Dasein online! a study of the experience of flow in the virtual playground
- Authors: Godley, Donnae-Maree
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Internet games -- Social aspects -- Research , Virtual reality -- Social aspects -- Research , Fantasy games -- Social aspects -- Research , Human-computer interaction -- Research , Online identities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:2983 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002492 , Internet games -- Social aspects -- Research , Virtual reality -- Social aspects -- Research , Fantasy games -- Social aspects -- Research , Human-computer interaction -- Research , Online identities
- Description: The purpose of this study was twofold. First, it aimed to present and understand the experiences of online gamers from the paradigm of positive psychology. To achieve this, the phenomenon of flow was investigated to see whether or not, it is experienced whilst gaming online and if present, how it is revealed in this context. The second purpose was to contribute to theory building and to respond to extant research recommendations. Aligned with a qualitative orientation, the method selected to achieve the objectives of the study was interpretative phenomenological analysis. A sample of four participants who met the criteria for inclusion in the research were selected and interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed and interpreted inductively and categorised into superordinate themes. These were presented as two sections: Section A explored the experience and meaning of online gaming through the following three superordinate themes; intention, pre-gaming rituals and gaming process. Section B discussed the social experience and meaning of gaming online through the superordinate theme, a gamers way. This study both challenged and supported theory and research in the field and introduced novel areas, such as pregaming rituals and the subthemes; marijuana and gaming space. This is a notable and promising "side effect" of a research design that is exploratory. Findings called for future multi-disciplinary research into flow, gaming and online relationships considering Csikszentimaihalyi‟s concept of autotelic relationships and Heideggers‟ philosophical framework.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Godley, Donnae-Maree
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Internet games -- Social aspects -- Research , Virtual reality -- Social aspects -- Research , Fantasy games -- Social aspects -- Research , Human-computer interaction -- Research , Online identities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:2983 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002492 , Internet games -- Social aspects -- Research , Virtual reality -- Social aspects -- Research , Fantasy games -- Social aspects -- Research , Human-computer interaction -- Research , Online identities
- Description: The purpose of this study was twofold. First, it aimed to present and understand the experiences of online gamers from the paradigm of positive psychology. To achieve this, the phenomenon of flow was investigated to see whether or not, it is experienced whilst gaming online and if present, how it is revealed in this context. The second purpose was to contribute to theory building and to respond to extant research recommendations. Aligned with a qualitative orientation, the method selected to achieve the objectives of the study was interpretative phenomenological analysis. A sample of four participants who met the criteria for inclusion in the research were selected and interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed and interpreted inductively and categorised into superordinate themes. These were presented as two sections: Section A explored the experience and meaning of online gaming through the following three superordinate themes; intention, pre-gaming rituals and gaming process. Section B discussed the social experience and meaning of gaming online through the superordinate theme, a gamers way. This study both challenged and supported theory and research in the field and introduced novel areas, such as pregaming rituals and the subthemes; marijuana and gaming space. This is a notable and promising "side effect" of a research design that is exploratory. Findings called for future multi-disciplinary research into flow, gaming and online relationships considering Csikszentimaihalyi‟s concept of autotelic relationships and Heideggers‟ philosophical framework.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Decentralised cooperative governance in the South African metropolitan municipalities
- Authors: Zimba, Anthony Andile
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa , Intergovernmental cooperation -- South Africa , Public administration -- South Africa , Human services -- South Africa , Municipal government -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Science Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11427 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/536 , Community development -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa , Intergovernmental cooperation -- South Africa , Public administration -- South Africa , Human services -- South Africa , Municipal government -- South Africa
- Description: The study emanates from the constitutional imperatives with regard to the role of local government in community development. The notion of cooperative governance is envisaged in the South African Constitution which stipulates that all spheres of government must adhere to the principles of cooperative government and must conduct their activities within the parameters prescribed by the Constitution. The purpose is to support and strengthen the capacity of the local governments to manage their own affairs and to perform their functions. The basic values and principles governing public administration entail that: it must be broadly representative of the people of South Africa in order to redress the imbalances. The existing gaps in the legislation on decision making power at the local level of the municipality, be it in a ward committee or sub council, have not been adequately addressed in the post 1994 democratic dispensation. It is in this context that this study seeks to address these gaps and obstacles, and contribute to the design and development of a decentralized cooperative governance model, specifically to the six metropolitan municipalities and also provide a basis for further research. The findings of the research could be adapted as a national policy in the empowering of municipalities through the dispersal of democratic power which is an essential ingredient of inclusive governance. Based on a case study of six metropolitan municipalities, the research is intended to contribute to the development of empirically grounded; praxis and practical guideline in decentralized cooperative governance which can be adopted and institutionalized in public administration. It is believed that a study of decentralized cooperative governance adds value in that it seeks to link decentralized power and local development. Rather than civil society organisations being seen as adversarial, a creative partnership with the state in local development is crucial. This political assimilation is critical in the construction of democracy through fusing the substantive values of a political culture with the procedural requisites of democratic accountability. This serves to fragment and disperse political power and maintain a system of checks and balances with regard to the exercise of governmental power. The capacity for innovation, flexibility and change can be enhanced at the local level, and it is a cliché that local decision making is viewed as more democratic in contrast to central, top-down decision-making processes. A syncretistic model for local government based on the political adaptation of political and inclusive decentralisation is outlined.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Zimba, Anthony Andile
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa , Intergovernmental cooperation -- South Africa , Public administration -- South Africa , Human services -- South Africa , Municipal government -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Social Science Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11427 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/536 , Community development -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa , Intergovernmental cooperation -- South Africa , Public administration -- South Africa , Human services -- South Africa , Municipal government -- South Africa
- Description: The study emanates from the constitutional imperatives with regard to the role of local government in community development. The notion of cooperative governance is envisaged in the South African Constitution which stipulates that all spheres of government must adhere to the principles of cooperative government and must conduct their activities within the parameters prescribed by the Constitution. The purpose is to support and strengthen the capacity of the local governments to manage their own affairs and to perform their functions. The basic values and principles governing public administration entail that: it must be broadly representative of the people of South Africa in order to redress the imbalances. The existing gaps in the legislation on decision making power at the local level of the municipality, be it in a ward committee or sub council, have not been adequately addressed in the post 1994 democratic dispensation. It is in this context that this study seeks to address these gaps and obstacles, and contribute to the design and development of a decentralized cooperative governance model, specifically to the six metropolitan municipalities and also provide a basis for further research. The findings of the research could be adapted as a national policy in the empowering of municipalities through the dispersal of democratic power which is an essential ingredient of inclusive governance. Based on a case study of six metropolitan municipalities, the research is intended to contribute to the development of empirically grounded; praxis and practical guideline in decentralized cooperative governance which can be adopted and institutionalized in public administration. It is believed that a study of decentralized cooperative governance adds value in that it seeks to link decentralized power and local development. Rather than civil society organisations being seen as adversarial, a creative partnership with the state in local development is crucial. This political assimilation is critical in the construction of democracy through fusing the substantive values of a political culture with the procedural requisites of democratic accountability. This serves to fragment and disperse political power and maintain a system of checks and balances with regard to the exercise of governmental power. The capacity for innovation, flexibility and change can be enhanced at the local level, and it is a cliché that local decision making is viewed as more democratic in contrast to central, top-down decision-making processes. A syncretistic model for local government based on the political adaptation of political and inclusive decentralisation is outlined.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Deciding and doing what's right for people and planet : an investigation of the ethics-oriented learning of novice environmental educators
- Authors: Olvitt, Lausanne Laura
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Environmental education Environmental ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1913 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007238
- Description: This study probes the ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of three novice environmental education practitioners in South Africa. Two of the cases examined work in a local government context, and the third in an environmental non-governmental organisation context. All three practitioners are studying a one-year professional development course in environmental education. The research asks how their ethical deliberations ‘come to be what they are’, at the interface of their workplace and course-based learning processes. Working within a relational, social realist ontology, the study takes a sociocultural-historical approach to learning, development and social change. Cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) provides theoretical tools and a descriptive language to approach the rich, qualitative data derived from workplace and course observations, extensive interviews, and document review. Critical discourse analysis was used as a secondary analytical tool to probe ethical and environmental discourses that were found to be influential in the course and workplace activity systems. Data from the three case studies was analysed in stages. In the first stage, CHAT provided a theoretical perspective and language of description to analyse the interacting activity systems in which each learner-practitioner’s ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations occurred. This provided a platform for the second stage of analysis which was framed by Margaret Archer’s (1995) social realist theory of morphogenesis/ morphostasis, followed by a summative retroductive analysis, to give an account of the interplay of historically-emergent social and cultural structures and individual reflexivity in relation to the ethical dimensions of environmental education practice. The study traces how ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations occur at the untidy, unpredictable intersection of workplace, course and personal contexts, and are strongest when they are situated in authentic contexts that resonate with learner-practitioners’ ‘ultimate concerns’ (after Archer, 2003; 2007). In this study, the learner-practitioners’ ‘ultimate concerns’ included family, personal well-being, social justice, cultural identity and religious commitments. The scope and depth of learner-practitioners’ social-ecological knowledge was also identified as a key factor influencing ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations, although the mediation of such knowledge can be hindered by language and conceptual ii barriers, amongst others. The study also noted how ethical positions circulating in the workplace, course and personal contexts were diverse, uneven and dynamic. Some ethical positions were found to be more explicitly differentiated than others, either resonating with or being overlooked by the learner-practitioners as they deliberated the ethical dimensions of their environmental education practice. In situations where there was limited depth, conceptual clarity and/ or confidence to engage directly with ethical concerns, there was a tendency towards (inadvertent) ethical relativism. Insights derived from the study suggest that these factors have limiting effects on the ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of novice environmental educators. These insights point to the need for ethical deliberations to be re-personalised in context and underpinned by depth knowledge. A relational and pragmatic approach to environmental ethics (that recognises the validity of judgemental rationality – which can be fallible – and which seeks out practical adequacy) is put forward as appropriate and potentially generative in environmental education and training processes. This would need to be supported by careful attention to the influence of environmental discourses and practices in shaping ethical deliberations, and may also be helpful in developing a much-needed accessible, everyday language of ethical engagement. This study’s contribution to new knowledge in the field of environmental education is through its account of ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations emerging (in the Archerian morphogenetic sense) in complex, indeterminate ways at the interface of sociocultural and social-ecological contexts. The ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of novice environmental educators occur in relation to their ‘ultimate concerns’ and are advanced or hindered by the historically-emergent practices, discourses and material realities of their workplace, personal and educational contexts. These insights require that the complex interplay of intersecting contexts and concerns that shape ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations be acknowledged and carefully mediated in both workplace-based and coursebased professional development processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Olvitt, Lausanne Laura
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Environmental education Environmental ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:1913 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007238
- Description: This study probes the ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of three novice environmental education practitioners in South Africa. Two of the cases examined work in a local government context, and the third in an environmental non-governmental organisation context. All three practitioners are studying a one-year professional development course in environmental education. The research asks how their ethical deliberations ‘come to be what they are’, at the interface of their workplace and course-based learning processes. Working within a relational, social realist ontology, the study takes a sociocultural-historical approach to learning, development and social change. Cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) provides theoretical tools and a descriptive language to approach the rich, qualitative data derived from workplace and course observations, extensive interviews, and document review. Critical discourse analysis was used as a secondary analytical tool to probe ethical and environmental discourses that were found to be influential in the course and workplace activity systems. Data from the three case studies was analysed in stages. In the first stage, CHAT provided a theoretical perspective and language of description to analyse the interacting activity systems in which each learner-practitioner’s ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations occurred. This provided a platform for the second stage of analysis which was framed by Margaret Archer’s (1995) social realist theory of morphogenesis/ morphostasis, followed by a summative retroductive analysis, to give an account of the interplay of historically-emergent social and cultural structures and individual reflexivity in relation to the ethical dimensions of environmental education practice. The study traces how ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations occur at the untidy, unpredictable intersection of workplace, course and personal contexts, and are strongest when they are situated in authentic contexts that resonate with learner-practitioners’ ‘ultimate concerns’ (after Archer, 2003; 2007). In this study, the learner-practitioners’ ‘ultimate concerns’ included family, personal well-being, social justice, cultural identity and religious commitments. The scope and depth of learner-practitioners’ social-ecological knowledge was also identified as a key factor influencing ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations, although the mediation of such knowledge can be hindered by language and conceptual ii barriers, amongst others. The study also noted how ethical positions circulating in the workplace, course and personal contexts were diverse, uneven and dynamic. Some ethical positions were found to be more explicitly differentiated than others, either resonating with or being overlooked by the learner-practitioners as they deliberated the ethical dimensions of their environmental education practice. In situations where there was limited depth, conceptual clarity and/ or confidence to engage directly with ethical concerns, there was a tendency towards (inadvertent) ethical relativism. Insights derived from the study suggest that these factors have limiting effects on the ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of novice environmental educators. These insights point to the need for ethical deliberations to be re-personalised in context and underpinned by depth knowledge. A relational and pragmatic approach to environmental ethics (that recognises the validity of judgemental rationality – which can be fallible – and which seeks out practical adequacy) is put forward as appropriate and potentially generative in environmental education and training processes. This would need to be supported by careful attention to the influence of environmental discourses and practices in shaping ethical deliberations, and may also be helpful in developing a much-needed accessible, everyday language of ethical engagement. This study’s contribution to new knowledge in the field of environmental education is through its account of ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations emerging (in the Archerian morphogenetic sense) in complex, indeterminate ways at the interface of sociocultural and social-ecological contexts. The ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations of novice environmental educators occur in relation to their ‘ultimate concerns’ and are advanced or hindered by the historically-emergent practices, discourses and material realities of their workplace, personal and educational contexts. These insights require that the complex interplay of intersecting contexts and concerns that shape ethics-oriented reflexive deliberations be acknowledged and carefully mediated in both workplace-based and coursebased professional development processes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Decoding the notion of a constructed identity within an autobiographical picture narrative
- Authors: Joubert, Nina
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Narrative art , Autobiography , Semiotics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:8497 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015685
- Description: This study presents an investigation into the process of constructing an autobiographical self within the genre of the autobiographical picture narrative, and explores this process both in terms of a theoretical study of this concept as well as an interpretation of a number of photographs. The interpretation entails a reading of selected autobiographical picture narratives by the artist-photographers Maggie Taylor and Lori Nix by means of a method derived from visual social semiotics. Specifically, the semiotic reading focuses on Taylor and Nix’s photographs Twilight swim (2004) and Ice Storm (1999), respectively, after which the researcher’s own autobiographical photograph entitled Fennel and coriander is read by means of the same methodological approach. The semiotic reading is guided by five salient characteristics of the autobiographical picture narrative, namely fabrication and reality, autobiographical memory, socio-cultural relevance, commonalities in female narration and narrative function. Harrison’s (2003) visual social semiotic framework (which reflects the work of social semioticians Kress and Van Leeuwen, 2002) was augmented in light of the five salient characteristics in order to construct an appropriate methodological framework. A comparative reading of the works by Taylor, Nix and the researcher reveals that although each of the artistphotographers followed a peculiar and unique approach in constructing the autobiographical picture narrative, parallels can be established in terms of various central concepts, as is evident from the semiotic reading. In particular, the role of memory and the interpretation of autobiographical elements emerged as common denominators. The process of constructing an autobiographical memory therefore provides the narrator-photographer with the options of escaping into and not from memory, thus allowing for unique possibilities in terms of interpretation, fantasy and construction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Joubert, Nina
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Narrative art , Autobiography , Semiotics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:8497 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015685
- Description: This study presents an investigation into the process of constructing an autobiographical self within the genre of the autobiographical picture narrative, and explores this process both in terms of a theoretical study of this concept as well as an interpretation of a number of photographs. The interpretation entails a reading of selected autobiographical picture narratives by the artist-photographers Maggie Taylor and Lori Nix by means of a method derived from visual social semiotics. Specifically, the semiotic reading focuses on Taylor and Nix’s photographs Twilight swim (2004) and Ice Storm (1999), respectively, after which the researcher’s own autobiographical photograph entitled Fennel and coriander is read by means of the same methodological approach. The semiotic reading is guided by five salient characteristics of the autobiographical picture narrative, namely fabrication and reality, autobiographical memory, socio-cultural relevance, commonalities in female narration and narrative function. Harrison’s (2003) visual social semiotic framework (which reflects the work of social semioticians Kress and Van Leeuwen, 2002) was augmented in light of the five salient characteristics in order to construct an appropriate methodological framework. A comparative reading of the works by Taylor, Nix and the researcher reveals that although each of the artistphotographers followed a peculiar and unique approach in constructing the autobiographical picture narrative, parallels can be established in terms of various central concepts, as is evident from the semiotic reading. In particular, the role of memory and the interpretation of autobiographical elements emerged as common denominators. The process of constructing an autobiographical memory therefore provides the narrator-photographer with the options of escaping into and not from memory, thus allowing for unique possibilities in terms of interpretation, fantasy and construction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Defect in the South African construction industry
- Authors: Le Roux, Martyn
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Construction industry -- South Africa , Buildings -- Defects -- South Africa , Quality assurance -- Standards -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9711 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020320
- Description: Lack of quality in the South African construction industry is causing various problems for different stakeholders. The causes of this lack in quality are due to various different attributes. Corruption has become one of the leading causes with regards to lack of quality. Quality assurance can mitigate or eliminate defects through the implementation of a quality management system. Defects manifest primarily through cracking, dampness, detachment, and water leaks. Defects are categorized as structural, subsidence, acoustic and thermal. In terms of time, defects are either patent or latent, and can be discovered through observation, inspection and various tests. The causes of defects are ultimately due to error or omission, either during design or during the construction phases. Defects may also result due to procurement related factors, such as appointment of incompetent contractors. The result of defects is customer dissatisfaction, rework and disputes. Non-conformance to requirements results in rework and this in turn contributes to time and cost overruns. The aim of this research was to investigate the greatest cause that leads to defects in houses; the most common type of defect; and why projects fail in term of project management terms (due to defects). Results of quantitative research amongst professionals within the construction industry in the Western and Eastern Cape of South Africa as well as literature that has been reviewed form the basis of this study. Architectural practices, consulting engineering practices, and general building contractors were selected on a random sample basis, and surveyed using an online questionnaire. The study revealed that inadequate artisan skills is the biggest cause leading to defects in houses, and that cracks are the most frequent type of defect occurring. Projects fail in project management terms because of defects as the construction time of the projects are increased. The study revealed that construction related causes of defects dominate over design related causes. This study should be of value to both construction industry professionals as well as their clients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Le Roux, Martyn
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Construction industry -- South Africa , Buildings -- Defects -- South Africa , Quality assurance -- Standards -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9711 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020320
- Description: Lack of quality in the South African construction industry is causing various problems for different stakeholders. The causes of this lack in quality are due to various different attributes. Corruption has become one of the leading causes with regards to lack of quality. Quality assurance can mitigate or eliminate defects through the implementation of a quality management system. Defects manifest primarily through cracking, dampness, detachment, and water leaks. Defects are categorized as structural, subsidence, acoustic and thermal. In terms of time, defects are either patent or latent, and can be discovered through observation, inspection and various tests. The causes of defects are ultimately due to error or omission, either during design or during the construction phases. Defects may also result due to procurement related factors, such as appointment of incompetent contractors. The result of defects is customer dissatisfaction, rework and disputes. Non-conformance to requirements results in rework and this in turn contributes to time and cost overruns. The aim of this research was to investigate the greatest cause that leads to defects in houses; the most common type of defect; and why projects fail in term of project management terms (due to defects). Results of quantitative research amongst professionals within the construction industry in the Western and Eastern Cape of South Africa as well as literature that has been reviewed form the basis of this study. Architectural practices, consulting engineering practices, and general building contractors were selected on a random sample basis, and surveyed using an online questionnaire. The study revealed that inadequate artisan skills is the biggest cause leading to defects in houses, and that cracks are the most frequent type of defect occurring. Projects fail in project management terms because of defects as the construction time of the projects are increased. The study revealed that construction related causes of defects dominate over design related causes. This study should be of value to both construction industry professionals as well as their clients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Design and evaluation of illustrated information leaflets as an educational tool for low-literate asthma patients
- Authors: Wrench, Wendy Merle
- Date: 2012 , 2012-10-08
- Subjects: Asthma -- South Africa -- Study and teaching , Asthmatics -- South Africa -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3867 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016236
- Description: Asthma is a chronic non-communicable disease associated with an increase in morbidity, mortality and economic burden. Globally 300 million people have asthma and it is estimated that one in every 250 deaths worldwide are due to asthma. South Africa has the highest asthma prevalence (8.1%) in Africa and the disease is 18th in the top 20 causes of death. Inadequate home management, poor availability of health care, and poor transport and emergency services are recognised as important contributing factors. Patients with a low level of education and limited literacy skills may be unable to understand instructions on frequency and use of asthma medicines, which could result in unintentional non-adherence leading to serious complications and increased health care costs. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a tailored educational intervention on low-literate patients with asthma. Objectives to achieve this aim included designing patient information leaflets (PILs) containing information on asthma, management of asthma and asthma therapy, and using the PILs to educate low-literate asthma patients. A before-andafter intervention type design evaluated self-reported selected health-related quality of life measures, self-reported self-efficacy, knowledge of asthma and asthma management, knowledge of the use of metered dose inhalers (MDIs) and MDI technique. The acceptability and understanding of the tailored PILs was also investigated. Two simple, readable PILs containing pictograms were developed in English and then translated into isiXhosa, the home language of the majority of the target population. Various guidelines on the design of health-related information for people with low-literacy were consulted and input on the design was received from health care providers, patients and graphic artists. A pilot study was conducted at a local primary health care (PHC) clinic to evaluate the PILs and final modifications to the PILs were made based on feedback received. For the main study, patients were recruited from the KwaNonqubela PHC clinic in Alexandria in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Patients were 18 years or older, dependent on public sector health care facilities, diagnosed with asthma, prescribed a MDI (beclomethasone and/or salbutamol) for at least one month and English or isiXhosa-speaking. The exclusion criterion for patients in this study was involvement in any other asthma educational intervention during the period of study. Interviewer-led structured questionnaires were administered to 55 patients at the baseline and follow-up. Data collected include demographics, brief medical history and current asthma medications. Self-efficacy and iii health-related quality of life were assessed. Knowledge of asthma and asthma management was evaluated, and the use of beclomethasone and/or salbutamol metered dose inhalers was assessed. The PIL ‘Understanding asthma and trigger factors of asthma’ formed part of the educational intervention to explain asthma and aspects related to its management. Inhaler technique was evaluated and corrected using the PIL ‘How to use your pump’ together with a demonstration of correct technique by the investigator. Follow-up interviews were conducted approximately four weeks after baseline. PIL acceptability, readability and understanding of each pictogram were investigated at follow-up only. The educational intervention resulted in a significant increase in mean knowledge of asthma from 52.7% at baseline to 75.5% at follow-up. Gender was not associated with knowledge, but there was a significant age effect at baseline only, with the younger patients achieving better knowledge results. In both phases, patients with higher education had improved scores. A significant increase (2.4% to 38.6%) in the number of patients taking the minimum recommended adult dose of beclomethasone was noted but it is a matter of concern that the majority of patients were taking less than this. Patient self-reports suggested a significant increase in adherence, with the number of patients taking beclomethasone daily increasing from 33.3% to 61.3%. Self-reported management and control of asthma improved and this was reflected by the enhanced HRQOL results. MDI technique also improved significantly with an increase in the mean number of correct steps from 4.6 ± 2.2 to 7.9 ± 2.7. Education had a significant effect on MDI technique with more errors associated with lower educational status. There were no significant age or gender effects on the total number of correct steps in either phase. The illustrated PILs were received favourably with the majority of literate patients reporting that they were easy to read. Patients commented positively on the inclusion of pictograms and stated that the pictograms had served as aids in the understanding of asthma, trigger factors of asthma and correct MDI technique. The results of this study show that specially designed illustrated PILs can be an effective tool in educating low-literate patients with asthma. , Adobe Acrobat Pro 11.0.0 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Wrench, Wendy Merle
- Date: 2012 , 2012-10-08
- Subjects: Asthma -- South Africa -- Study and teaching , Asthmatics -- South Africa -- Education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3867 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016236
- Description: Asthma is a chronic non-communicable disease associated with an increase in morbidity, mortality and economic burden. Globally 300 million people have asthma and it is estimated that one in every 250 deaths worldwide are due to asthma. South Africa has the highest asthma prevalence (8.1%) in Africa and the disease is 18th in the top 20 causes of death. Inadequate home management, poor availability of health care, and poor transport and emergency services are recognised as important contributing factors. Patients with a low level of education and limited literacy skills may be unable to understand instructions on frequency and use of asthma medicines, which could result in unintentional non-adherence leading to serious complications and increased health care costs. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a tailored educational intervention on low-literate patients with asthma. Objectives to achieve this aim included designing patient information leaflets (PILs) containing information on asthma, management of asthma and asthma therapy, and using the PILs to educate low-literate asthma patients. A before-andafter intervention type design evaluated self-reported selected health-related quality of life measures, self-reported self-efficacy, knowledge of asthma and asthma management, knowledge of the use of metered dose inhalers (MDIs) and MDI technique. The acceptability and understanding of the tailored PILs was also investigated. Two simple, readable PILs containing pictograms were developed in English and then translated into isiXhosa, the home language of the majority of the target population. Various guidelines on the design of health-related information for people with low-literacy were consulted and input on the design was received from health care providers, patients and graphic artists. A pilot study was conducted at a local primary health care (PHC) clinic to evaluate the PILs and final modifications to the PILs were made based on feedback received. For the main study, patients were recruited from the KwaNonqubela PHC clinic in Alexandria in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Patients were 18 years or older, dependent on public sector health care facilities, diagnosed with asthma, prescribed a MDI (beclomethasone and/or salbutamol) for at least one month and English or isiXhosa-speaking. The exclusion criterion for patients in this study was involvement in any other asthma educational intervention during the period of study. Interviewer-led structured questionnaires were administered to 55 patients at the baseline and follow-up. Data collected include demographics, brief medical history and current asthma medications. Self-efficacy and iii health-related quality of life were assessed. Knowledge of asthma and asthma management was evaluated, and the use of beclomethasone and/or salbutamol metered dose inhalers was assessed. The PIL ‘Understanding asthma and trigger factors of asthma’ formed part of the educational intervention to explain asthma and aspects related to its management. Inhaler technique was evaluated and corrected using the PIL ‘How to use your pump’ together with a demonstration of correct technique by the investigator. Follow-up interviews were conducted approximately four weeks after baseline. PIL acceptability, readability and understanding of each pictogram were investigated at follow-up only. The educational intervention resulted in a significant increase in mean knowledge of asthma from 52.7% at baseline to 75.5% at follow-up. Gender was not associated with knowledge, but there was a significant age effect at baseline only, with the younger patients achieving better knowledge results. In both phases, patients with higher education had improved scores. A significant increase (2.4% to 38.6%) in the number of patients taking the minimum recommended adult dose of beclomethasone was noted but it is a matter of concern that the majority of patients were taking less than this. Patient self-reports suggested a significant increase in adherence, with the number of patients taking beclomethasone daily increasing from 33.3% to 61.3%. Self-reported management and control of asthma improved and this was reflected by the enhanced HRQOL results. MDI technique also improved significantly with an increase in the mean number of correct steps from 4.6 ± 2.2 to 7.9 ± 2.7. Education had a significant effect on MDI technique with more errors associated with lower educational status. There were no significant age or gender effects on the total number of correct steps in either phase. The illustrated PILs were received favourably with the majority of literate patients reporting that they were easy to read. Patients commented positively on the inclusion of pictograms and stated that the pictograms had served as aids in the understanding of asthma, trigger factors of asthma and correct MDI technique. The results of this study show that specially designed illustrated PILs can be an effective tool in educating low-literate patients with asthma. , Adobe Acrobat Pro 11.0.0 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Design of realistic hybrid marine resource management programs in Oceania
- Aswani, Shankar, Ruddle, Kenneth
- Authors: Aswani, Shankar , Ruddle, Kenneth
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70615 , vital:29681 , https://doi.org/10.2984/67.3.11
- Description: This review article synthesizes the authors' several decades of multidisciplinary natural and social science and applied marine resource management experience in the Asia-Pacific region to examine the strengthening of coastal and marine resource management and conservation using alliances between local communities and external institutions. The objective is to assist the design of resource management and conservation programs that enhance the capacity of coastal communities in Oceania to confront both diminishing marine resources and the effects of climate change by providing guidelines for protecting marine biodiversity and vulnerable ecosystem functions. This article describes a management framework that hybridizes local beliefs and institutions expressed in customary management (CM) with such modern management concepts as marine protected areas (MPAs) and ecosystem-based management (EBM). Hybrid management accommodates the social, political, economic, and cultural contexts of Oceanic communities and, compared with recent or conventional management approaches, can therefore better address fundamental local concerns such as coastal degradation, climate change, sea level rise, weak governance, corruption, limited resources and staff to manage and monitor marine resources, and increasing poverty. Research on the hybridization of management systems demonstrates opportunities to establish context-appropriate EBM and/or other managerial arrangements that include terrestrial and adjacent coastal-marine ecosystems. Formal and informal CM systems are widespread in Oceania and in some parts of Southeast Asia, and if appropriate strategies are employed rapid progress toward hybrid CM-EBM could be enabled.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Aswani, Shankar , Ruddle, Kenneth
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/70615 , vital:29681 , https://doi.org/10.2984/67.3.11
- Description: This review article synthesizes the authors' several decades of multidisciplinary natural and social science and applied marine resource management experience in the Asia-Pacific region to examine the strengthening of coastal and marine resource management and conservation using alliances between local communities and external institutions. The objective is to assist the design of resource management and conservation programs that enhance the capacity of coastal communities in Oceania to confront both diminishing marine resources and the effects of climate change by providing guidelines for protecting marine biodiversity and vulnerable ecosystem functions. This article describes a management framework that hybridizes local beliefs and institutions expressed in customary management (CM) with such modern management concepts as marine protected areas (MPAs) and ecosystem-based management (EBM). Hybrid management accommodates the social, political, economic, and cultural contexts of Oceanic communities and, compared with recent or conventional management approaches, can therefore better address fundamental local concerns such as coastal degradation, climate change, sea level rise, weak governance, corruption, limited resources and staff to manage and monitor marine resources, and increasing poverty. Research on the hybridization of management systems demonstrates opportunities to establish context-appropriate EBM and/or other managerial arrangements that include terrestrial and adjacent coastal-marine ecosystems. Formal and informal CM systems are widespread in Oceania and in some parts of Southeast Asia, and if appropriate strategies are employed rapid progress toward hybrid CM-EBM could be enabled.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Designing a strategy to bring about a greater professional confidence for educators by improving their involvement in their own continous professional development
- Authors: Oosthuizen, Lizette Clarise
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Teacher educators -- Professional relationships , Teachers -- Training of
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: vital:9559 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012145 , Teacher educators -- Professional relationships , Teachers -- Training of
- Description: To ensure the professionalism of the teaching force, it is vital that the growing gap between the knowledge educators acquired during their years of training and emerging knowledge about teaching and education during their teaching careers be closed. The continuous professional development (CPD) of educators is a much-debated issue, the general consensus being that it is imperative that educators themselves become directly involved in their own CPD. School leadership should therefore establish what educators find meaningful and invest in CPD programmes that respond to their needs. Educator development is considered as productive when the educators are involved in planning, decision-making, implementation and evaluation around the CPD programmes offered to them. As an office-based educator responsible for educator development and training, educators‟ perceived lack of interest in their own CPD prompted me to investigate how their professional confidence could be boosted through improved involvement in their own CPD. The research question that underpinned this study was: What are the perceptions of educators in the Uitenhage area of their involvements in their own CPD and how to find a strategy to enhance their professional confidence through such involvement? This study adopted the interpretive research paradigm, as the aim was to understand how educators understood their involvement in their own CPD. The qualitative research methods employed, allowed me to share the experiences of my participants. The research sample consisted of Integrated Quality Management Systems (IQMS) coordinators, as members of the school development team (SDT) responsible for educator development, from twelve primary schools in the Uitenhage District. In Phase 1 of the study, data were collected through questionnaires as well as individual and group interviews. Phase 2 consisted of a workshop for the participants, focusing on the key issues identified from the completed questionnaires and interviews. From the data analysis, five themes emerged, namely the contribution by the school, school management team (SMT), Department of Education (DoE) in the educators‟ CPD; the role of the individual educator in his/her own CPD; the factors influencing the effective implementation of educators‟ CPD; the skills and competencies that educators need to acquire through CPD; and the role of the IQMS process in the CPD of educators. Based on the research findings, a strategy was designed to guide educators to increase their professional confidence through improved involvement in their own CPD. Specific recommendations were formulated, such as that adequate time should be allocated for the CPD of educators; school leadership should make a concerted effort to motivate educators to become involved in CPD programmes; and educators should be encouraged to learn collaboratively through their involvement in communities of learning. The conclusions from this research are that educators should be life-long learners, actively involved in their own CPD and that schools, SMTs and the DoE should assist them by providing the necessary support, resources and guidance through enabling conditions conducive to a culture of learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Oosthuizen, Lizette Clarise
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Teacher educators -- Professional relationships , Teachers -- Training of
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: vital:9559 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012145 , Teacher educators -- Professional relationships , Teachers -- Training of
- Description: To ensure the professionalism of the teaching force, it is vital that the growing gap between the knowledge educators acquired during their years of training and emerging knowledge about teaching and education during their teaching careers be closed. The continuous professional development (CPD) of educators is a much-debated issue, the general consensus being that it is imperative that educators themselves become directly involved in their own CPD. School leadership should therefore establish what educators find meaningful and invest in CPD programmes that respond to their needs. Educator development is considered as productive when the educators are involved in planning, decision-making, implementation and evaluation around the CPD programmes offered to them. As an office-based educator responsible for educator development and training, educators‟ perceived lack of interest in their own CPD prompted me to investigate how their professional confidence could be boosted through improved involvement in their own CPD. The research question that underpinned this study was: What are the perceptions of educators in the Uitenhage area of their involvements in their own CPD and how to find a strategy to enhance their professional confidence through such involvement? This study adopted the interpretive research paradigm, as the aim was to understand how educators understood their involvement in their own CPD. The qualitative research methods employed, allowed me to share the experiences of my participants. The research sample consisted of Integrated Quality Management Systems (IQMS) coordinators, as members of the school development team (SDT) responsible for educator development, from twelve primary schools in the Uitenhage District. In Phase 1 of the study, data were collected through questionnaires as well as individual and group interviews. Phase 2 consisted of a workshop for the participants, focusing on the key issues identified from the completed questionnaires and interviews. From the data analysis, five themes emerged, namely the contribution by the school, school management team (SMT), Department of Education (DoE) in the educators‟ CPD; the role of the individual educator in his/her own CPD; the factors influencing the effective implementation of educators‟ CPD; the skills and competencies that educators need to acquire through CPD; and the role of the IQMS process in the CPD of educators. Based on the research findings, a strategy was designed to guide educators to increase their professional confidence through improved involvement in their own CPD. Specific recommendations were formulated, such as that adequate time should be allocated for the CPD of educators; school leadership should make a concerted effort to motivate educators to become involved in CPD programmes; and educators should be encouraged to learn collaboratively through their involvement in communities of learning. The conclusions from this research are that educators should be life-long learners, actively involved in their own CPD and that schools, SMTs and the DoE should assist them by providing the necessary support, resources and guidance through enabling conditions conducive to a culture of learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Detecting impacts of invasive non-native sharptooth catfish, Clarias gariepinus, within invaded and non-invaded rivers.
- Kadye, Wilbert T, Booth, Anthony J
- Authors: Kadye, Wilbert T , Booth, Anthony J
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124100 , vital:35539 , https://doi.10.1007/s10531-012-0291-5
- Description: In aquatic ecosystems, impacts by invasive introduced fish can be likened to press disturbances that persistently influence communities. This study examined invasion disturbances by determining the relationship between non-native sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus and aquatic macroinvertebrates in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A Multiple Before–After Control–Impact (MBACI) experimental design was used to examine macroinvertebrate communities within two rivers: one with catfish and another one without catfish. Within the invaded river, macroinvertebrates showed little response to catfish presence, whereas predator exclusion appeared to benefit community structure. This suggests that the macroinvertebrate community within the invaded river was adapted to predation impact because of the dominance of resilient taxa, such as Hirudinea, Oligochaeta and Chironomidae that were abundant in the Impact treatment relative to the Control treatment. High macroinvertebrate diversity and richness that was observed in the Control treatment, which excluded the predator, relative to the Impact treatment suggests predator avoidance behaviour within the invaded river. By comparison, within the uninvaded river, catfish introduction into the Impact treatment plots indicated negative effects on macroinvertebrate community that was reflected by decrease in diversity, richness and biomass. A community level impact was also reflected in the multivariate analysis that indicated more variation in macroinvertebrate composition within the Impact treatment relative to the Control in the uninvaded river. Catfish impact within the uninvaded river suggests the dominance of vulnerable taxa, such as odonates that were less abundant in the Impact treatment plots after catfish introduction. From a disturbance perspective, this study revealed different macroinvertebrate responses to catfish impact, and suggests that within invaded habitats, macroinvertebrates were less responsive to catfish presence, whereas catfish introduction within uninvaded habitats demonstrated invasion impact that was shown by a decrease in the abundance of vulnerable taxa. The occurrence of non-native sharptooth catfish within many Eastern Cape rivers is a concern because of its predation impact and potential to influence trophic interrelationships, and efforts should be taken to protect uninvaded rivers, and, where possible, eradicate the invader.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Kadye, Wilbert T , Booth, Anthony J
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/124100 , vital:35539 , https://doi.10.1007/s10531-012-0291-5
- Description: In aquatic ecosystems, impacts by invasive introduced fish can be likened to press disturbances that persistently influence communities. This study examined invasion disturbances by determining the relationship between non-native sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus and aquatic macroinvertebrates in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A Multiple Before–After Control–Impact (MBACI) experimental design was used to examine macroinvertebrate communities within two rivers: one with catfish and another one without catfish. Within the invaded river, macroinvertebrates showed little response to catfish presence, whereas predator exclusion appeared to benefit community structure. This suggests that the macroinvertebrate community within the invaded river was adapted to predation impact because of the dominance of resilient taxa, such as Hirudinea, Oligochaeta and Chironomidae that were abundant in the Impact treatment relative to the Control treatment. High macroinvertebrate diversity and richness that was observed in the Control treatment, which excluded the predator, relative to the Impact treatment suggests predator avoidance behaviour within the invaded river. By comparison, within the uninvaded river, catfish introduction into the Impact treatment plots indicated negative effects on macroinvertebrate community that was reflected by decrease in diversity, richness and biomass. A community level impact was also reflected in the multivariate analysis that indicated more variation in macroinvertebrate composition within the Impact treatment relative to the Control in the uninvaded river. Catfish impact within the uninvaded river suggests the dominance of vulnerable taxa, such as odonates that were less abundant in the Impact treatment plots after catfish introduction. From a disturbance perspective, this study revealed different macroinvertebrate responses to catfish impact, and suggests that within invaded habitats, macroinvertebrates were less responsive to catfish presence, whereas catfish introduction within uninvaded habitats demonstrated invasion impact that was shown by a decrease in the abundance of vulnerable taxa. The occurrence of non-native sharptooth catfish within many Eastern Cape rivers is a concern because of its predation impact and potential to influence trophic interrelationships, and efforts should be taken to protect uninvaded rivers, and, where possible, eradicate the invader.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Determinants of customer satisfaction and retention: a survey of the banking industry in Kenya
- Authors: Mburu, Peris Njoki
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Banks and banking -- Customer services -- Kenya , Consumer satisfaction -- Banks and banking -- Kenya , Customer relations -- Management -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8787 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014106
- Description: Customers have become the lifeblood of any organisation. Without customers, or-ganisations would not exist let alone survive in this competitive global environment (Grigoroudis, Politis and Siskos, 2002). Banks depend on sufficient and sustaining profitability to survive in the global business world. Customers are the source of banks‟ profitability. By satisfying the customer, the bank is able to retain the custom-er and reap maximum benefits from the relationship which ultimately leads to higher profitability. Customer satisfaction has therefore evolved as a strategic business ini-tiative which banks cannot ignore. Retention of the bank customer has become one of the most important objectives of the overall marketing strategy of any bank. In Kenya, the term „customer service‟ came to the fore just over fifteen years ago when banks started acquiring customer service departments. Since then, many cus-tomer training programs for staff have been put in place to transform the image of the customer as not just a profit-maker for the banks but as a human being with needs, which if not fulfilled will cause the customer to look for alternatives in the market. Training has focused on the bank staff whose customer handling skills have been sharpened. In spite of this, no empirical study has attempted to find out if the intended satisfaction of the customer has been achieved or not, which is indicative of little or no attention being given to this important phenomenon. In Africa, with the ex-ception of South Africa, empirical studies on customer satisfaction in the banking in-dustry are few. This gap presented the motivation for this study. The primary objective was to establish the determinants of customer satisfaction and retention in the Kenyan banking industry. The secondary objectives were to establish the relationship between socio-economic factors and customer satisfaction in Ken-yan banks; secondly, to determine whether bank-related factors influence customer satisfaction in Kenyan banks; thirdly, to identify the various strategies known to cus-tomers and employed by Kenyan banks to ensure customer satisfaction and customer retention and finally, to analyse the relationship between customer satisfaction and customer retention in Kenyan banks. The study adopted a descriptive survey design to suit the target population which was dispersed over a wide geographical region spanning the entire Kenya. The tar-get population included every bank customer in Kenya. Both qualitative and quantita-tive data were used. The data collection instrument was a self-administered ques-tionnaire that contained both closed and open-ended questions. Statistical tests were done using Pearson, Chi Square, Anova, Pearson Correlation and Multi-linear re-gression. Data were presented using frequency distribution tables, percentages, cross tabulation and pie charts. The findings indicated a positive relationship be-tween bank-related factors and customer satisfaction and retention. The conclusion was that if banks improved on factors like quality service, staff orientation towards customers, availability of management and ATM uptimes just to name a few, propor-tionately, customer satisfaction and retention would be enhanced. Finally, recommendations based on the findings were made to the Kenyan banks highlighting antecedents which would enhance the customers‟ satisfaction and reten-tion in the Kenyan banking industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Mburu, Peris Njoki
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Banks and banking -- Customer services -- Kenya , Consumer satisfaction -- Banks and banking -- Kenya , Customer relations -- Management -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8787 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1014106
- Description: Customers have become the lifeblood of any organisation. Without customers, or-ganisations would not exist let alone survive in this competitive global environment (Grigoroudis, Politis and Siskos, 2002). Banks depend on sufficient and sustaining profitability to survive in the global business world. Customers are the source of banks‟ profitability. By satisfying the customer, the bank is able to retain the custom-er and reap maximum benefits from the relationship which ultimately leads to higher profitability. Customer satisfaction has therefore evolved as a strategic business ini-tiative which banks cannot ignore. Retention of the bank customer has become one of the most important objectives of the overall marketing strategy of any bank. In Kenya, the term „customer service‟ came to the fore just over fifteen years ago when banks started acquiring customer service departments. Since then, many cus-tomer training programs for staff have been put in place to transform the image of the customer as not just a profit-maker for the banks but as a human being with needs, which if not fulfilled will cause the customer to look for alternatives in the market. Training has focused on the bank staff whose customer handling skills have been sharpened. In spite of this, no empirical study has attempted to find out if the intended satisfaction of the customer has been achieved or not, which is indicative of little or no attention being given to this important phenomenon. In Africa, with the ex-ception of South Africa, empirical studies on customer satisfaction in the banking in-dustry are few. This gap presented the motivation for this study. The primary objective was to establish the determinants of customer satisfaction and retention in the Kenyan banking industry. The secondary objectives were to establish the relationship between socio-economic factors and customer satisfaction in Ken-yan banks; secondly, to determine whether bank-related factors influence customer satisfaction in Kenyan banks; thirdly, to identify the various strategies known to cus-tomers and employed by Kenyan banks to ensure customer satisfaction and customer retention and finally, to analyse the relationship between customer satisfaction and customer retention in Kenyan banks. The study adopted a descriptive survey design to suit the target population which was dispersed over a wide geographical region spanning the entire Kenya. The tar-get population included every bank customer in Kenya. Both qualitative and quantita-tive data were used. The data collection instrument was a self-administered ques-tionnaire that contained both closed and open-ended questions. Statistical tests were done using Pearson, Chi Square, Anova, Pearson Correlation and Multi-linear re-gression. Data were presented using frequency distribution tables, percentages, cross tabulation and pie charts. The findings indicated a positive relationship be-tween bank-related factors and customer satisfaction and retention. The conclusion was that if banks improved on factors like quality service, staff orientation towards customers, availability of management and ATM uptimes just to name a few, propor-tionately, customer satisfaction and retention would be enhanced. Finally, recommendations based on the findings were made to the Kenyan banks highlighting antecedents which would enhance the customers‟ satisfaction and reten-tion in the Kenyan banking industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Determinants of effective basic service delivery at Amathole District Municipality
- Memani, Ntombizonke Theodora
- Authors: Memani, Ntombizonke Theodora
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal water supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Amathole District Municipality (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8298 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019700
- Description: Service delivery is the provision of basic services to the community by Local Government (LG). The Water Services Act 108 of 1997 states that everyone should have rights to access water and sanitation. It further states that the level of service it provides its consumers, however, is dependent on a number of factors as per clause 11 (2) (a) which articulates that every water services authority has a duty to all consumers or potential consumers in its area of jurisdiction to progressively ensure sufficient, affordable, economical and sustainable access to water services. Craythorne (2006:170) argued that a municipality may, in accordance with a policy framework it has adopted, establish a part of the municipal area as an internal municipal service district to facilitate the provision of a municipal service in that area. Owing to the vastness of the district, many rural communities and the grant dependency of the municipality, the Amathole District Municipality (ADM) is challenged in providing safe potable water to all and is providing different levels of this service to different communities, based on available water resources, cost of supply and the ability to recover costs. In this regard the ADM provides a ―Basic level of service‖ to its rural communities in line with the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) National Guidelines of 25 litres per person per day. This study undertook to probe the determinants of effective basic service delivery at Amathole District Municipality. Water provision function is still a challenge to District Municipalities (DMs) due to various impediments confronted by the DMs when rendering basic services. From the literature study and information gathered from the respondents in this research it became evident that basic service delivery is a key to the development of local communities. In this regard it is pertinent that the District Municipality in question devises means that will mitigate the identified challenges in order to provide services to expectant communities. Self administered questionnaires were used as a method of collecting data from the respondents. In this study a qualitative method was used to analyse the data collected from the respondents. Based on the information gathered from the respondents the researcher made findings and formulated recommendations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Memani, Ntombizonke Theodora
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Municipal water supply -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Amathole District Municipality (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:8298 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019700
- Description: Service delivery is the provision of basic services to the community by Local Government (LG). The Water Services Act 108 of 1997 states that everyone should have rights to access water and sanitation. It further states that the level of service it provides its consumers, however, is dependent on a number of factors as per clause 11 (2) (a) which articulates that every water services authority has a duty to all consumers or potential consumers in its area of jurisdiction to progressively ensure sufficient, affordable, economical and sustainable access to water services. Craythorne (2006:170) argued that a municipality may, in accordance with a policy framework it has adopted, establish a part of the municipal area as an internal municipal service district to facilitate the provision of a municipal service in that area. Owing to the vastness of the district, many rural communities and the grant dependency of the municipality, the Amathole District Municipality (ADM) is challenged in providing safe potable water to all and is providing different levels of this service to different communities, based on available water resources, cost of supply and the ability to recover costs. In this regard the ADM provides a ―Basic level of service‖ to its rural communities in line with the Department of Water Affairs (DWA) National Guidelines of 25 litres per person per day. This study undertook to probe the determinants of effective basic service delivery at Amathole District Municipality. Water provision function is still a challenge to District Municipalities (DMs) due to various impediments confronted by the DMs when rendering basic services. From the literature study and information gathered from the respondents in this research it became evident that basic service delivery is a key to the development of local communities. In this regard it is pertinent that the District Municipality in question devises means that will mitigate the identified challenges in order to provide services to expectant communities. Self administered questionnaires were used as a method of collecting data from the respondents. In this study a qualitative method was used to analyse the data collected from the respondents. Based on the information gathered from the respondents the researcher made findings and formulated recommendations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Determining the willingness-to-pay for the removal of a local undesirable land use
- Authors: Cloete, Le Ann
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Pollution , Willingness to pay -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Pollutants
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9010 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015979
- Description: A manganese ore dump and oil tank farm have been situated in the Port Elizabeth harbour for more than forty years. Although these facilities are independently operated and managed, they are viewed as one distinct disamenity, and there is strong local opposition to their continued location in the harbour. The negative environmental impacts (for example, water and air pollution) caused by the ore dump and tank farm have been well documented. This pollution takes the form of oil leaks from the oil tank farm, and ore dust pollution from the manganese ore dump. The air pollution caused by the manganese ore dump is a result of the dump currently being an open air handling and storage facility. The ore dust is dispersed into the air due to strong prevailing winds in the Bay and has resulted in respiratory illnesses of residents living in close proximity to the facility. Oil pollution, due to leakages experienced at the oil tank farm, has extended far beyond the periphery of the harbour. Inter alia, there has been a decline in local fish populations, as well as a decline in passive and active use satisfaction associated with the adjacent beach area, i.e. Kings Beach. These oil leakages, first reported in 2001, could have a detrimental effect on the Blue Flag status of this beach, as well as the Blue Flag status of other beaches situated further up the coast. The lease agreements for the oil tank farm and manganese ore dump are set to expire in 2014 and 2016, respectively. As yet, there is no consensus on when these disamenities will be (re)moved. In order to mitigate the secondary impacts of these facilities, both of them should be removed. Although these impacts should be the focus of public policy debates and cost-benefit assessments, no direct valuation method exists to value the economic cost to affected communities. Instead, non-market valuation methods, such as the contingent valuation method (CVM), are often applied to assign values to these economic costs. This study seeks to determine Nelson Mandela Bay households‟ preferences for the immediate removal of the manganese ore dump and oil tank farm from the Port Elizabeth harbour. This case was selected since it represents a current public policy debate issue that has not been resolved. Monetary estimates of people‟s preferences for the removal of pollution-creating activities can assist policy-makers and other stakeholders when locating industries in an urban setting. These estimates can also be of use in understanding the benefits associated with air and water quality improvement projects. The primary valuation technique used in this study is the CVM. This method was chosen as it is capable of measuring the economic significance of lost passive-use values of individuals affected by negative externalities. Both a non-parametric and a parametric estimate of mean willingness-to-pay (WTP) were derived. On average, a respondent was willing to pay a once-off amount of between R47.09 (non-parametric estimate) and R93.21 (parametric estimate). Non-parametric estimation (via the Turnbull estimator) was conducted to test the sensitivity of the parametric results (via a logit model). The logit model‟s results showed that the probability of a „yes‟ answer to the referendum question varies with a number of covariates in a realistic and expected way, which offers some support for the construct validity of this CV study. Household income, education, age, and disamenity awareness were significant determinants of individuals‟ responses to the WTP question. A summary of the findings of WTP estimates for both parametric and non-parametric analysis is provided in Table 1. Three primary recommendations stem from this study. Firstly, the study used a relatively small sample size. Although it was sufficient for a pilot study it is recommended that future research into this issue should aim for a much larger sample size to ensure more precise estimates of the WTP for the removal of the disamenity. Secondly, the conservative non-parametric mean WTP estimate should be used as opposed to the higher parametric mean WTP estimate. Third, the aggregate WTP estimation constitutes only a partial analysis of cost. A number of other factors and value streams need to be analysed and compared with the cost estimates generated by this study if adequate holistic decision-making is to take place with regard to the removal of the manganese ore dump and oil tank farm. More specifically, the total WTP estimated in this study should be viewed as only one input into a comprehensive social cost-benefit analysis to determine the desirability of the removal of this disamenity for wider society.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Cloete, Le Ann
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Pollution , Willingness to pay -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Pollutants
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9010 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015979
- Description: A manganese ore dump and oil tank farm have been situated in the Port Elizabeth harbour for more than forty years. Although these facilities are independently operated and managed, they are viewed as one distinct disamenity, and there is strong local opposition to their continued location in the harbour. The negative environmental impacts (for example, water and air pollution) caused by the ore dump and tank farm have been well documented. This pollution takes the form of oil leaks from the oil tank farm, and ore dust pollution from the manganese ore dump. The air pollution caused by the manganese ore dump is a result of the dump currently being an open air handling and storage facility. The ore dust is dispersed into the air due to strong prevailing winds in the Bay and has resulted in respiratory illnesses of residents living in close proximity to the facility. Oil pollution, due to leakages experienced at the oil tank farm, has extended far beyond the periphery of the harbour. Inter alia, there has been a decline in local fish populations, as well as a decline in passive and active use satisfaction associated with the adjacent beach area, i.e. Kings Beach. These oil leakages, first reported in 2001, could have a detrimental effect on the Blue Flag status of this beach, as well as the Blue Flag status of other beaches situated further up the coast. The lease agreements for the oil tank farm and manganese ore dump are set to expire in 2014 and 2016, respectively. As yet, there is no consensus on when these disamenities will be (re)moved. In order to mitigate the secondary impacts of these facilities, both of them should be removed. Although these impacts should be the focus of public policy debates and cost-benefit assessments, no direct valuation method exists to value the economic cost to affected communities. Instead, non-market valuation methods, such as the contingent valuation method (CVM), are often applied to assign values to these economic costs. This study seeks to determine Nelson Mandela Bay households‟ preferences for the immediate removal of the manganese ore dump and oil tank farm from the Port Elizabeth harbour. This case was selected since it represents a current public policy debate issue that has not been resolved. Monetary estimates of people‟s preferences for the removal of pollution-creating activities can assist policy-makers and other stakeholders when locating industries in an urban setting. These estimates can also be of use in understanding the benefits associated with air and water quality improvement projects. The primary valuation technique used in this study is the CVM. This method was chosen as it is capable of measuring the economic significance of lost passive-use values of individuals affected by negative externalities. Both a non-parametric and a parametric estimate of mean willingness-to-pay (WTP) were derived. On average, a respondent was willing to pay a once-off amount of between R47.09 (non-parametric estimate) and R93.21 (parametric estimate). Non-parametric estimation (via the Turnbull estimator) was conducted to test the sensitivity of the parametric results (via a logit model). The logit model‟s results showed that the probability of a „yes‟ answer to the referendum question varies with a number of covariates in a realistic and expected way, which offers some support for the construct validity of this CV study. Household income, education, age, and disamenity awareness were significant determinants of individuals‟ responses to the WTP question. A summary of the findings of WTP estimates for both parametric and non-parametric analysis is provided in Table 1. Three primary recommendations stem from this study. Firstly, the study used a relatively small sample size. Although it was sufficient for a pilot study it is recommended that future research into this issue should aim for a much larger sample size to ensure more precise estimates of the WTP for the removal of the disamenity. Secondly, the conservative non-parametric mean WTP estimate should be used as opposed to the higher parametric mean WTP estimate. Third, the aggregate WTP estimation constitutes only a partial analysis of cost. A number of other factors and value streams need to be analysed and compared with the cost estimates generated by this study if adequate holistic decision-making is to take place with regard to the removal of the manganese ore dump and oil tank farm. More specifically, the total WTP estimated in this study should be viewed as only one input into a comprehensive social cost-benefit analysis to determine the desirability of the removal of this disamenity for wider society.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Developing a form-process framework to describe the functioning of semi-arid alluvial fans in the Baviaanskloof Valley, South Africa
- Authors: Bobbins, Kerry Leigh
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Alluvial fans -- Research -- South Africa Sedimentation and deposition -- Research -- South Africa Geomorphology -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4825 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005500
- Description: The Baviaanskloof catchment is a semi-arid catchment located in the Cape Fold Mountains of South Africa. Little is known about the functioning of the complicated Baviaanskloof fluvial system and the role alluvial fans in the fluvial landscape. This thesis will contribute to field of geomorphology and, more specifically, to the field of fan morphometry by producing a standalone fan framework outlining methods to investigate the influence of external and internal control variables on alluvial fans. In this thesis, outcomes of the applied framework and case study are used to develop fan restoration guidelines for the Baviaanskloof Valley. The framework incorporates external and internal fan control variables at a valley-wide and local fan scale. External control variables include accommodation space, base-level change, and drainage basin inputs. Internal control variables include fan style, morphometry and fan channels. In order to apply the framework, fan morphometry data was required. This data was collected by creating a spatial plan of fans and basins in the valley. Outcomes of the applied framework include; an understanding of baselevel change on fans, relationships between fan basin characteristics and the fan surface and insight into fan channel processes. Results of the applied framework are investigated further using bivariate (correlation matrix) and multivariate (principle component analysis and regression analysis) analysis techniques. Significant relationships identified are: drainage basin area versus fan area, fan area and fan slope and drainage basin ruggedness and basin size. The primary outcomes of this thesis include an alluvial fan form-process framework, key considerations to be included in alluvial fan restoration projects and fan restoration guidelines. Contributions of this thesis to broader alluvial fan morphology science includes new insights into general fan literature by compiling a form-process alluvial fan classification framework to identify external and internal fan control variables and identify fan form. Additions have been made to Clarke’s (2010) evolutionary stages to describe stages 4 and 5 of fan evolution that has been adapted to describe fan evolution and differentiate between stages of mature fan evolution. This thesis has also contributed to the study of alluvial fans in South Africa, particularly in the Baviaanskloof Valley. The layout of the procedural guidelines and key considerations for an alluvial fan project provides a guide for rapid fan assessment for maximum cost and time benefits for stakeholders.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Bobbins, Kerry Leigh
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Alluvial fans -- Research -- South Africa Sedimentation and deposition -- Research -- South Africa Geomorphology -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4825 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005500
- Description: The Baviaanskloof catchment is a semi-arid catchment located in the Cape Fold Mountains of South Africa. Little is known about the functioning of the complicated Baviaanskloof fluvial system and the role alluvial fans in the fluvial landscape. This thesis will contribute to field of geomorphology and, more specifically, to the field of fan morphometry by producing a standalone fan framework outlining methods to investigate the influence of external and internal control variables on alluvial fans. In this thesis, outcomes of the applied framework and case study are used to develop fan restoration guidelines for the Baviaanskloof Valley. The framework incorporates external and internal fan control variables at a valley-wide and local fan scale. External control variables include accommodation space, base-level change, and drainage basin inputs. Internal control variables include fan style, morphometry and fan channels. In order to apply the framework, fan morphometry data was required. This data was collected by creating a spatial plan of fans and basins in the valley. Outcomes of the applied framework include; an understanding of baselevel change on fans, relationships between fan basin characteristics and the fan surface and insight into fan channel processes. Results of the applied framework are investigated further using bivariate (correlation matrix) and multivariate (principle component analysis and regression analysis) analysis techniques. Significant relationships identified are: drainage basin area versus fan area, fan area and fan slope and drainage basin ruggedness and basin size. The primary outcomes of this thesis include an alluvial fan form-process framework, key considerations to be included in alluvial fan restoration projects and fan restoration guidelines. Contributions of this thesis to broader alluvial fan morphology science includes new insights into general fan literature by compiling a form-process alluvial fan classification framework to identify external and internal fan control variables and identify fan form. Additions have been made to Clarke’s (2010) evolutionary stages to describe stages 4 and 5 of fan evolution that has been adapted to describe fan evolution and differentiate between stages of mature fan evolution. This thesis has also contributed to the study of alluvial fans in South Africa, particularly in the Baviaanskloof Valley. The layout of the procedural guidelines and key considerations for an alluvial fan project provides a guide for rapid fan assessment for maximum cost and time benefits for stakeholders.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Developing Health Informatics as a New Scientific Discipline
- Authors: Wright, G
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Health services administration Information technology -- Management Health informatics -- Development
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/1089 , vital:30594
- Description: This lecture is predominately about the development of Health Informatics as a discipline and the author’s involvement in this emerging academic subject over the last three decades.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Wright, G
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Health services administration Information technology -- Management Health informatics -- Development
- Language: English
- Type: text , Lectures
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/11260/1089 , vital:30594
- Description: This lecture is predominately about the development of Health Informatics as a discipline and the author’s involvement in this emerging academic subject over the last three decades.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Developing images of self: childhood, youth and family photographs in works by three South African women artists
- Authors: Schmahmann, Brenda
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147571 , vital:38650 , https://doi.org/10.1162/AFAR_a_00024
- Description: In 1996, South African artist Bridget Baker (b. 1971), completed So It Goes (Fig. 1), a work comprising four Vicks Vapour Rub containers which each feature the same photograph. A representation of the artist being taught to swim by her father, who died when she was a child, this is the only shot she possesses that shows them together. The photograph is overlaid with progressively increased amounts of the Vapour Rub until, in the last of the four tins, the image is almost entirely obliterated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Schmahmann, Brenda
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147571 , vital:38650 , https://doi.org/10.1162/AFAR_a_00024
- Description: In 1996, South African artist Bridget Baker (b. 1971), completed So It Goes (Fig. 1), a work comprising four Vicks Vapour Rub containers which each feature the same photograph. A representation of the artist being taught to swim by her father, who died when she was a child, this is the only shot she possesses that shows them together. The photograph is overlaid with progressively increased amounts of the Vapour Rub until, in the last of the four tins, the image is almost entirely obliterated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Developing marine pollution awareness among new recruits at SAS Saldanha Naval Gymnasium: a training needs analysis
- Authors: Kwak, Gerrit Werner
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Marine pollution -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Naval education -- South Africa -- Evaluation Training needs -- Armed forces -- South Africa -- Evaluation S.A.S. Saldanha (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:774 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003895
- Description: This dissertation focuses on the marine pollution awareness training needs of newly recruited SAN employees. It uses Training Needs Analysis (TNA) as a tool to gain a better understanding of what knowledge, skills and attitude (KSA) recruits should have about the marine environment and if their level of competency meets the requirement to effectively and efficiently contribute to the sustainable use of the maritime environment in which they will be deployed. Ultimately, their individual and collective abilities will be a determining factor in the strategic intent of the SAN to be unchallenged at sea. The absence therefore of a Marine Pollution Awareness Training Programme (MPTAP) within the Basic Military Training (BMT) curriculum of new recruits at SAS SALDANHA Naval Gymnasium necessitated a TNA. Based on prior research on training conducted by subject matter experts both internal and external to the SAN it was decided to conduct a TNA on the KSA‟s required in terms of marine pollution awareness amongst newly recruited members. The literature provided discusses education, training, development of employees and focuses then on the role and importance of TNA‟s. Information was gathered from various subject matter experts, archival records, policy documents, internet-based resources and newly recruited naval learners consisting of a sample of 25 new recruits. Theory was used to determine the KSA expected from naval employees in terms of marine pollution awareness. Data obtained from each of the research resources was coded and grouped in order to establish themes. This allowed the researcher to determine what KSA‟s recruits should have about the marine environment and if their level of competency meets the requirement to effectively and efficiently contribute to the sustainable use of the maritime environment in which they will be deployed. The researcher therefore found that first priority in terms of KSA‟s should be given to a basic legal understanding of the regulatory framework that is applicable on marine pollution. This understanding will form the foundation for recruits to have the ability to know “what to do when” during observed transgressions. The legal understanding in combination with the Sector Education Training Authority (SETA) unit standards will help new recruits to be skilful when applying safe working practices thereby ensuring their own and others' safety. Ultimately, a basic but well entrenched knowledge about marine pollution together with applied skills on how to use the knowledge should influence the attitude of new recruits in a positive manner. The researcher concluded that there is a need on the macro, meso and micro level for a MPATP amongst new recruits at SAS SALDANHA. It is recommended that since this research appears to establish the first empirical confirmation of the training need amongst new recruits, it will require further research in terms of curriculum design, curriculum implementation and the evaluation thereof. It would therefore be in the best interest of the SAN to ensure the integration of a MPATP into the planning phase of future BMT Curriculum‟s. It would also be advisable to communicate this intent with all the relevant stakeholders in order to ensure alignment with governmental organisations as well as the private sector where these new recruits can be employed based on their newly acquired competencies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Kwak, Gerrit Werner
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Marine pollution -- Study and teaching -- South Africa Naval education -- South Africa -- Evaluation Training needs -- Armed forces -- South Africa -- Evaluation S.A.S. Saldanha (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:774 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003895
- Description: This dissertation focuses on the marine pollution awareness training needs of newly recruited SAN employees. It uses Training Needs Analysis (TNA) as a tool to gain a better understanding of what knowledge, skills and attitude (KSA) recruits should have about the marine environment and if their level of competency meets the requirement to effectively and efficiently contribute to the sustainable use of the maritime environment in which they will be deployed. Ultimately, their individual and collective abilities will be a determining factor in the strategic intent of the SAN to be unchallenged at sea. The absence therefore of a Marine Pollution Awareness Training Programme (MPTAP) within the Basic Military Training (BMT) curriculum of new recruits at SAS SALDANHA Naval Gymnasium necessitated a TNA. Based on prior research on training conducted by subject matter experts both internal and external to the SAN it was decided to conduct a TNA on the KSA‟s required in terms of marine pollution awareness amongst newly recruited members. The literature provided discusses education, training, development of employees and focuses then on the role and importance of TNA‟s. Information was gathered from various subject matter experts, archival records, policy documents, internet-based resources and newly recruited naval learners consisting of a sample of 25 new recruits. Theory was used to determine the KSA expected from naval employees in terms of marine pollution awareness. Data obtained from each of the research resources was coded and grouped in order to establish themes. This allowed the researcher to determine what KSA‟s recruits should have about the marine environment and if their level of competency meets the requirement to effectively and efficiently contribute to the sustainable use of the maritime environment in which they will be deployed. The researcher therefore found that first priority in terms of KSA‟s should be given to a basic legal understanding of the regulatory framework that is applicable on marine pollution. This understanding will form the foundation for recruits to have the ability to know “what to do when” during observed transgressions. The legal understanding in combination with the Sector Education Training Authority (SETA) unit standards will help new recruits to be skilful when applying safe working practices thereby ensuring their own and others' safety. Ultimately, a basic but well entrenched knowledge about marine pollution together with applied skills on how to use the knowledge should influence the attitude of new recruits in a positive manner. The researcher concluded that there is a need on the macro, meso and micro level for a MPATP amongst new recruits at SAS SALDANHA. It is recommended that since this research appears to establish the first empirical confirmation of the training need amongst new recruits, it will require further research in terms of curriculum design, curriculum implementation and the evaluation thereof. It would therefore be in the best interest of the SAN to ensure the integration of a MPATP into the planning phase of future BMT Curriculum‟s. It would also be advisable to communicate this intent with all the relevant stakeholders in order to ensure alignment with governmental organisations as well as the private sector where these new recruits can be employed based on their newly acquired competencies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Development of a degreasing and anti-fogging formulation for wet wipe application for automotive glass surfaces
- Authors: Bosch, Tanya
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Porous materials -- Transport properties , Hydrophobic surfaces , Vapor degreasing , Cleaning compounds , Water-soluble polymers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10418 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013177
- Description: It was the objective of this project to provide a glass cleaner formulation for a wet wipe application with cleaning and anti-fogging properties. This glass cleaner formulation was developed for automotive glass i.e. interior of windscreens. This formulation relates to a glass cleaner with a composition comprising of: (a) a blend of amphoteric surfactants; (b) a solvent system with a combination of glycol ethers; and (c) an aqueous solvent system. This glass formulation must provide good cleaning properties while also providing good wetting and sheeting properties to assist with anti-fogging properties. The objectives were obtained using 2 specific approaches: The first was by using a blend of 2 amphoteric surfactants in an alkaline medium, allowing the glass surface to become more hydrophilic which will also assist with reduction of surface tension on the glass surface. The second was by using the glycol ethers that have good coupling properties and surface tension reducing properties. The formulation was evaluated using commercial standard test methods as per the industry. A predictive model was successfully obtained for each of the five criteria that were evaluated using the 25 formulations derived from the statistical design. There were variables and variable interactions that were antagonistic for some of the criteria which were found to be synergistic for others. To achieve satisfactory cleaning, the fogging rating had to be compromised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Bosch, Tanya
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Porous materials -- Transport properties , Hydrophobic surfaces , Vapor degreasing , Cleaning compounds , Water-soluble polymers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10418 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013177
- Description: It was the objective of this project to provide a glass cleaner formulation for a wet wipe application with cleaning and anti-fogging properties. This glass cleaner formulation was developed for automotive glass i.e. interior of windscreens. This formulation relates to a glass cleaner with a composition comprising of: (a) a blend of amphoteric surfactants; (b) a solvent system with a combination of glycol ethers; and (c) an aqueous solvent system. This glass formulation must provide good cleaning properties while also providing good wetting and sheeting properties to assist with anti-fogging properties. The objectives were obtained using 2 specific approaches: The first was by using a blend of 2 amphoteric surfactants in an alkaline medium, allowing the glass surface to become more hydrophilic which will also assist with reduction of surface tension on the glass surface. The second was by using the glycol ethers that have good coupling properties and surface tension reducing properties. The formulation was evaluated using commercial standard test methods as per the industry. A predictive model was successfully obtained for each of the five criteria that were evaluated using the 25 formulations derived from the statistical design. There were variables and variable interactions that were antagonistic for some of the criteria which were found to be synergistic for others. To achieve satisfactory cleaning, the fogging rating had to be compromised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Development of a hydraulic sub-model as part of a desktop environmental flow assessment method
- Authors: Desai, Ahmed Yacoob
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Hydrologic models -- Research -- South Africa Hydraulic engineering -- South Africa Rivers -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:6041 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006200
- Description: Countries around the world have been developing ecological policies to protect their water resources and minimise the impacts of development on their river systems. The concept of ‘minimum flows’ was initially established as a solution but it did not provide sufficient protection as all elements of a flow regime were found to be important for the protection of the river ecosystem. “Environmental flows” were developed to determine these flow regimes to maintain a river in some defined ecological condition. Rapid, initial estimates of the quantity component of environmental flows may be determined using the Desktop Reserve Model in South Africa. However, the Desktop Reserve Model is dependent upon the characteristics of the reference natural hydrology used. The advancements in hydraulic and ecological relationships from the past decade have prompted the development of a Revised Desktop Reserve Model (RDRM) that would incorporate these relationships. The research in this thesis presents the development of the hydraulic sub-model for the RDRM. The hydraulic sub-model was designed to produce a realistic representation of the hydraulic conditions using hydraulic parameters/characteristics from readily available information for any part of South Africa. Hydraulic data from past EWR studies were used to estimate the hydraulic parameters. These estimated hydraulic parameters were used to develop hydraulic estimation relationships and these relationships were developed based on a combination of regression and rule-based procedures. The estimation relationships were incorporated into the hydraulic sub-model of the integrated RDRM and assessments of the hydraulic outputs and EWR results were undertaken to assess the ‘applicability’ of the hydraulic sub-model. The hydraulic sub-model was assessed to be at a stage where it can satisfactorily be incorporated in the RDRM and that it is adequately robust in many situations. Recommendations for future work include the refinement of estimation of the channel forming discharge or the use of spatial imagery to check the maximum channel width estimation. It is also proposed that a future version of the hydraulic sub-model could include flow regime change impacts on channel geomorphology and sedimentology so that flow management scenarios can be more effectively assessed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Desai, Ahmed Yacoob
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Hydrologic models -- Research -- South Africa Hydraulic engineering -- South Africa Rivers -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:6041 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006200
- Description: Countries around the world have been developing ecological policies to protect their water resources and minimise the impacts of development on their river systems. The concept of ‘minimum flows’ was initially established as a solution but it did not provide sufficient protection as all elements of a flow regime were found to be important for the protection of the river ecosystem. “Environmental flows” were developed to determine these flow regimes to maintain a river in some defined ecological condition. Rapid, initial estimates of the quantity component of environmental flows may be determined using the Desktop Reserve Model in South Africa. However, the Desktop Reserve Model is dependent upon the characteristics of the reference natural hydrology used. The advancements in hydraulic and ecological relationships from the past decade have prompted the development of a Revised Desktop Reserve Model (RDRM) that would incorporate these relationships. The research in this thesis presents the development of the hydraulic sub-model for the RDRM. The hydraulic sub-model was designed to produce a realistic representation of the hydraulic conditions using hydraulic parameters/characteristics from readily available information for any part of South Africa. Hydraulic data from past EWR studies were used to estimate the hydraulic parameters. These estimated hydraulic parameters were used to develop hydraulic estimation relationships and these relationships were developed based on a combination of regression and rule-based procedures. The estimation relationships were incorporated into the hydraulic sub-model of the integrated RDRM and assessments of the hydraulic outputs and EWR results were undertaken to assess the ‘applicability’ of the hydraulic sub-model. The hydraulic sub-model was assessed to be at a stage where it can satisfactorily be incorporated in the RDRM and that it is adequately robust in many situations. Recommendations for future work include the refinement of estimation of the channel forming discharge or the use of spatial imagery to check the maximum channel width estimation. It is also proposed that a future version of the hydraulic sub-model could include flow regime change impacts on channel geomorphology and sedimentology so that flow management scenarios can be more effectively assessed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Development of a navigation system for an autonomous guided vehicle using android technology
- Authors: Snyman, Christo Johannes
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Mechatronics , Engeering
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9654 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020025
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Snyman, Christo Johannes
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Mechatronics , Engeering
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9654 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020025
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Development of a value based pricing index for new drugs in metastatic colorectal cancer
- Authors: Dranitsaris, George
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Drug -- Prices , Prescription pricing , Pharmaceutical industry -- Prices
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009310 , Drug -- Prices , Prescription pricing , Pharmaceutical industry -- Prices
- Description: Background: Worldwide, prices for cancer drugs have been under downward pressure where several governments have mandated price cuts of branded and generic products. A better alternative to mandated price cuts would be the estimation of a launch price based on drug performance, cost effectiveness and a country’s ability to pay. In this study, the development of a global pricing index for new drugs that encompasses all of these attributes in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is described. Methods: A pharmacoeconomic model was developed to simulate clinical outcomes in mCRC patients receiving chemotherapy with the addition of a “new drug” that improves survival by 1.4, 3 and 6 months. Cost and health state utility data were obtained from cancer centers and oncology nurses (total n=112) in Canada (n=24), Spain (n=24), India (n=24), South Africa (n=16) and Malaysia (n=24). A price per dose was estimated for each survival increment using a target value threshold of three times the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) for each country, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Multivariable analysis was then used to develop the pricing index, which considers survival benefit, per capita GDP and income dispersion as measured by the Gini coefficient as predictor variables. Results: Higher survival benefits were associated with elevated drug prices, especially in wealthier countries such as Canada and Spain. For a nation like Argentina with a per capita GDP of $15,000 and a Gini coefficient of 51, it is estimated that for a drug which provides a 4 month survival benefit in mCRC, the value based price would be $US 630 per dose. In contrast, the same drug in a wealthier country like Norway could command a price of $US 2,775 and still be considered cost effective according to the WHO criteria. Conclusions: A global pricing index was presented that can be used to estimate a value based price in different countries for new drugs in mCRC. The application of this index to estimate a price based on cost effectiveness would be a good starting point for opening dialogue between the key stakeholders and a better alternative to governments’ mandated price cuts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Dranitsaris, George
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Drug -- Prices , Prescription pricing , Pharmaceutical industry -- Prices
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009310 , Drug -- Prices , Prescription pricing , Pharmaceutical industry -- Prices
- Description: Background: Worldwide, prices for cancer drugs have been under downward pressure where several governments have mandated price cuts of branded and generic products. A better alternative to mandated price cuts would be the estimation of a launch price based on drug performance, cost effectiveness and a country’s ability to pay. In this study, the development of a global pricing index for new drugs that encompasses all of these attributes in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is described. Methods: A pharmacoeconomic model was developed to simulate clinical outcomes in mCRC patients receiving chemotherapy with the addition of a “new drug” that improves survival by 1.4, 3 and 6 months. Cost and health state utility data were obtained from cancer centers and oncology nurses (total n=112) in Canada (n=24), Spain (n=24), India (n=24), South Africa (n=16) and Malaysia (n=24). A price per dose was estimated for each survival increment using a target value threshold of three times the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) for each country, as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Multivariable analysis was then used to develop the pricing index, which considers survival benefit, per capita GDP and income dispersion as measured by the Gini coefficient as predictor variables. Results: Higher survival benefits were associated with elevated drug prices, especially in wealthier countries such as Canada and Spain. For a nation like Argentina with a per capita GDP of $15,000 and a Gini coefficient of 51, it is estimated that for a drug which provides a 4 month survival benefit in mCRC, the value based price would be $US 630 per dose. In contrast, the same drug in a wealthier country like Norway could command a price of $US 2,775 and still be considered cost effective according to the WHO criteria. Conclusions: A global pricing index was presented that can be used to estimate a value based price in different countries for new drugs in mCRC. The application of this index to estimate a price based on cost effectiveness would be a good starting point for opening dialogue between the key stakeholders and a better alternative to governments’ mandated price cuts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012