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
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
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 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
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
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/10948/4575 , vital:20619
- 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/10948/4575 , vital:20619
- 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
Participation of Zimbabwean female students in physics: Subject perception and identity formation
- Authors: Gudyanga, Anna
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Participation -- Women -- Zimbabwe Women -- Education -- Zimbabwe Science -- Study and teaching -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11542 , vital:26936
- Description: The central focus of this study was to determine the extent to which identity formation influenced Zimbabwean A-level female students’ perceptions of and participation in physics. The themes from the sub-problems included the influence of contextual factors on identity formation in relation to physics as a subject at Advanced Level (A-level), facets of identity formation considered to be of significance by female students in relation to physics, the way in which female students’ perceptions of physics influenced their participation in the subject as well as the factors of identity formation considered as contributing to developing an orientation towards physics by female students. A qualitative approach grounded in an interpretivist paradigm was used. A tri-hybrid theoretical lens comprising of Wenger’s (1998) Social Learning Theory featuring CoP, the Feminist Stand point Theory and Sfard and Prusak’s (2005) notion of ‘telling’ identities or stories, enabled a rich understanding of the influences of identity formation on female students’ perceptions of and participation in physics. The data generating methods used were classroom observation, Draw-A-Scientist Test and semi-structured interviews conducted with nine participants. The data were collated to generate narratives. Key findings: The contextual factors that influenced the identity formation of female students and subsequently their participation in physics at A-level included: Parental and siblings influence; cultural perceptions; impact of the O-level experience; A-level physics teachers’ attitudes; classroom and laboratory experience; male peer influence and other factors such as an understanding of the relevance of physics in daily life. Facets of identity formation considered to be of significance by female students in relation to physics included: being confident, fearless, intelligent, and courageous, liking physics and being determined. These facets motivated them to develop an identity in favour of physics. The female participants studying only mathematics perceived themselves as very intelligent but with a fear of failing physics, lacking confidence and courage. Female students who held negative perceptions towards physics chose to do only mathematics at A-level while those with positive perceptions which influenced the formation of a positive physics identity displayed enthusiasm and commitment to achieve high levels of performance in the subject. Factors of identity formation considered as contributing positively to the development of an orientation towards physics by female students included the importance of v female physics teachers as role models, motivation from O-level science teachers, high self-confidence, high self-esteem, parental support and encouragement, and aspirations towards a physics related career. Gender insensitivity displayed by male teachers, male peer harassment and gender stereotyping are factors in identity formation considered as inhibiting the development of an orientation towards physics by female students. This study provides physics educators, physics planners and the government with detailed information on the role identity formation plays on the participation of Zimbabwean female adolescent students in A-level physics. The findings may be used by heads of schools to sensitise academic staff on the gender dimensions of teaching and learning as well as by counsellors and parents to encourage females to enrol for physics and mathematics as their subjects of choice. This study also contributes to the strengthening of educational research in Zimbabwe, especially research aimed at emancipation of female students in Zimbabwe.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Gudyanga, Anna
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Participation -- Women -- Zimbabwe Women -- Education -- Zimbabwe Science -- Study and teaching -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11542 , vital:26936
- Description: The central focus of this study was to determine the extent to which identity formation influenced Zimbabwean A-level female students’ perceptions of and participation in physics. The themes from the sub-problems included the influence of contextual factors on identity formation in relation to physics as a subject at Advanced Level (A-level), facets of identity formation considered to be of significance by female students in relation to physics, the way in which female students’ perceptions of physics influenced their participation in the subject as well as the factors of identity formation considered as contributing to developing an orientation towards physics by female students. A qualitative approach grounded in an interpretivist paradigm was used. A tri-hybrid theoretical lens comprising of Wenger’s (1998) Social Learning Theory featuring CoP, the Feminist Stand point Theory and Sfard and Prusak’s (2005) notion of ‘telling’ identities or stories, enabled a rich understanding of the influences of identity formation on female students’ perceptions of and participation in physics. The data generating methods used were classroom observation, Draw-A-Scientist Test and semi-structured interviews conducted with nine participants. The data were collated to generate narratives. Key findings: The contextual factors that influenced the identity formation of female students and subsequently their participation in physics at A-level included: Parental and siblings influence; cultural perceptions; impact of the O-level experience; A-level physics teachers’ attitudes; classroom and laboratory experience; male peer influence and other factors such as an understanding of the relevance of physics in daily life. Facets of identity formation considered to be of significance by female students in relation to physics included: being confident, fearless, intelligent, and courageous, liking physics and being determined. These facets motivated them to develop an identity in favour of physics. The female participants studying only mathematics perceived themselves as very intelligent but with a fear of failing physics, lacking confidence and courage. Female students who held negative perceptions towards physics chose to do only mathematics at A-level while those with positive perceptions which influenced the formation of a positive physics identity displayed enthusiasm and commitment to achieve high levels of performance in the subject. Factors of identity formation considered as contributing positively to the development of an orientation towards physics by female students included the importance of v female physics teachers as role models, motivation from O-level science teachers, high self-confidence, high self-esteem, parental support and encouragement, and aspirations towards a physics related career. Gender insensitivity displayed by male teachers, male peer harassment and gender stereotyping are factors in identity formation considered as inhibiting the development of an orientation towards physics by female students. This study provides physics educators, physics planners and the government with detailed information on the role identity formation plays on the participation of Zimbabwean female adolescent students in A-level physics. The findings may be used by heads of schools to sensitise academic staff on the gender dimensions of teaching and learning as well as by counsellors and parents to encourage females to enrol for physics and mathematics as their subjects of choice. This study also contributes to the strengthening of educational research in Zimbabwe, especially research aimed at emancipation of female students in Zimbabwe.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Penguin parenting : assortative mating, nest attendance and sex-specific chick provisioning in the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus)
- Authors: Smith, Diane Lauren
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: African penguin , Penguins -- South Africa , Penguins -- Sexual behavior , Parental behavior in animals
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5943 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019993
- Description: Animal behaviour is especially sensitive to environmental variability and prey availability during the breeding season, and this is particularly true for non-volant, central place foragers such as the endangered African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus). Individual sex and morphology, as well as the level of assortment within mated pairs can influence both the behaviour and the reproductive success of species exhibiting biparental care. This study made use of a large biometric database and nest attendance video footage to determine the influence of intrinsic (assortative mating, brood size and chick age) and extrinsic (environmental conditions, anthropic disturbance) factors on breeding behaviour and performance of African Penguins on Bird Island, Algoa Bay, during peak breeding (March - July) in 2013. While sexual dimorphism in African Penguins is subtle, the colony-specific discriminant functions presented here provide an accurate sexing tool when only bill and flipper length are available. Despite the premise that selection of a large, high-quality mate in this longlived, monogamous seabird governs lifetime fitness, only low levels of assortative mating were found, and this only for earlier breeders, when larger females (but not males) bred. The 2013 season was a particularly successful one, coinciding with above-average sardine and anchovy abundance, and almost 80 percent of monitored nests were double-brooded, with very low levels of mortality. A- and B-chicks of double broods and singleton chicks grew at similar rates and exhibited similar body condition indices. In these conditions, chick developmental rates were independent of parental size, assortment or provisioning behaviour. Females raising a double brood were significantly lighter and in poorer body condition than those raising a single chick, although the same trend was not evident in males. Offspring sex ratio in 2013 (2.27:1) favoured male chicks, suggesting that there is potential to over-produce the larger sex when resources are plentiful. Peak nest arrival and departure times of parents did not change over the course of monitored breeding attempts (March-June), nor were they different for disturbed and undisturbed nests or for a single or double brood. The increase in CCTV-observed provisioning rate as chicks grew larger was best explained by brood size, at-sea chlorophyll a concentration, and maximum air temperature, but was unrelated to parental morphology or assortative index. Importantly, parental absenteeism commenced earlier and was markedly greater in nests frequently handled by researchers than in undisturbed nests. Both the time spent together by parents, and absenteeism were measurably affected by maximum afternoon air temperatures, the effects of which are expected to be exacerbated by poorer foraging conditions and climate change. A third of manually-monitored nests shared chick-guarding duties unequally, although this phenomenon was independent of parental sex or morphology. The adaptive benefits of mating patterns and division of labour during chick-rearing may only become apparent in a year of below-average food availability and it is highly recommended that this study be repeated in a year of scarce food resources. These findings augment past foraging ecology studies and demonstrate that investigator disturbance and environmental conditions can affect the nesting behaviour of this highly threatened seabird.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Smith, Diane Lauren
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: African penguin , Penguins -- South Africa , Penguins -- Sexual behavior , Parental behavior in animals
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5943 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019993
- Description: Animal behaviour is especially sensitive to environmental variability and prey availability during the breeding season, and this is particularly true for non-volant, central place foragers such as the endangered African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus). Individual sex and morphology, as well as the level of assortment within mated pairs can influence both the behaviour and the reproductive success of species exhibiting biparental care. This study made use of a large biometric database and nest attendance video footage to determine the influence of intrinsic (assortative mating, brood size and chick age) and extrinsic (environmental conditions, anthropic disturbance) factors on breeding behaviour and performance of African Penguins on Bird Island, Algoa Bay, during peak breeding (March - July) in 2013. While sexual dimorphism in African Penguins is subtle, the colony-specific discriminant functions presented here provide an accurate sexing tool when only bill and flipper length are available. Despite the premise that selection of a large, high-quality mate in this longlived, monogamous seabird governs lifetime fitness, only low levels of assortative mating were found, and this only for earlier breeders, when larger females (but not males) bred. The 2013 season was a particularly successful one, coinciding with above-average sardine and anchovy abundance, and almost 80 percent of monitored nests were double-brooded, with very low levels of mortality. A- and B-chicks of double broods and singleton chicks grew at similar rates and exhibited similar body condition indices. In these conditions, chick developmental rates were independent of parental size, assortment or provisioning behaviour. Females raising a double brood were significantly lighter and in poorer body condition than those raising a single chick, although the same trend was not evident in males. Offspring sex ratio in 2013 (2.27:1) favoured male chicks, suggesting that there is potential to over-produce the larger sex when resources are plentiful. Peak nest arrival and departure times of parents did not change over the course of monitored breeding attempts (March-June), nor were they different for disturbed and undisturbed nests or for a single or double brood. The increase in CCTV-observed provisioning rate as chicks grew larger was best explained by brood size, at-sea chlorophyll a concentration, and maximum air temperature, but was unrelated to parental morphology or assortative index. Importantly, parental absenteeism commenced earlier and was markedly greater in nests frequently handled by researchers than in undisturbed nests. Both the time spent together by parents, and absenteeism were measurably affected by maximum afternoon air temperatures, the effects of which are expected to be exacerbated by poorer foraging conditions and climate change. A third of manually-monitored nests shared chick-guarding duties unequally, although this phenomenon was independent of parental sex or morphology. The adaptive benefits of mating patterns and division of labour during chick-rearing may only become apparent in a year of below-average food availability and it is highly recommended that this study be repeated in a year of scarce food resources. These findings augment past foraging ecology studies and demonstrate that investigator disturbance and environmental conditions can affect the nesting behaviour of this highly threatened seabird.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Perceived decision making factors in the use of traditional and alternative medicine for people living with HIV and AIDS
- Authors: Muromo, Tinashe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Decision making , HIV-positive persons -- Attitudes , Social influence
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5687 , vital:20963
- Description: AIDS is one of the most destructive diseases humankind has ever faced and also brings with it profound social, economic and public health consequences, making it one of the most serious health and development challenges in the world today. Zimbabwe, situated in southeastern Africa, is not spared from the pandemic. It continues to be one of the Sub-SaharanAfrican countries mostly heavily impacted by the AIDS epidemic, with almost 1.2 million people infected and over 1.1 million orphans. It ranks, therefore, as fifth highest in the world in the impact HIV and AIDS has had on the country. The most effective response has been to introduce programmes to reduce the number of new infections. Recent research has demonstrated treatment as a preventative measure to be very effective. This approach involves targeting those who are infected so that they are not able to transmit the disease. The decision that has to be made by an infected person, however, is whether to look for traditional treatment, conventional treatment or a combination of the two. Herbal medicine use is becoming very common in many countries, especially in the developing world, where public health safety has become a concern. It has become common to use herbal medicine concomitantly with allopathic or conventional medicine. The present study focused on investigating perceptions leading to the choice of treatment with the traditional alternative medicines (TAM) as (a)/n alternative or compliment to the conventional or allopathic option. This is a qualitative study that explores and describes participant’s perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and feelings around the use of traditional medicine, within the context of the Integrative Behaviour Model (IBM). Data was collected from 20 people living with HIV and AIDS from urban and rural settings of different ethnicities (Shona and Shangani). The data analysis was informed by The Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis with the aid of NVivo (V.10), a computer-assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software. As predicted by the IBM, both perceived individual and environmental factors were found to be key in influencing decision-making on the use of TAM by people living with HIV and AIDS. Although there were a number of incidents in which either individual or environmental factors were perceived as independently influencing the TAM-use decision-making process, there was a lot of mutual influence between the environment and the individual. Such mutual causation was abstracted as reciprocal determinism. The IMB model assumed a unidirectional causation in which the environment could affect the individual factors. While the present study identified and demonstrated these environmental effects on the individual, it also identified and presented a reverse causation in which the individual would also affect the environment with respect to motivation for TAM use. Individual factors were psychological properties that drove the individual to use TAM. Attitude, social influence and personal agency emerged as the three dimensions of individual factors. Attitudes helped in identification of orientations that located objects of thought on dimensions of judgment about the use of TAM. Social influence explained social pressure experienced and expected regarding the use of TAM. The study demonstrated the importance of both the descriptive and injunctive norm with participants indicating that they perceived important others to be using traditional medicine and that they felt perceived expectations from others to do the same and hence the motivation to comply. Personal agency pointed to the participants’ capacities to originate and direct actions for the purposes of TAM use. All these constructs were found to be very important as perceived determinants of the behavioral intentions of people living with HIV and AIDS to use traditional medicines. In experiential attitude, generally the respondents showed more perceived positive evaluations of pleasurable experiences in their use of traditional medicines. However, there were other outcome evaluations that seemed to be ambivalent and which appeared to cause a lot of tension. The comprehension of experiential attitude was found therefore found to be trichotomous rather than dichotomous as per the IBM. The effects of the instrumental attitude were revealed in the ratings of the extent to which the use of traditional medicine was perceived as useful or rewarding, with the study revealing high ratings of usefulness. It becomes clear, therefore, that for people living with HIV and AIDS social influence, perceived attitudes and personal agency are important decision-making factors in their use of traditional and alternative medicine. Efforts towards education, integration and behaviour change programmes should design messages targeting these behavioral determinants. Understanding of these perceived determinants is crucial to influencing policy as well as the adoption of health practices through education, marketing and other modes of health promotion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Muromo, Tinashe
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Decision making , HIV-positive persons -- Attitudes , Social influence
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5687 , vital:20963
- Description: AIDS is one of the most destructive diseases humankind has ever faced and also brings with it profound social, economic and public health consequences, making it one of the most serious health and development challenges in the world today. Zimbabwe, situated in southeastern Africa, is not spared from the pandemic. It continues to be one of the Sub-SaharanAfrican countries mostly heavily impacted by the AIDS epidemic, with almost 1.2 million people infected and over 1.1 million orphans. It ranks, therefore, as fifth highest in the world in the impact HIV and AIDS has had on the country. The most effective response has been to introduce programmes to reduce the number of new infections. Recent research has demonstrated treatment as a preventative measure to be very effective. This approach involves targeting those who are infected so that they are not able to transmit the disease. The decision that has to be made by an infected person, however, is whether to look for traditional treatment, conventional treatment or a combination of the two. Herbal medicine use is becoming very common in many countries, especially in the developing world, where public health safety has become a concern. It has become common to use herbal medicine concomitantly with allopathic or conventional medicine. The present study focused on investigating perceptions leading to the choice of treatment with the traditional alternative medicines (TAM) as (a)/n alternative or compliment to the conventional or allopathic option. This is a qualitative study that explores and describes participant’s perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and feelings around the use of traditional medicine, within the context of the Integrative Behaviour Model (IBM). Data was collected from 20 people living with HIV and AIDS from urban and rural settings of different ethnicities (Shona and Shangani). The data analysis was informed by The Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis with the aid of NVivo (V.10), a computer-assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software. As predicted by the IBM, both perceived individual and environmental factors were found to be key in influencing decision-making on the use of TAM by people living with HIV and AIDS. Although there were a number of incidents in which either individual or environmental factors were perceived as independently influencing the TAM-use decision-making process, there was a lot of mutual influence between the environment and the individual. Such mutual causation was abstracted as reciprocal determinism. The IMB model assumed a unidirectional causation in which the environment could affect the individual factors. While the present study identified and demonstrated these environmental effects on the individual, it also identified and presented a reverse causation in which the individual would also affect the environment with respect to motivation for TAM use. Individual factors were psychological properties that drove the individual to use TAM. Attitude, social influence and personal agency emerged as the three dimensions of individual factors. Attitudes helped in identification of orientations that located objects of thought on dimensions of judgment about the use of TAM. Social influence explained social pressure experienced and expected regarding the use of TAM. The study demonstrated the importance of both the descriptive and injunctive norm with participants indicating that they perceived important others to be using traditional medicine and that they felt perceived expectations from others to do the same and hence the motivation to comply. Personal agency pointed to the participants’ capacities to originate and direct actions for the purposes of TAM use. All these constructs were found to be very important as perceived determinants of the behavioral intentions of people living with HIV and AIDS to use traditional medicines. In experiential attitude, generally the respondents showed more perceived positive evaluations of pleasurable experiences in their use of traditional medicines. However, there were other outcome evaluations that seemed to be ambivalent and which appeared to cause a lot of tension. The comprehension of experiential attitude was found therefore found to be trichotomous rather than dichotomous as per the IBM. The effects of the instrumental attitude were revealed in the ratings of the extent to which the use of traditional medicine was perceived as useful or rewarding, with the study revealing high ratings of usefulness. It becomes clear, therefore, that for people living with HIV and AIDS social influence, perceived attitudes and personal agency are important decision-making factors in their use of traditional and alternative medicine. Efforts towards education, integration and behaviour change programmes should design messages targeting these behavioral determinants. Understanding of these perceived determinants is crucial to influencing policy as well as the adoption of health practices through education, marketing and other modes of health promotion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Perceptions and experiences of G2E e-Government workplace restructuring: The cases of Buffalo City and City of Cape Town metropolitan municipalities, South Africa
- Authors: Makwembere, Sandra
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/617 , vital:19975
- Description: Taking the cases of Buffalo City Metropolitan municipality (BCMM) and City of Cape Town Metropolitan municipality (CoCT), this thesis explores the implications of government to employee (G2E) electronic government workplace restructuring on skills transformation and workplace control as perceived by back office employees and managers from different Corporate Services departments. It aims to describe the arrangements, rationale and degree of G2E e-government at BCMM and CoCT, investigate how managers, employees and union representatives identify the workplace changes relating to skill as well as document and analyse workplace struggles linked to G2E e-government. Using labour process analysis, the impacts of G2E e-government technological change are conceptualised. The labour process concepts alert us to ways in which G2E e-government technology is applied in the context of specific public sector production relations. They explain how employees and managers experience the dynamics of skill transformation and the mechanisms of control related to G2E e-government. The consideration of the labour process contrasts predominant e-government scholarly works that focus on government websites. Further, by using case study methods, namely interviews, surveys and observations, the thesis documents the particular back office employees’ and managers’ realities of G2E e-government which are marginalised in scholarly literature. The sample of respondents were selected using purposive sampling based on the subjects’ knowledge and experience, snowball sampling following referrals and random sampling during site visits. The respondents included four managers, four employees, two shop stewards and one service provider at BCMM and 16 managers, 20 employees and four shop stewards at CoCT. The findings from BCMM and CoCT illustrate how G2E e-government workplace restructuring individualises the labour process through the kind of technologies it introduces. Moreover, they show how the restructuring facilitates electronic information, communication and operations which broaden demands on technical as well as social skills. The findings also show that the restructuring extends avenues for managerial control thereby marginalising union representivity as the workplace control systems create opportunities for systemic control by management. As the South African government adopts electronic government and makes optimistic declarations of “cost saving”, “efficiency”, “productivity” and “innovation” through egovernment, the study uncovers marginalised local government employee and manager experiences. It contributes to building new knowledge on the impacts of contemporary technological change on the local government labour process and contributes to debates around the effects of G2E e-government reforms on local government.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Makwembere, Sandra
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/617 , vital:19975
- Description: Taking the cases of Buffalo City Metropolitan municipality (BCMM) and City of Cape Town Metropolitan municipality (CoCT), this thesis explores the implications of government to employee (G2E) electronic government workplace restructuring on skills transformation and workplace control as perceived by back office employees and managers from different Corporate Services departments. It aims to describe the arrangements, rationale and degree of G2E e-government at BCMM and CoCT, investigate how managers, employees and union representatives identify the workplace changes relating to skill as well as document and analyse workplace struggles linked to G2E e-government. Using labour process analysis, the impacts of G2E e-government technological change are conceptualised. The labour process concepts alert us to ways in which G2E e-government technology is applied in the context of specific public sector production relations. They explain how employees and managers experience the dynamics of skill transformation and the mechanisms of control related to G2E e-government. The consideration of the labour process contrasts predominant e-government scholarly works that focus on government websites. Further, by using case study methods, namely interviews, surveys and observations, the thesis documents the particular back office employees’ and managers’ realities of G2E e-government which are marginalised in scholarly literature. The sample of respondents were selected using purposive sampling based on the subjects’ knowledge and experience, snowball sampling following referrals and random sampling during site visits. The respondents included four managers, four employees, two shop stewards and one service provider at BCMM and 16 managers, 20 employees and four shop stewards at CoCT. The findings from BCMM and CoCT illustrate how G2E e-government workplace restructuring individualises the labour process through the kind of technologies it introduces. Moreover, they show how the restructuring facilitates electronic information, communication and operations which broaden demands on technical as well as social skills. The findings also show that the restructuring extends avenues for managerial control thereby marginalising union representivity as the workplace control systems create opportunities for systemic control by management. As the South African government adopts electronic government and makes optimistic declarations of “cost saving”, “efficiency”, “productivity” and “innovation” through egovernment, the study uncovers marginalised local government employee and manager experiences. It contributes to building new knowledge on the impacts of contemporary technological change on the local government labour process and contributes to debates around the effects of G2E e-government reforms on local government.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Perceptions and practices of small-scale piggery farmers towards animal welfare in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole
- Authors: Maqhajana, Mzwanele
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Animal welfare -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8079 , vital:24719
- Description: There has been an increasing concern about animal welfare in small-scale farming as the farmers' agricultural practices shift towards intensive agriculture. It has become important to comprehend how small-scale farmers perceive and practice animal welfare relative to production and market integration. To solve the research problem, the research emphasis was on assessing the following practices; procedures adopted by the small-scale farmers, welfare levels verses industry equirements for market integration; determinants affecting small-scale perceptions and attitudes towards animal welfare and how has animal welfare affected farm development and production. The research focus for this study was to investigate the linkage between perceptions and this process. In order to achieve a more in-depth understanding of the study while also ensuring its validity and correctness a triangulation research method was applied, which consisted of a quantitative and qualitative method approach. The focus groups and structured research interview questions were used as the main data collections instruments. The study consisted of sixty-two piggery small-scale farmers from three areas of the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole. The study found that there was a disparity between the perceptions and practice of small-scale farmers. Farmers perceived their practices as acceptable. However, on most of the farms the pigs were farmed in an unhygienic environment, had limited handling facilities, the farmers had unconventional methods to handle the pigs; there was poor support from technical services, many of the farmers never administered animal welfare evaluations and applied questionable feeding practices. The study also indicated that less than 15% had suitable facilities to accommodate suitable reproduction and piglet care. The researcher recommended the following interventions to improve animal welfare approaches with small-scale farmers in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole: Training and information campaigns to improve small-scale piggery farmers' perception and knowledge of animal welfare, as well as market standards and requirements. Strengthening the relationship between the small-scale piggery farmers and animal welfare stakeholders. Including active engagement between small scale piggery farmers and the Department of Rural Development, Agrarian Reform and Urban Agriculture Unit of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Encouraging farmers to strive for stronger markets to facilitate better income and care of animals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Maqhajana, Mzwanele
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Animal welfare -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8079 , vital:24719
- Description: There has been an increasing concern about animal welfare in small-scale farming as the farmers' agricultural practices shift towards intensive agriculture. It has become important to comprehend how small-scale farmers perceive and practice animal welfare relative to production and market integration. To solve the research problem, the research emphasis was on assessing the following practices; procedures adopted by the small-scale farmers, welfare levels verses industry equirements for market integration; determinants affecting small-scale perceptions and attitudes towards animal welfare and how has animal welfare affected farm development and production. The research focus for this study was to investigate the linkage between perceptions and this process. In order to achieve a more in-depth understanding of the study while also ensuring its validity and correctness a triangulation research method was applied, which consisted of a quantitative and qualitative method approach. The focus groups and structured research interview questions were used as the main data collections instruments. The study consisted of sixty-two piggery small-scale farmers from three areas of the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole. The study found that there was a disparity between the perceptions and practice of small-scale farmers. Farmers perceived their practices as acceptable. However, on most of the farms the pigs were farmed in an unhygienic environment, had limited handling facilities, the farmers had unconventional methods to handle the pigs; there was poor support from technical services, many of the farmers never administered animal welfare evaluations and applied questionable feeding practices. The study also indicated that less than 15% had suitable facilities to accommodate suitable reproduction and piglet care. The researcher recommended the following interventions to improve animal welfare approaches with small-scale farmers in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole: Training and information campaigns to improve small-scale piggery farmers' perception and knowledge of animal welfare, as well as market standards and requirements. Strengthening the relationship between the small-scale piggery farmers and animal welfare stakeholders. Including active engagement between small scale piggery farmers and the Department of Rural Development, Agrarian Reform and Urban Agriculture Unit of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Encouraging farmers to strive for stronger markets to facilitate better income and care of animals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Perceptions of indigenous people regarding mental illness at Cacadu district in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa
- Authors: Tilolo, Lwazi
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11930 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021323
- Description: Indigenous people tend to consult traditional healers when a family member manifests change in behaviour, whilst conventional treatment disregards spirituality when preserving mental health. The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of indigenous people and the role of traditional healers in the management of mentally ill persons within the Cacadu District in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study has adopted a qualitative approach which was exploratory and descriptive in nature. The sample consisted of nine relatives of mental health care users (MHCUs) and six traditional healers. Ethical principles were also taken into consideration by the researcher during the process of conducting the study. Data were collected from two strata, namely, relatives of the MHCUs and the traditional healers and an interview guide was used to conduct in-depth face-to-face interviews. Data were analysed using Tesch’s method of data analysis. Four themes emerged from the data categories and sub categories were identified. According to the themes participants indicated the negative impact of mental illness; as a result they portrayed great desperation regarding the means of accessing a cure for mental illness. Some participants showed insufficient knowledge regarding mental illness and had different perceptions and beliefs regarding the origin of mental illness. Available literature was used to emphasise and support the views that were expressed by both traditional healers and relatives of MHCUs. It has been highlighted from this study that indigenous people of Cacadu District view mental illness as spiritual in origin but they include Western medication for the benefit of the mentally ill. In addition, the relatives of the MHCUs highlighted the economic burden as the major problem that results from mental illness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Tilolo, Lwazi
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Nursing Science)
- Identifier: vital:11930 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1021323
- Description: Indigenous people tend to consult traditional healers when a family member manifests change in behaviour, whilst conventional treatment disregards spirituality when preserving mental health. The aim of the study was to explore the perceptions of indigenous people and the role of traditional healers in the management of mentally ill persons within the Cacadu District in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study has adopted a qualitative approach which was exploratory and descriptive in nature. The sample consisted of nine relatives of mental health care users (MHCUs) and six traditional healers. Ethical principles were also taken into consideration by the researcher during the process of conducting the study. Data were collected from two strata, namely, relatives of the MHCUs and the traditional healers and an interview guide was used to conduct in-depth face-to-face interviews. Data were analysed using Tesch’s method of data analysis. Four themes emerged from the data categories and sub categories were identified. According to the themes participants indicated the negative impact of mental illness; as a result they portrayed great desperation regarding the means of accessing a cure for mental illness. Some participants showed insufficient knowledge regarding mental illness and had different perceptions and beliefs regarding the origin of mental illness. Available literature was used to emphasise and support the views that were expressed by both traditional healers and relatives of MHCUs. It has been highlighted from this study that indigenous people of Cacadu District view mental illness as spiritual in origin but they include Western medication for the benefit of the mentally ill. In addition, the relatives of the MHCUs highlighted the economic burden as the major problem that results from mental illness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Perceptions of internal rewards equity, equity sensitivity, psychological capital and work engagement
- Authors: Warneke, Kirsten Ruth
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Work -- Psychological aspects , Job satisfaction , Employee motivation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4193 , vital:20565
- Description: Psychological capital and work engagement, both constructs rooted in positive psychology, have been associated with positive outcomes in the workplace, such as better job performance and organisational citizenship behaviours. The rewards practices of organisations have not been widely studied in relation to these positive psychological constructs, despite the clear importance of understanding how the way that employees are rewarded serves to motivate behaviour in the workplace. This study sought to bring together two rewards-centred constructs, namely, the perceptions of equity of rewards and the equity sensitivity of employees, and the two positive psychological constructs of psychological capital and work engagement, with the aim of understanding how these constructs relate to each other and, ultimately, discerning how reward systems might best be aligned to improve employee performance. A theoretical model was constructed based on a review of relevant literature, and eight hypotheses were set to test the model. This research took the form of a cross-sectional design, using a composite questionnaire to measure psychological capital, work engagement, equity sensitivity and perceptions of equity in rewards by means of a self-report electronic survey. Employees at a South African university were invited to participate in the study by means of an emailed invitation, and a sample of 305 respondents was achieved. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics, which included frequency tables, Cronbach’s alpha testing, Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlations, chi-square tests, t-tests, analysis of variance, hierarchical regression analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling. The results of the survey showed that respondents had high levels of psychological capital with the exception of the medium scores on the Optimism dimension; levels of work engagement were high overall; responses regarding the perceptions of equity of rewards relating to promotions were most negative, with the rest of the perceptions of equity of rewards dimensions being scored neutrally; and scores for equity sensitivity showed a tendency toward a benevolent disposition. Significant differences were found between demographic groups in the sample for all of the constructs under investigation. Evidence was found in support of the hypothesised relationships in the theoretical model, with the exception of the hypothesised link between equity sensitivity and the perceptions of equity of rewards. The hypotheses regarding moderation relationships were not accepted, based on the results of the hierarchical regression analysis. Structural equation model testing resulted in unsatisfactory fit of the statistical model. Confirmatory factor analysis results provided support for the acceptability of the Equity Sensitivity Instrument, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and Psychological Capital Questionnaire for use on a South African sample. As far as it could be ascertained, the constructs under investigation have not been examined together before. The study therefore contributes uniquely to the existing body of positive organisational behaviour research, and begins to fill the gap identified in the Rewards literature. A number of recommendations for researchers and for organisations stemming from the study are put forward.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Warneke, Kirsten Ruth
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Work -- Psychological aspects , Job satisfaction , Employee motivation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4193 , vital:20565
- Description: Psychological capital and work engagement, both constructs rooted in positive psychology, have been associated with positive outcomes in the workplace, such as better job performance and organisational citizenship behaviours. The rewards practices of organisations have not been widely studied in relation to these positive psychological constructs, despite the clear importance of understanding how the way that employees are rewarded serves to motivate behaviour in the workplace. This study sought to bring together two rewards-centred constructs, namely, the perceptions of equity of rewards and the equity sensitivity of employees, and the two positive psychological constructs of psychological capital and work engagement, with the aim of understanding how these constructs relate to each other and, ultimately, discerning how reward systems might best be aligned to improve employee performance. A theoretical model was constructed based on a review of relevant literature, and eight hypotheses were set to test the model. This research took the form of a cross-sectional design, using a composite questionnaire to measure psychological capital, work engagement, equity sensitivity and perceptions of equity in rewards by means of a self-report electronic survey. Employees at a South African university were invited to participate in the study by means of an emailed invitation, and a sample of 305 respondents was achieved. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics, which included frequency tables, Cronbach’s alpha testing, Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlations, chi-square tests, t-tests, analysis of variance, hierarchical regression analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling. The results of the survey showed that respondents had high levels of psychological capital with the exception of the medium scores on the Optimism dimension; levels of work engagement were high overall; responses regarding the perceptions of equity of rewards relating to promotions were most negative, with the rest of the perceptions of equity of rewards dimensions being scored neutrally; and scores for equity sensitivity showed a tendency toward a benevolent disposition. Significant differences were found between demographic groups in the sample for all of the constructs under investigation. Evidence was found in support of the hypothesised relationships in the theoretical model, with the exception of the hypothesised link between equity sensitivity and the perceptions of equity of rewards. The hypotheses regarding moderation relationships were not accepted, based on the results of the hierarchical regression analysis. Structural equation model testing resulted in unsatisfactory fit of the statistical model. Confirmatory factor analysis results provided support for the acceptability of the Equity Sensitivity Instrument, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and Psychological Capital Questionnaire for use on a South African sample. As far as it could be ascertained, the constructs under investigation have not been examined together before. The study therefore contributes uniquely to the existing body of positive organisational behaviour research, and begins to fill the gap identified in the Rewards literature. A number of recommendations for researchers and for organisations stemming from the study are put forward.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016