Understanding workplace bullying in SMME's of South Africa
- Authors: Bruère, Hildé
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Bullying in the workplace -- South Africa , Business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8844 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020092
- Description: Workplace bullying is a modern day problem which employers cannot afford to ignore. The impact on both the business (or organisation) and individual is of such a nature that research is needed to understand it better and to determine the extent to which it is present in the business or organisation. Research thus far covered the prevalence, consequences and causes of bullying in the organisation. Various methods to counteract and prevent it have been investigated, but with reference to the South African context knowledge is lacking. This study focuses on workplace bullying in SMMEs as very little research has been done in this field. The purpose of this study is to be able to provide a framework for managers as to how to deal, prevent and minimise workplace bullying in SMMEs of South Africa. A convenient sample was selected and information was gathered by means of a questionnaire. A quantitative study was executed and the prevalence of bullying in the SMMEs was established and a number of independent variables were tested. The independent variables researched were managerial training, awareness training, a corporate anti-bullying policy, risk assessment and mediation. The main findings were that bullying in SMMEs is indeed prevalent, but that the independent variables did not deliver significant correlations. The practical implications for managers are that strategies and tools used in larger organisations are not applicable in SMMEs. The workplace environment of the SMME is unique and different methods and tools must be identified and applied in combatting workplace bullying. The contribution of this study is that managers in South Africa across the broad industrial spectrum must realise that bullying is prevalent and that corporate policies and measures must be put in place to address it. It can no longer be ignored and further research on the subject must be encouraged.
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- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Bruère, Hildé
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Bullying in the workplace -- South Africa , Business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8844 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020092
- Description: Workplace bullying is a modern day problem which employers cannot afford to ignore. The impact on both the business (or organisation) and individual is of such a nature that research is needed to understand it better and to determine the extent to which it is present in the business or organisation. Research thus far covered the prevalence, consequences and causes of bullying in the organisation. Various methods to counteract and prevent it have been investigated, but with reference to the South African context knowledge is lacking. This study focuses on workplace bullying in SMMEs as very little research has been done in this field. The purpose of this study is to be able to provide a framework for managers as to how to deal, prevent and minimise workplace bullying in SMMEs of South Africa. A convenient sample was selected and information was gathered by means of a questionnaire. A quantitative study was executed and the prevalence of bullying in the SMMEs was established and a number of independent variables were tested. The independent variables researched were managerial training, awareness training, a corporate anti-bullying policy, risk assessment and mediation. The main findings were that bullying in SMMEs is indeed prevalent, but that the independent variables did not deliver significant correlations. The practical implications for managers are that strategies and tools used in larger organisations are not applicable in SMMEs. The workplace environment of the SMME is unique and different methods and tools must be identified and applied in combatting workplace bullying. The contribution of this study is that managers in South Africa across the broad industrial spectrum must realise that bullying is prevalent and that corporate policies and measures must be put in place to address it. It can no longer be ignored and further research on the subject must be encouraged.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Using experience from previous failed implementations to improve future lean implementation strategy
- Authors: Hiles, Charmelle Amanda
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Lean manufacturing -- Management Production planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11047 , vital:26880
- Description: The main objective of the study was to ascertain the presence of the identified critical success factors for lean sustainability in a chemical manufacturing company in Port Elizabeth. The critical success factors that formed part of the research included leadership involvement and commitment, management involvement and commitment, employee engagement and organisational culture. The methodology used was one of a positivistic approach. A questionnaire was utilized and the responses were analyzed using various statistical methods. Based on the results from the analysis, recommendations and conclusions could be drawn. The inferential results of the study indicated that all the critical success factors identified for this study were present within the organisation. However, there were still a large percentage of respondents that remained neutral across all the questions which could indicate reasons why previous attempts in lean implementation failed. The recommendations provided were based on the findings of the study. An implementation strategy was identified and outlined. This strategy and recommendations will assist in providing a sound platform for a sustainable lean initiative within the organisation.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Using experience from previous failed implementations to improve future lean implementation strategy
- Authors: Hiles, Charmelle Amanda
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Lean manufacturing -- Management Production planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11047 , vital:26880
- Description: The main objective of the study was to ascertain the presence of the identified critical success factors for lean sustainability in a chemical manufacturing company in Port Elizabeth. The critical success factors that formed part of the research included leadership involvement and commitment, management involvement and commitment, employee engagement and organisational culture. The methodology used was one of a positivistic approach. A questionnaire was utilized and the responses were analyzed using various statistical methods. Based on the results from the analysis, recommendations and conclusions could be drawn. The inferential results of the study indicated that all the critical success factors identified for this study were present within the organisation. However, there were still a large percentage of respondents that remained neutral across all the questions which could indicate reasons why previous attempts in lean implementation failed. The recommendations provided were based on the findings of the study. An implementation strategy was identified and outlined. This strategy and recommendations will assist in providing a sound platform for a sustainable lean initiative within the organisation.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Women's perceptions regarding financial planning with specific reference to investment
- Authors: Dao, Thi Anh Thu
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Women -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Finance, Personal , Investments -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Financial planning industry -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9332 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021185
- Description: Investment planning (as one of the key components of financial planning) is seen as an important solution to investment problems and challenges. Previous research however indicated that compare to men, women are not as confident and knowledgeable about financial and investment matters. As a result, women do not conduct investment planning until it is often too late and when they are confronted with a financial crisis or a life predicament such as a divorce or death. Given the lack of research attention focusing on women's perceptions of financial and investment planning in South Africa, and in particular the Eastern Cape, the objective of this research is to investigate the factors that influence women‟s Perceived successful investment planning in the Nelson Mandela Bay area. After conducting a comprehensive literature study, seven factors (independent variables) namely Values, Attitudes, Time horizon, Personal life cycle, Risks and Returns, Investment Knowledge, were identified as influencing the Perceived successful investment planning (dependent variable) of women. Various hypotheses were formulated to be tested in the empirical investigation. The validity and reliability of the measuring instrument were tested among 207 respondents. The Exploratory Factor Analysis, as well as the Cronbach‟s alpha coeffient analysis, revelead that Investment knowledge, Personal life cycle and Values are important factors that influence the women‟s Perceived successful investment planning. As a result of these analyses, the hypotheses had to be reformulated. In order to establish whether correlations existed between the various factors investigated in this study, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients were calculated. Positive correlations were found between all the variables, except between Values and Personal life cycle and between Values and Perceived successful investment planning. To analyse the association in which the effects of the independent variables (Investment knowledge, Personal life cycle and Values) have on the dependent variable (Perceived successful investment planning) of this study, multiple regression analysis was conducted. Only one independent variable emerged as having a significant influence on Perceived successful investment planning of women, namely Investment knowledge. In order to investigate the influence of the various demographic variables on the dependent variable, an Analysis of Variance was performed. No significant differences were found between the selected demographic variables, namely Age, Ethnic group, Marital status, Education and Investment experience and the independent variables or dependent variable of this study. By investigating the influence of women‟s Perceived successful investment planning, this study has added to the body of knowledge of both financial and investment planning. Based on the empirical results of this study, several recommendations have been made in an attempt to assist women to make better investment decisions and manage their investment planning more effectively.
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- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Dao, Thi Anh Thu
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Women -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Finance, Personal , Investments -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Financial planning industry -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9332 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021185
- Description: Investment planning (as one of the key components of financial planning) is seen as an important solution to investment problems and challenges. Previous research however indicated that compare to men, women are not as confident and knowledgeable about financial and investment matters. As a result, women do not conduct investment planning until it is often too late and when they are confronted with a financial crisis or a life predicament such as a divorce or death. Given the lack of research attention focusing on women's perceptions of financial and investment planning in South Africa, and in particular the Eastern Cape, the objective of this research is to investigate the factors that influence women‟s Perceived successful investment planning in the Nelson Mandela Bay area. After conducting a comprehensive literature study, seven factors (independent variables) namely Values, Attitudes, Time horizon, Personal life cycle, Risks and Returns, Investment Knowledge, were identified as influencing the Perceived successful investment planning (dependent variable) of women. Various hypotheses were formulated to be tested in the empirical investigation. The validity and reliability of the measuring instrument were tested among 207 respondents. The Exploratory Factor Analysis, as well as the Cronbach‟s alpha coeffient analysis, revelead that Investment knowledge, Personal life cycle and Values are important factors that influence the women‟s Perceived successful investment planning. As a result of these analyses, the hypotheses had to be reformulated. In order to establish whether correlations existed between the various factors investigated in this study, Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients were calculated. Positive correlations were found between all the variables, except between Values and Personal life cycle and between Values and Perceived successful investment planning. To analyse the association in which the effects of the independent variables (Investment knowledge, Personal life cycle and Values) have on the dependent variable (Perceived successful investment planning) of this study, multiple regression analysis was conducted. Only one independent variable emerged as having a significant influence on Perceived successful investment planning of women, namely Investment knowledge. In order to investigate the influence of the various demographic variables on the dependent variable, an Analysis of Variance was performed. No significant differences were found between the selected demographic variables, namely Age, Ethnic group, Marital status, Education and Investment experience and the independent variables or dependent variable of this study. By investigating the influence of women‟s Perceived successful investment planning, this study has added to the body of knowledge of both financial and investment planning. Based on the empirical results of this study, several recommendations have been made in an attempt to assist women to make better investment decisions and manage their investment planning more effectively.
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- Date Issued: 2015
Environmental ethics, protection and valuation
- Authors: Du Preez, M
- Subjects: Environmental ethics , Environmental protection , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21022 , vital:29428
- Description: This lecture addresses the environmental ethics, protection and valuation of natural assets. The aim of the lecture is threefold: first, to present a bio-ethical argument for the extension of our moral reference class to include all conscious and non-conscious natural assets; second, to discuss the moral significance of a broader moral reference class in terms of Aldo Leopold’s ‘Land Ethic’; third, to discuss the valuation of natural assets from a system’s perspective with specific reference to the estimation of non-use values. In what follows, Section I discusses environmental protection from a bioethical point of view, Section II discusses the moral significance of a broader moral reference class in terms of Aldo Leopold’s ‘Land Ethic’, Section III describes the concept of valuing natural assets with specific reference to the concept of non-use value and its measurement, and finally, Section IV concludes the lecture.
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- Authors: Du Preez, M
- Subjects: Environmental ethics , Environmental protection , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21022 , vital:29428
- Description: This lecture addresses the environmental ethics, protection and valuation of natural assets. The aim of the lecture is threefold: first, to present a bio-ethical argument for the extension of our moral reference class to include all conscious and non-conscious natural assets; second, to discuss the moral significance of a broader moral reference class in terms of Aldo Leopold’s ‘Land Ethic’; third, to discuss the valuation of natural assets from a system’s perspective with specific reference to the estimation of non-use values. In what follows, Section I discusses environmental protection from a bioethical point of view, Section II discusses the moral significance of a broader moral reference class in terms of Aldo Leopold’s ‘Land Ethic’, Section III describes the concept of valuing natural assets with specific reference to the concept of non-use value and its measurement, and finally, Section IV concludes the lecture.
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Structure and agency in the age of climate change
- Authors: Cherry, Janet
- Subjects: South Africa -- Economic conditions , South Africa -- Social conditions , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21033 , vital:29429
- Description: What I will present here is based on my grappling over the past three decades with one of the central problems of social science – the relationship between social structure and human agency. This is not a new problem for social scientists; from Karl Marx, who understood that human beings make history, but not in circumstances of their choosing; to the French structuralists who conceived the term ‘relative autonomy’ and ‘overdetermination’; to Anthony Giddens’ ‘structuration theory’ and other contemporary sociologists. What is new are the changing physical circumstances of the world in which we live, which mean that human society can no longer afford to analyse ourselves and our social, political and economic systems independently of the natural world.
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- Authors: Cherry, Janet
- Subjects: South Africa -- Economic conditions , South Africa -- Social conditions , f-sa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21033 , vital:29429
- Description: What I will present here is based on my grappling over the past three decades with one of the central problems of social science – the relationship between social structure and human agency. This is not a new problem for social scientists; from Karl Marx, who understood that human beings make history, but not in circumstances of their choosing; to the French structuralists who conceived the term ‘relative autonomy’ and ‘overdetermination’; to Anthony Giddens’ ‘structuration theory’ and other contemporary sociologists. What is new are the changing physical circumstances of the world in which we live, which mean that human society can no longer afford to analyse ourselves and our social, political and economic systems independently of the natural world.
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