the respondents had to highlight to what extent they agreed or disagreed with the question. Key findings are that there is high level of agreement that price and promotions influence consumer-purchasing decision in liquor outlets. The highest percentage of respondents are in agreement that beer is a first choice of drink and a second is spirits. 69% of the respondents agree that they change from the usual drink to a different drink when they go out. This can be attributed to the notion that consumers like to badge and want to be seen drinking brands that will be deemed socially acceptable in public, or brands that are the latest trend. The key benefits from the study include improved ability for marketers to reposition brands, give clear recommendations for drinking occasions and better understanding on how to efficiently distribute alcohol portfolios, extend brands and introduce limited editions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Optimising the work integrated learning of student nurses
- Authors: Gerber, Karin
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nursing -- Study and teaching , Nursing students Education, Cooperative -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7721 , vital:23415
- Description: According to the Council on Higher Education (CHE, 2011:78) the term Work Integrated Learning (WIL) refers to an educational approach that aligns academic and workplace practices for the mutual benefit of students and workplaces. The CHE (2011:4) further describes WIL as an approach to career-focussed education that includes classroom-based and workplace-based forms of learning that are appropriate for the professional qualifications. WIL forms part of many training programmes for professions across the globe and is considered an important aspect of preparing the trainee or student to integrate theoretical learning into the clinical environment in which he or she will be building his or her career. WIL is considered crucial for the development of professional attributes and competencies needed to perform duties within the chosen profession once the trainee is qualified. Health care professions across the world employ WIL in clinical areas as an integral part of their curricula and nursing specifically is one of the health care professions that utilise a large component of WIL for clinical development of the student nurses. In South Africa, student nurses are currently placed in a variety of clinical settings in order to obtain the required and regulated clinical experience that work integrated learning should offer them. However, anecdotal evidence indicated that student nurses from the various Nursing Education Institutions in Nelson Mandela Bay experienced difficulty in finding adequate opportunities to develop their newly acquired skills when in the clinical areas and reported great difficulties in achieving their WIL outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the student nurses’ experiences of work integrated learning in various clinical areas in the Nelson Mandela Bay. This study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design with two phases. Thirty-five student nurses in their third and fourth-year were purposely sampled. In phase one data was collected using two steps, where the first step comprised using naïve sketches. During the second step interviews were done by means of focus groups using semi-structured questions and responsive interviewing. Data was transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using Tesch’s method of analysis. In phase two recommendations for nurse educators to optimise WIL were formulated. The following three themes and related sub-themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Student nurses experienced a multitude of challenges in the clinical placement areas (CPA) and at the nursing education institution (NEI) that negatively impact on their morale and hinder WIL, namely lack of resources, unsupportive learning environments, a lack of belonging and workplace violence. 2) Positive experiences resulted in motivated and enthusiastic students, namely being inspired by role models, enhanced learning when support was offered and personal growth. 3) Students offered recommendations for enabling their WIL, namely adequate mentoring and clinical support, adequate financial support related to WIL and adjusting the nursing programmes to better incorporate the students’ needs. Relevant literature and recommendations offered by the student nurses were used to formulate recommendations with action steps for nurse educators to optimise work integrated learning of student nurses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Gerber, Karin
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nursing -- Study and teaching , Nursing students Education, Cooperative -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7721 , vital:23415
- Description: According to the Council on Higher Education (CHE, 2011:78) the term Work Integrated Learning (WIL) refers to an educational approach that aligns academic and workplace practices for the mutual benefit of students and workplaces. The CHE (2011:4) further describes WIL as an approach to career-focussed education that includes classroom-based and workplace-based forms of learning that are appropriate for the professional qualifications. WIL forms part of many training programmes for professions across the globe and is considered an important aspect of preparing the trainee or student to integrate theoretical learning into the clinical environment in which he or she will be building his or her career. WIL is considered crucial for the development of professional attributes and competencies needed to perform duties within the chosen profession once the trainee is qualified. Health care professions across the world employ WIL in clinical areas as an integral part of their curricula and nursing specifically is one of the health care professions that utilise a large component of WIL for clinical development of the student nurses. In South Africa, student nurses are currently placed in a variety of clinical settings in order to obtain the required and regulated clinical experience that work integrated learning should offer them. However, anecdotal evidence indicated that student nurses from the various Nursing Education Institutions in Nelson Mandela Bay experienced difficulty in finding adequate opportunities to develop their newly acquired skills when in the clinical areas and reported great difficulties in achieving their WIL outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the student nurses’ experiences of work integrated learning in various clinical areas in the Nelson Mandela Bay. This study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design with two phases. Thirty-five student nurses in their third and fourth-year were purposely sampled. In phase one data was collected using two steps, where the first step comprised using naïve sketches. During the second step interviews were done by means of focus groups using semi-structured questions and responsive interviewing. Data was transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using Tesch’s method of analysis. In phase two recommendations for nurse educators to optimise WIL were formulated. The following three themes and related sub-themes emerged from the analysis: 1) Student nurses experienced a multitude of challenges in the clinical placement areas (CPA) and at the nursing education institution (NEI) that negatively impact on their morale and hinder WIL, namely lack of resources, unsupportive learning environments, a lack of belonging and workplace violence. 2) Positive experiences resulted in motivated and enthusiastic students, namely being inspired by role models, enhanced learning when support was offered and personal growth. 3) Students offered recommendations for enabling their WIL, namely adequate mentoring and clinical support, adequate financial support related to WIL and adjusting the nursing programmes to better incorporate the students’ needs. Relevant literature and recommendations offered by the student nurses were used to formulate recommendations with action steps for nurse educators to optimise work integrated learning of student nurses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Optimizing aspects that facilitate skill acquisition in private dialysis units
- Authors: Fourie, Claire
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nephrology , Kidneys -- Diseases -- Nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6106 , vital:21040
- Description: Nephrology nursing requires a specific set of clinical skills and knowledge. When a professional nurse with no previous dialysis experience enters the field of nephrology nursing he or she has no nephrology related paradigms from past experiences to use as a point of reference. As a result of the rapid growth of the private dialysis company experienced over the past 10 years, many management and support service positions became available. Internal promotions resulted in the movement of experienced professional nurses from the clinical field into management and support services positions, resulting in a sudden loss of skilled individuals from the clinical field. To mitigate this effect, a training intervention was started. The newly appointed managers were all required to work in the clinical field for sixteen hours per month to expose the less experienced professional nurses to the more experienced professional nurses in order to assist them with skill acquisition thus enabling the advanced beginner and competent nurse to become a proficient nurse and/or an expert in the field of nephrology nursing. Experiential learning is not a spontaneous process but depends on many factors that could either hinder or facilitate skill acquisition. This study aimed to explore and describe the aspects that facilitate or hinder skill acquisition during the training intervention that was implemented in private chronic haemodialysis units and to write guidelines to optimize skill acquisition during the training intervention. The study followed a quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, contextual, survey design. Data was collected using a tool based on the theory of nursing accompaniment by Kotze, Kolbs theory on experiential nursing, a framework of strategies that facilitate skill acquisition by King and a generalized tool, the Learning Transfer Skills Inventory (LTSI) that was developed by Holton and Bates to measure learning transfer and factors that contribute and hinder training interventions. Data was analysed with the support of a statistician. The findings were reported and discussed in relation to the current literature. Measures were put in place to ensure validity and reliability, and ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study. Guidelines to optimize skill acquisition were developed. The limitations of the study were the sample size and the response rate. There was a paucity in existing research regarding skill acquisition in Nephrology nursing and limited statistical variance amongst the aspects that facilitate or hinder skill acquisition. It is recommended that the guidelines be implemented to measure the impact they have in the organization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Fourie, Claire
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Nephrology , Kidneys -- Diseases -- Nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6106 , vital:21040
- Description: Nephrology nursing requires a specific set of clinical skills and knowledge. When a professional nurse with no previous dialysis experience enters the field of nephrology nursing he or she has no nephrology related paradigms from past experiences to use as a point of reference. As a result of the rapid growth of the private dialysis company experienced over the past 10 years, many management and support service positions became available. Internal promotions resulted in the movement of experienced professional nurses from the clinical field into management and support services positions, resulting in a sudden loss of skilled individuals from the clinical field. To mitigate this effect, a training intervention was started. The newly appointed managers were all required to work in the clinical field for sixteen hours per month to expose the less experienced professional nurses to the more experienced professional nurses in order to assist them with skill acquisition thus enabling the advanced beginner and competent nurse to become a proficient nurse and/or an expert in the field of nephrology nursing. Experiential learning is not a spontaneous process but depends on many factors that could either hinder or facilitate skill acquisition. This study aimed to explore and describe the aspects that facilitate or hinder skill acquisition during the training intervention that was implemented in private chronic haemodialysis units and to write guidelines to optimize skill acquisition during the training intervention. The study followed a quantitative, descriptive, exploratory, contextual, survey design. Data was collected using a tool based on the theory of nursing accompaniment by Kotze, Kolbs theory on experiential nursing, a framework of strategies that facilitate skill acquisition by King and a generalized tool, the Learning Transfer Skills Inventory (LTSI) that was developed by Holton and Bates to measure learning transfer and factors that contribute and hinder training interventions. Data was analysed with the support of a statistician. The findings were reported and discussed in relation to the current literature. Measures were put in place to ensure validity and reliability, and ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study. Guidelines to optimize skill acquisition were developed. The limitations of the study were the sample size and the response rate. There was a paucity in existing research regarding skill acquisition in Nephrology nursing and limited statistical variance amongst the aspects that facilitate or hinder skill acquisition. It is recommended that the guidelines be implemented to measure the impact they have in the organization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Organisational culture as a determinant of efficiency in the O R Tambo district municipality
- Authors: Msebi, Nombasa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Organizational effectiveness -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational behavior Corporate culture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12264 , vital:27049
- Description: The O R Tambo District Municipality is the only district municipality in South Africa whose finances are monitored by the National Treasury, and not delegated to its Provincial Treasury. During the mid-term budget implementation assessment in the 2014/2015 financial year, National Treasury raised a concern on the under-performance of this municipality in achieving the set targets while fully spending its budget allocation. This raised a concern about the efficiency of the municipality in utilising its resources and the manner in which the municipality conducts its business. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the organisational culture of the O R Tambo District Municipality enables or hampers an efficient utilisation of its resources. The paradigm that has been followed in this study is the positivism research paradigm and the population used was the O R Tambo District Municipality’s staff in the main offices in Mthatha. Sixty employees participated in the study by responding to questionnaires. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), which is an Excel-based statistical analysis instrument. The study revealed that the O R Tambo District Municipality does not have a dominant organisational culture, resulting in employees who struggle to determine whether their behaviour is acceptable or not. The lack of workplace procedures has a negative impact on employee performance as they instead rely on their experience, or that of a manager at a particular time, to undertake their tasks. The study found that the culture of the O R Tambo District Municipality is also not conducive for an effective management system. This paper will conclude by making recommendations to senior management and leadership on how to change the organisational culture of the municipality to ensure that it promotes efficient utilisation of the municipality’s resources.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Msebi, Nombasa
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Organizational effectiveness -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational behavior Corporate culture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/12264 , vital:27049
- Description: The O R Tambo District Municipality is the only district municipality in South Africa whose finances are monitored by the National Treasury, and not delegated to its Provincial Treasury. During the mid-term budget implementation assessment in the 2014/2015 financial year, National Treasury raised a concern on the under-performance of this municipality in achieving the set targets while fully spending its budget allocation. This raised a concern about the efficiency of the municipality in utilising its resources and the manner in which the municipality conducts its business. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the organisational culture of the O R Tambo District Municipality enables or hampers an efficient utilisation of its resources. The paradigm that has been followed in this study is the positivism research paradigm and the population used was the O R Tambo District Municipality’s staff in the main offices in Mthatha. Sixty employees participated in the study by responding to questionnaires. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), which is an Excel-based statistical analysis instrument. The study revealed that the O R Tambo District Municipality does not have a dominant organisational culture, resulting in employees who struggle to determine whether their behaviour is acceptable or not. The lack of workplace procedures has a negative impact on employee performance as they instead rely on their experience, or that of a manager at a particular time, to undertake their tasks. The study found that the culture of the O R Tambo District Municipality is also not conducive for an effective management system. This paper will conclude by making recommendations to senior management and leadership on how to change the organisational culture of the municipality to ensure that it promotes efficient utilisation of the municipality’s resources.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Organisational reputation management in South African Higher Education by means of social media policies
- Authors: Van den Berg, Amanda Elise
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Online social networks -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Corporate image -- Management , Education, Higher -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PHD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45525 , vital:38640
- Description: This study investigates reputation management in South African higher education institutions by means of the development and implementation of social-media policies. While other policies, such as marketing, computing, intellectual property, ethics and staff, and student disciplinary policies may exist, higher education institutions need to respond to both the new challenges and the new risks posed by the social-media practices and to develop explicit social-media policies for staff and students that are unique to that industry. Existing social-media policies of SA HEIs, as well as those developed within the finance sector and by international institutions of higher education, are analysed by means of in-depth interviews and documentary analysis, by using the same coding structure. Telephonic interviews with key personnel provide insight into the social-media policy development process of SA HEIs. In order to ensure research trustworthiness and rigour, the analytical process employed Consensual Qualitative Research. The research reveals that it has become necessary for organisations to understand the important role played by the social media in corporate strategies, in order to obtain optimal results for sustained growth and development. Organisational reputation, including the social media, need to be managed, not only as an isolated function or activity of the organisation, but as an integral element of all parts or subsystems of the organisation. Social-media policy development is only the starting point of ensuring a positive return for the organisation. The organisation needs to be seen to actively engage in the benefits and risks – by understanding the role of the social media within the various sectors of the organisation. A more strategic corporate strategy is proposed to meet the full potential and to manage organisational risk. universities need to develop an attractive and well-maintained reputation – with the aim of attracting the most accomplished researchers, staff, students and funders. In addition, the research reveals that HEIs can be seen as high-risk operations by their external stakeholders, including clients (students), funders and communities. It is argued that their outputs (research and students) fundamentally impact on their communities and on the interconnected environment. Organisational stakeholders are seen as important role players within an organisation’s and policy on how to manage these relationships; and the potential and real-time risks associated with such relationships become central themes, when managing the organisational reputation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Van den Berg, Amanda Elise
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Online social networks -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Corporate image -- Management , Education, Higher -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PHD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45525 , vital:38640
- Description: This study investigates reputation management in South African higher education institutions by means of the development and implementation of social-media policies. While other policies, such as marketing, computing, intellectual property, ethics and staff, and student disciplinary policies may exist, higher education institutions need to respond to both the new challenges and the new risks posed by the social-media practices and to develop explicit social-media policies for staff and students that are unique to that industry. Existing social-media policies of SA HEIs, as well as those developed within the finance sector and by international institutions of higher education, are analysed by means of in-depth interviews and documentary analysis, by using the same coding structure. Telephonic interviews with key personnel provide insight into the social-media policy development process of SA HEIs. In order to ensure research trustworthiness and rigour, the analytical process employed Consensual Qualitative Research. The research reveals that it has become necessary for organisations to understand the important role played by the social media in corporate strategies, in order to obtain optimal results for sustained growth and development. Organisational reputation, including the social media, need to be managed, not only as an isolated function or activity of the organisation, but as an integral element of all parts or subsystems of the organisation. Social-media policy development is only the starting point of ensuring a positive return for the organisation. The organisation needs to be seen to actively engage in the benefits and risks – by understanding the role of the social media within the various sectors of the organisation. A more strategic corporate strategy is proposed to meet the full potential and to manage organisational risk. universities need to develop an attractive and well-maintained reputation – with the aim of attracting the most accomplished researchers, staff, students and funders. In addition, the research reveals that HEIs can be seen as high-risk operations by their external stakeholders, including clients (students), funders and communities. It is argued that their outputs (research and students) fundamentally impact on their communities and on the interconnected environment. Organisational stakeholders are seen as important role players within an organisation’s and policy on how to manage these relationships; and the potential and real-time risks associated with such relationships become central themes, when managing the organisational reputation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Our data - our responsibility: the semantic web, deep linking and repositories
- Van der Walt, Wynand, Innovative User Group Southern Africa (IUGSA), 14th Annual Conference : 2016 : Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng
- Authors: Van der Walt, Wynand , Innovative User Group Southern Africa (IUGSA), 14th Annual Conference : 2016 : Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Library science
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5602 , vital:20945
- Description: The paper examines some possibilities in terms of adapting roles and responsibilities to further ensure that content, and the correct associated metadata, as provided through repositories, are discoverable. It is proposed that the key roles affected would be those of the subject specialists (subject librarians), the metadata specialists, repository managers, and as importantly, the authors and publishers at these institutions. Using the Ichthyological Bulletin series (as published by Rhodes University between 1956 and 2001), deep-linking options will be examined, as well as the challenges experienced pertaining to data linking as part of this specific digitization project.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Van der Walt, Wynand , Innovative User Group Southern Africa (IUGSA), 14th Annual Conference : 2016 : Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Library science
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/5602 , vital:20945
- Description: The paper examines some possibilities in terms of adapting roles and responsibilities to further ensure that content, and the correct associated metadata, as provided through repositories, are discoverable. It is proposed that the key roles affected would be those of the subject specialists (subject librarians), the metadata specialists, repository managers, and as importantly, the authors and publishers at these institutions. Using the Ichthyological Bulletin series (as published by Rhodes University between 1956 and 2001), deep-linking options will be examined, as well as the challenges experienced pertaining to data linking as part of this specific digitization project.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Overview and revision of the extant genera and subgenera of Trogidae (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea).
- Strümpher, Werner P, Villet, Martin H, Sole, Catherine L, Scholtz, Clarke H
- Authors: Strümpher, Werner P , Villet, Martin H , Sole, Catherine L , Scholtz, Clarke H
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442743 , vital:74029 , ISBN , https://brill.com/view/journals/ise/47/1/article-p53_4.xml
- Description: Extant genera and subgenera of the Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) are reviewed. Contemporary classifications of this family have been based exclusively on morphological characters. The first molecular phylogeny for the family recently provided strong support for the relationships between morphologically defined genera and subgenera. On the basis of morphological, molecular and biogeographical evidence, certain taxonomic changes to the genus-level classification of the family are now proposed. The family is confirmed as consisting of two subfamilies, Omorginae Nikolajev and Troginae MacLeay, the former with two genera, Omorgus Erichson and Polynoncus Burmeister, and the latter with two genera, Trox Fabricius and Phoberus MacLeay stat. rev. Phoberus is restored to generic rank to include all Afrotropical (including Madagascan endemic) species; Afromorgus is confirmed at subgeneric rank within the genus Omorgus ; and the monotypic Madagascan genus Madagatrox syn. n. is synonymised with Phoberus. The current synonymies of Pseudotrox Robinson (with Trox ), Chesas Burmeister, Lagopelus Burmeister and Megalotrox Preudhomme de Borre (all with Omorgus ) are all accepted to avoid creating speculative synonyms before definitive phylogenetic evidence is available.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Strümpher, Werner P , Villet, Martin H , Sole, Catherine L , Scholtz, Clarke H
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/442743 , vital:74029 , ISBN , https://brill.com/view/journals/ise/47/1/article-p53_4.xml
- Description: Extant genera and subgenera of the Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) are reviewed. Contemporary classifications of this family have been based exclusively on morphological characters. The first molecular phylogeny for the family recently provided strong support for the relationships between morphologically defined genera and subgenera. On the basis of morphological, molecular and biogeographical evidence, certain taxonomic changes to the genus-level classification of the family are now proposed. The family is confirmed as consisting of two subfamilies, Omorginae Nikolajev and Troginae MacLeay, the former with two genera, Omorgus Erichson and Polynoncus Burmeister, and the latter with two genera, Trox Fabricius and Phoberus MacLeay stat. rev. Phoberus is restored to generic rank to include all Afrotropical (including Madagascan endemic) species; Afromorgus is confirmed at subgeneric rank within the genus Omorgus ; and the monotypic Madagascan genus Madagatrox syn. n. is synonymised with Phoberus. The current synonymies of Pseudotrox Robinson (with Trox ), Chesas Burmeister, Lagopelus Burmeister and Megalotrox Preudhomme de Borre (all with Omorgus ) are all accepted to avoid creating speculative synonyms before definitive phylogenetic evidence is available.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Parallel visions: Byron, Géricault and the Medusa
- Authors: Beard, Margot
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147792 , vital:38673 , https://doi.org/10.1080/00043389.1999.11761285
- Description: Martin Meisel has noted that Delacroix's 1841 painting A Shipwreck was recognised as uniting Gericault and Byron. for not only does the painting illustrate that moment in Don Juan when lots are drawn for the human sacrifice {2, 75) but it also invokes comparison with Gericault' s 1819 painting entitled Raft of the Medusa(Meisel1988:601).1 would like to argue in this paper that Gericault' s famous painting and Byron's shipwreck stanzas in the second canto of Don Juan have other points of comparison. Gericault used the Savigny and Correard Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal ( 1817) as the primary source of information for his treatment of the Medusa incident (Eitner 1971: 117). Byron used multiple sources when he researched material for his shipwreck stanzas but it is highly probable that the Savigny and Correard text was one of them. Thus, the cause celebre of the wreck of the Medusa is directly treated by Gericault and indirectly by Byron - two artists temperamentally and artistically attuned.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Beard, Margot
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147792 , vital:38673 , https://doi.org/10.1080/00043389.1999.11761285
- Description: Martin Meisel has noted that Delacroix's 1841 painting A Shipwreck was recognised as uniting Gericault and Byron. for not only does the painting illustrate that moment in Don Juan when lots are drawn for the human sacrifice {2, 75) but it also invokes comparison with Gericault' s 1819 painting entitled Raft of the Medusa(Meisel1988:601).1 would like to argue in this paper that Gericault' s famous painting and Byron's shipwreck stanzas in the second canto of Don Juan have other points of comparison. Gericault used the Savigny and Correard Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal ( 1817) as the primary source of information for his treatment of the Medusa incident (Eitner 1971: 117). Byron used multiple sources when he researched material for his shipwreck stanzas but it is highly probable that the Savigny and Correard text was one of them. Thus, the cause celebre of the wreck of the Medusa is directly treated by Gericault and indirectly by Byron - two artists temperamentally and artistically attuned.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Parents' perceptions of their adolescent children's internet use
- Authors: Butler, Zoe Ann
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Parent and child -- South Africa , Internet users -- South Africa , Cyberbullying -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7134 , vital:21246
- Description: Parents’ perceptions of their adolescent children’s Internet use significantly influences the parental mediation strategies they choose to use with their children. The motivation for this explorative research study was to understand the impact of psychological and social influences on users of the Internet in South Africa. Both locally and internationally, there is a focus on the use of digital Internet devices to facilitate education. Access of South Africans to the Internet, whether for social or educational use does not exist in a vacuum, exempt from the bidirectional forces of the individual and the environment they use the Internet in, whether it is family or academic. This study firstly focusses on how parents perceive their adolescent children’s Internet use, and secondly, how they parent their children’s use of the Internet. The common topics and themes that emerged from this study allow for the development and provision of professional services that individuals, couples, families, and groups require for the use of, or exposure to the Internet. This study uses an explorative-descriptive qualitative research design with an interpretive paradigm and snowball sampling. The qualitative research design focussed on the concepts of self-reflexivity, context, and thick description while utilizing multivocality of 1) international and South African research on cyber citizenship, including cyberbullying, cyber harassment, and legal consequences, with 2) psychological aspects of the psychosocial developmental challenges of adolescents from the iGeneration including the benefits, risks, and dangers of using the Internet, and 3) qualitative data collected from semi-structured interviews with parents from Generation X who are raising and educating a generation of children on the other side of the Digital Divide. Tracy’s 8 ‘Big-Tent’ criteria for guiding excellence in qualitative research and Tesch’s model of content analysis was used during the content analysis process. Themes and sub-themes that emerged from the analysis of the participants’ narratives included 1) experiences: positive and negative, 2) observations: behavioural changes and gender differences, 3) parenting methods: parental interaction, rules, and limits, 4) concerns: risks, and 5) opinions: personal views. This research study provides a thick description of South African and international literature and combines the literature with the voices of the participants and the researcher to produce discussions based on the findings of this qualitative study. Conclusions, recommendations, and limitations of this study informed future research on cyber citizenship by providing a detailed understanding of the context of South African parents and children, the psychosocial developmental challenges of adolescents and, how educational programmes can be best created to effectively impact on the generations of parents, teachers and children in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Butler, Zoe Ann
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Parent and child -- South Africa , Internet users -- South Africa , Cyberbullying -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7134 , vital:21246
- Description: Parents’ perceptions of their adolescent children’s Internet use significantly influences the parental mediation strategies they choose to use with their children. The motivation for this explorative research study was to understand the impact of psychological and social influences on users of the Internet in South Africa. Both locally and internationally, there is a focus on the use of digital Internet devices to facilitate education. Access of South Africans to the Internet, whether for social or educational use does not exist in a vacuum, exempt from the bidirectional forces of the individual and the environment they use the Internet in, whether it is family or academic. This study firstly focusses on how parents perceive their adolescent children’s Internet use, and secondly, how they parent their children’s use of the Internet. The common topics and themes that emerged from this study allow for the development and provision of professional services that individuals, couples, families, and groups require for the use of, or exposure to the Internet. This study uses an explorative-descriptive qualitative research design with an interpretive paradigm and snowball sampling. The qualitative research design focussed on the concepts of self-reflexivity, context, and thick description while utilizing multivocality of 1) international and South African research on cyber citizenship, including cyberbullying, cyber harassment, and legal consequences, with 2) psychological aspects of the psychosocial developmental challenges of adolescents from the iGeneration including the benefits, risks, and dangers of using the Internet, and 3) qualitative data collected from semi-structured interviews with parents from Generation X who are raising and educating a generation of children on the other side of the Digital Divide. Tracy’s 8 ‘Big-Tent’ criteria for guiding excellence in qualitative research and Tesch’s model of content analysis was used during the content analysis process. Themes and sub-themes that emerged from the analysis of the participants’ narratives included 1) experiences: positive and negative, 2) observations: behavioural changes and gender differences, 3) parenting methods: parental interaction, rules, and limits, 4) concerns: risks, and 5) opinions: personal views. This research study provides a thick description of South African and international literature and combines the literature with the voices of the participants and the researcher to produce discussions based on the findings of this qualitative study. Conclusions, recommendations, and limitations of this study informed future research on cyber citizenship by providing a detailed understanding of the context of South African parents and children, the psychosocial developmental challenges of adolescents and, how educational programmes can be best created to effectively impact on the generations of parents, teachers and children in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016