Die bestuursrol van die skoolhoof in die implementering van 'n nuwe kurrikulum
- Authors: Mey, Hermanus Pieter
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: School principals -- South Africa , Educational leadership -- South Africa , Curriculum change -- South Africa
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:11010 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/367 , School principals -- South Africa , Educational leadership -- South Africa , Curriculum change -- South Africa
- Description: The implementation of a new curriculum has become a very relevant issue in South Africa with the implementation of Curriculum 2005 (C 2005) since 1998. The school principal plays a very important role at school level in the implementation of change in general and a new curriculum in particular. The aim of this study was to have a closer look at this role. It is a qualitative study executed in six schools in the Port Elizabeth area. It investigates the problems school principals experienced with the implementation of C 2005 with the objective of identifying guidelines for the role of the principal in the implementation of a new curriculum The most important findings include the importance of equipping the principal to provide guidance with the implementation of a new curriculum. This equipping refers to the principal’s knowledge of the new curriculum, the ability to employ various leadership styles, as well as the maintenance of a certain balance between supporting and putting pressure on the staff. Other findings refer to the importance of well-trained and prepared facilitators of workshops, as well as the role the Department of Education needs to play in the training and preparation of these facilitators. The ongoing support of schools in the implementation process also needs to be emphasized. The principal should play a key role with respect to this last role of the Department. The study also emphasizes the principal’s responsibility to bind the educators together in building a shared vision, so that their focus will remain on the curriculum implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
- Authors: Mey, Hermanus Pieter
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: School principals -- South Africa , Educational leadership -- South Africa , Curriculum change -- South Africa
- Language: Afrikaans
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: vital:11010 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/367 , School principals -- South Africa , Educational leadership -- South Africa , Curriculum change -- South Africa
- Description: The implementation of a new curriculum has become a very relevant issue in South Africa with the implementation of Curriculum 2005 (C 2005) since 1998. The school principal plays a very important role at school level in the implementation of change in general and a new curriculum in particular. The aim of this study was to have a closer look at this role. It is a qualitative study executed in six schools in the Port Elizabeth area. It investigates the problems school principals experienced with the implementation of C 2005 with the objective of identifying guidelines for the role of the principal in the implementation of a new curriculum The most important findings include the importance of equipping the principal to provide guidance with the implementation of a new curriculum. This equipping refers to the principal’s knowledge of the new curriculum, the ability to employ various leadership styles, as well as the maintenance of a certain balance between supporting and putting pressure on the staff. Other findings refer to the importance of well-trained and prepared facilitators of workshops, as well as the role the Department of Education needs to play in the training and preparation of these facilitators. The ongoing support of schools in the implementation process also needs to be emphasized. The principal should play a key role with respect to this last role of the Department. The study also emphasizes the principal’s responsibility to bind the educators together in building a shared vision, so that their focus will remain on the curriculum implementation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
The use of textbooks by teachers in teaching mathematics at selected primary schools in East London education district
- Authors: Adu, K.O.
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Textbooks Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Primary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd.
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8989 , vital:34180
- Description: Mathematics is the foundation for the economic and technological development of any nation. It has been asserted that Mathematics is expected to help in accelerating social, economic and technological progress of any society. The Primary school level is very important in any educational system and any lack at this level would permeate to other levels of the educational system. Hence, this dissertation examines the use of textbooks by teachers in teaching Mathematics at selected primary schools in East London Education district. The study adopted the interpretivist paradigm and employed the qualitative approach in investigating the phenomenon. The dissertation made use of phenomenology research design as it attempted to understand people’s (learners’ and teachers’) perceptions, perspectives and understandings of the use of textbooks in teaching Mathematics. Semi-structured interviews and observation were used to elicit information from the six mathematics teachers and three heads of department who were purposively selected. The data collected were analysed using thematic approach where themes were developed from the research questions after transcribing, sorting and categorizing them. The findings of the study demonstrated that the participants selected textbooks from the ones prescribed by the department that were written in the CAPS documents. They had no influence or decision on textbook selection. All the teachers believed that lesson plan is very important and it is a must to have a very detailed and comprehensive lesson plan that is well-aligned to the contents of CAPS document and the textbook. The study further revealed that, for effective delivery of lesson and planning, there is need for a practical use of textbooks by the teacher. The study concluded that one of the most fundamental issues to consider is the fact that, as good as the use of textbook for planning and delivery of lesson activities is, it can also be a problem if not carefully and professionally planned and used accordingly. The over-dependence on textbooks at the expense of other resources may cause ineffective learning and teaching of mathematics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Adu, K.O.
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Textbooks Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Primary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd.
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8989 , vital:34180
- Description: Mathematics is the foundation for the economic and technological development of any nation. It has been asserted that Mathematics is expected to help in accelerating social, economic and technological progress of any society. The Primary school level is very important in any educational system and any lack at this level would permeate to other levels of the educational system. Hence, this dissertation examines the use of textbooks by teachers in teaching Mathematics at selected primary schools in East London Education district. The study adopted the interpretivist paradigm and employed the qualitative approach in investigating the phenomenon. The dissertation made use of phenomenology research design as it attempted to understand people’s (learners’ and teachers’) perceptions, perspectives and understandings of the use of textbooks in teaching Mathematics. Semi-structured interviews and observation were used to elicit information from the six mathematics teachers and three heads of department who were purposively selected. The data collected were analysed using thematic approach where themes were developed from the research questions after transcribing, sorting and categorizing them. The findings of the study demonstrated that the participants selected textbooks from the ones prescribed by the department that were written in the CAPS documents. They had no influence or decision on textbook selection. All the teachers believed that lesson plan is very important and it is a must to have a very detailed and comprehensive lesson plan that is well-aligned to the contents of CAPS document and the textbook. The study further revealed that, for effective delivery of lesson and planning, there is need for a practical use of textbooks by the teacher. The study concluded that one of the most fundamental issues to consider is the fact that, as good as the use of textbook for planning and delivery of lesson activities is, it can also be a problem if not carefully and professionally planned and used accordingly. The over-dependence on textbooks at the expense of other resources may cause ineffective learning and teaching of mathematics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Regional intergration: the impact of a one stop border post between South Africa and Mozabique in enhancing trade facilitation
- Authors: Mamkeli, Xolani
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: International economic integration , Border stations -- South Africa , Border stations -- Mozambique , Trade blocs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8279 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016263
- Description: The Ressano Garcia Border Post on the Mozambique side and the Lebombo Border post on the South African side represent the link between two of the three Maputo Corridor countries that receives the largest amount of freight traffic along the Corridor. The link has been identified as a major obstacle to the free movement of goods. As a result the process of the establishment of a One Stop Border Post was mooted by the former president Thabo Mbeki and his counter-part in Mozambique Mr. Joaquim Chissano in a bilateral agreement between these two countries. The reasons for these developments are prompted by the protracted problems that have beset intra-regional trade. For example, transport infrastructure in the region imposes significant costs on intra-regional and regional trade transactions. Long delays at border posts add to the intra-regional trade costs. The requirements by the 1996 SADC trade protocol, the basis of the FTA — that member states eliminate non-tariff barriers — poses special problems as it represents different things to different SADC member states. Addressing the SADC summit on 16 August 2006, the then South African President Thabo Mbeki said “the launch of the FTA was much more than a simple acknowledgement that the majority of traded goods in the region are duty-free. Rather we should view the achievement of this milestone as a major step towards addressing the fundamental challenges of poverty and underdevelopment through deeper integration and economic development” (Mbeki, 2006:16). Now that there will be one centre that clears all the documents for the transporters this will effectively culminate in the speedy processing of the documents. There will be no need for the transporters to stop at the other country’s customs offices to do the same job. Once the documents are complete the process is complete, because the barriers are removed between the two countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mamkeli, Xolani
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: International economic integration , Border stations -- South Africa , Border stations -- Mozambique , Trade blocs
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8279 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016263
- Description: The Ressano Garcia Border Post on the Mozambique side and the Lebombo Border post on the South African side represent the link between two of the three Maputo Corridor countries that receives the largest amount of freight traffic along the Corridor. The link has been identified as a major obstacle to the free movement of goods. As a result the process of the establishment of a One Stop Border Post was mooted by the former president Thabo Mbeki and his counter-part in Mozambique Mr. Joaquim Chissano in a bilateral agreement between these two countries. The reasons for these developments are prompted by the protracted problems that have beset intra-regional trade. For example, transport infrastructure in the region imposes significant costs on intra-regional and regional trade transactions. Long delays at border posts add to the intra-regional trade costs. The requirements by the 1996 SADC trade protocol, the basis of the FTA — that member states eliminate non-tariff barriers — poses special problems as it represents different things to different SADC member states. Addressing the SADC summit on 16 August 2006, the then South African President Thabo Mbeki said “the launch of the FTA was much more than a simple acknowledgement that the majority of traded goods in the region are duty-free. Rather we should view the achievement of this milestone as a major step towards addressing the fundamental challenges of poverty and underdevelopment through deeper integration and economic development” (Mbeki, 2006:16). Now that there will be one centre that clears all the documents for the transporters this will effectively culminate in the speedy processing of the documents. There will be no need for the transporters to stop at the other country’s customs offices to do the same job. Once the documents are complete the process is complete, because the barriers are removed between the two countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
The individual and the social order in Mill and Hegel : seeking common principles in liberal and communitarian ancestry
- Authors: Koseff, Justin Adam
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich, 1770-1831 , Mill, John Stuart, 1806-1873 , Liberalism , Communitarianism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2843 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005624 , Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich, 1770-1831 , Mill, John Stuart, 1806-1873 , Liberalism , Communitarianism
- Description: This thesis seeks to establish a significant commonality and compatibility between the principles underpinning the political and social philosophies of GWF Hegel and John Stuart Mill. The role of the individual and the social order in both their theories is discussed and assessed separately and in turn in reference to their respective seminal works on the proper structure, principles and function of modern political infrastructure. Through an interpretation of the fundamental tenets and goals of their theories of the social order I argue for a coherent modern reconstruction of their doctrines, within which I locate parallels and contrasts as they apply. Both theorists as ultimately put forward similar arguments for freedom as an intersubjectively·developed capacity, the ideal social order as rational framework for the management of ethical and political engagement, linked to a social holism that ties individual and social progress inextricably. A respect for individual particularity of perspective and practice is integral both of their social frameworks, but that such a space must be harmonised within a rational political community worthy of individual obligation. Finally their social and political theories can be understood as complementary, each providing insights which the other lacks. Mill suffers from an insufficient regard for the social basis of identity and interconnected nature of the modern institutional framework, while Hegel displays an insufficient regard for Mill's caveats concerning the repressive potential of institutional structures and the dangers of overly empowered bureaucracies. In conclusion key elements of the two theorists' projects stand as separate but not in any way fundamentally opposed to each other. This points to the possibility of a via media between a politics of individualism and a politics of community, suggesting strong potential for reconciliation between liberal and communitarian perspectives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Koseff, Justin Adam
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich, 1770-1831 , Mill, John Stuart, 1806-1873 , Liberalism , Communitarianism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2843 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005624 , Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich, 1770-1831 , Mill, John Stuart, 1806-1873 , Liberalism , Communitarianism
- Description: This thesis seeks to establish a significant commonality and compatibility between the principles underpinning the political and social philosophies of GWF Hegel and John Stuart Mill. The role of the individual and the social order in both their theories is discussed and assessed separately and in turn in reference to their respective seminal works on the proper structure, principles and function of modern political infrastructure. Through an interpretation of the fundamental tenets and goals of their theories of the social order I argue for a coherent modern reconstruction of their doctrines, within which I locate parallels and contrasts as they apply. Both theorists as ultimately put forward similar arguments for freedom as an intersubjectively·developed capacity, the ideal social order as rational framework for the management of ethical and political engagement, linked to a social holism that ties individual and social progress inextricably. A respect for individual particularity of perspective and practice is integral both of their social frameworks, but that such a space must be harmonised within a rational political community worthy of individual obligation. Finally their social and political theories can be understood as complementary, each providing insights which the other lacks. Mill suffers from an insufficient regard for the social basis of identity and interconnected nature of the modern institutional framework, while Hegel displays an insufficient regard for Mill's caveats concerning the repressive potential of institutional structures and the dangers of overly empowered bureaucracies. In conclusion key elements of the two theorists' projects stand as separate but not in any way fundamentally opposed to each other. This points to the possibility of a via media between a politics of individualism and a politics of community, suggesting strong potential for reconciliation between liberal and communitarian perspectives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Confiscation orders in terms of the prevention of Organised Crime Act
- Authors: Juicy, Gavin Winston Bill
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Forfeiture -- South Africa , Organized crime -- South Africa -- Prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10169 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/750 , Forfeiture -- South Africa , Organized crime -- South Africa -- Prevention
- Description: The Prevention of Organised Crime Act brought major changes to the South African criminal law context. Through the Act, major confiscatory provisions were established. The Act does not only target convicted criminals, but also any person who is in possession of tainted property that was used in the commission of offences. Civil forfeiture is the most widely used procedure in forfeiture proceedings. In the dissertation the effectiveness of criminal and civil confiscation is outlined. The historical development of confiscation and forfeiture provisions in South African is discussed with reference to the common law, legislation and international instruments and how international developments have influenced local development. This treatise consist of an overview of the confiscation provisions in the Prevention of Organised Act 121 of 1998 as one of the measures the South African legislature put in place to deal with organised crime. Since the Prevention of Organised Crime Act was passed, the courts have given meaning to what is an instrumentality of an offence and the proceeds of unlawful activities as a measure to counter organised crime. This treatise refers to those cases given the definition of an instrumentality of an offence and the proceeds of unlawful activities. For the purpose of effectively dealing with organised crime, this treatise contains a discussion on the effectiveness of criminal and civil confiscation procedure. The justification for asset forfeiture is outlined.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Juicy, Gavin Winston Bill
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Forfeiture -- South Africa , Organized crime -- South Africa -- Prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10169 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/750 , Forfeiture -- South Africa , Organized crime -- South Africa -- Prevention
- Description: The Prevention of Organised Crime Act brought major changes to the South African criminal law context. Through the Act, major confiscatory provisions were established. The Act does not only target convicted criminals, but also any person who is in possession of tainted property that was used in the commission of offences. Civil forfeiture is the most widely used procedure in forfeiture proceedings. In the dissertation the effectiveness of criminal and civil confiscation is outlined. The historical development of confiscation and forfeiture provisions in South African is discussed with reference to the common law, legislation and international instruments and how international developments have influenced local development. This treatise consist of an overview of the confiscation provisions in the Prevention of Organised Act 121 of 1998 as one of the measures the South African legislature put in place to deal with organised crime. Since the Prevention of Organised Crime Act was passed, the courts have given meaning to what is an instrumentality of an offence and the proceeds of unlawful activities as a measure to counter organised crime. This treatise refers to those cases given the definition of an instrumentality of an offence and the proceeds of unlawful activities. For the purpose of effectively dealing with organised crime, this treatise contains a discussion on the effectiveness of criminal and civil confiscation procedure. The justification for asset forfeiture is outlined.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
A qualitative analysis of the need-satisfying experiences of the customers of a niche-restaurant
- Authors: Burger, John Michael
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Consumer satisfaction , Diners restaurant -- Marketing , Customer loyalty
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech (Marketing)
- Identifier: vital:10767 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/260 , Consumer satisfaction , Diners restaurant -- Marketing , Customer loyalty
- Description: Tradition dictates that marketing decision-makers remain accurately aligned with the dynamic and vacillating need structures of the target markets they serve. To comply with this caveat, a time-honoured and largely unchallenged philosophy of customer orientation has been applied. Theory further strongly contends that if such a business stance is vigilantly and diligently applied, any firm is bound to gain a competitive edge in the market place. A weakness in the above marketing mindset is the perception that when a spectrum of business elements are orchestrated and focussed on customers, target audience members will automatically be satisfied and return their patronage. This so-called marketing concept has undergone major reevaluations over the past decades, and it is now becoming ever more prevalent to witness varied permutations of new marketing architecture evolving in literature and practice. The unit of analysis selected for this research study is a niche restaurant that flouts many of the rudimentary traditional rules of marketing and iconoclastically succeeds despite all counter-logic. What such organisations have been practicing, albeit unknown to themselves, is a new way of business - a stance that has only recently been taken seriously by academics, writers and marketing professionals. These intuitive marketers are succeeding in niche businesses, despite going against the tide of the ingrained paradigm mindsets of conventional marketing stalwarts. Such niche business people have discovered is that there is more to satisfying consumer needs than simply honing in and understanding what the basic needs of designated audiences are. A growing band of new age marketers have been challenging orthodox marketing philosophy. Tofler, the visionary futurist, alluded to a host of unarticulated psychic consumer needs that would emerge as society drifted into a clinical and dispassionate ‘new’ millennium. In a world geared to instant gratification, fast-paced living and mechanistic social interactions, jaded consumers seek recognition as individuals (Tofler, 1970). They quest for inclusion rather than exclusion. They need a place to feel safe and find solace. Hence, it is now clear that simply attempting to satisfy the fundamental dimensions of consumers’ needs is no longer sufficient. Consumers rather seek the fulfilment of an holistic band of experience dimensions. Increasingly, phrases such as “winning consumer hearts and minds” are entering the vocabulary of marketers on a regular basis. The present vogue is to isolate and then include a range of intangible elements that are embodied in the process of satisfying customers needs. However, despite a growing awareness of the significance of mental-need satisfiers, in the specific domain of this investigation there is sparse evidence in literature of the mechanics of such novel thinking. The study unit is a second generation restaurant where many of the hollowed cornerstones of conventional marketing are inadvertently flouted. Different sets of rules of engagement seem to apply to their customers, who are also their most ardent advocates. A unique philosophy and business ethos also appears to prevail. In the study, the idiosyncratic characteristics which socially and competitively differentiate such a business were identified, explored and expiated. The constituents were then harmonised in an effort to establish what ‘it’ was that magnetically attracted patrons back despite the owner’s unintentional dismissive predisposition towards fundamental theory. As a result of this in-depth qualitative study, an holistic model encompassing all of the dimensions of a dining out experience at a niche restaurant have been proposed. Consequently the pillars upon which a sustained, enduring, loyal staunch customer base can be bed-rocked have been identified. Further, for the study unit, a typology of its diner corpse has been developed. The owners of the establishment under investigation have succeeded to provide an intimate family haven for their patrons. They, and their diners have collectively given strong, descriptive voice to the psychogenic need satisfying elements that have always existed, but to date have been unarticulated and unrecorded. This thesis brings the milieu of the iconoclast niche restaurant marketing practitioner to life.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
- Authors: Burger, John Michael
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Consumer satisfaction , Diners restaurant -- Marketing , Customer loyalty
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech (Marketing)
- Identifier: vital:10767 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/260 , Consumer satisfaction , Diners restaurant -- Marketing , Customer loyalty
- Description: Tradition dictates that marketing decision-makers remain accurately aligned with the dynamic and vacillating need structures of the target markets they serve. To comply with this caveat, a time-honoured and largely unchallenged philosophy of customer orientation has been applied. Theory further strongly contends that if such a business stance is vigilantly and diligently applied, any firm is bound to gain a competitive edge in the market place. A weakness in the above marketing mindset is the perception that when a spectrum of business elements are orchestrated and focussed on customers, target audience members will automatically be satisfied and return their patronage. This so-called marketing concept has undergone major reevaluations over the past decades, and it is now becoming ever more prevalent to witness varied permutations of new marketing architecture evolving in literature and practice. The unit of analysis selected for this research study is a niche restaurant that flouts many of the rudimentary traditional rules of marketing and iconoclastically succeeds despite all counter-logic. What such organisations have been practicing, albeit unknown to themselves, is a new way of business - a stance that has only recently been taken seriously by academics, writers and marketing professionals. These intuitive marketers are succeeding in niche businesses, despite going against the tide of the ingrained paradigm mindsets of conventional marketing stalwarts. Such niche business people have discovered is that there is more to satisfying consumer needs than simply honing in and understanding what the basic needs of designated audiences are. A growing band of new age marketers have been challenging orthodox marketing philosophy. Tofler, the visionary futurist, alluded to a host of unarticulated psychic consumer needs that would emerge as society drifted into a clinical and dispassionate ‘new’ millennium. In a world geared to instant gratification, fast-paced living and mechanistic social interactions, jaded consumers seek recognition as individuals (Tofler, 1970). They quest for inclusion rather than exclusion. They need a place to feel safe and find solace. Hence, it is now clear that simply attempting to satisfy the fundamental dimensions of consumers’ needs is no longer sufficient. Consumers rather seek the fulfilment of an holistic band of experience dimensions. Increasingly, phrases such as “winning consumer hearts and minds” are entering the vocabulary of marketers on a regular basis. The present vogue is to isolate and then include a range of intangible elements that are embodied in the process of satisfying customers needs. However, despite a growing awareness of the significance of mental-need satisfiers, in the specific domain of this investigation there is sparse evidence in literature of the mechanics of such novel thinking. The study unit is a second generation restaurant where many of the hollowed cornerstones of conventional marketing are inadvertently flouted. Different sets of rules of engagement seem to apply to their customers, who are also their most ardent advocates. A unique philosophy and business ethos also appears to prevail. In the study, the idiosyncratic characteristics which socially and competitively differentiate such a business were identified, explored and expiated. The constituents were then harmonised in an effort to establish what ‘it’ was that magnetically attracted patrons back despite the owner’s unintentional dismissive predisposition towards fundamental theory. As a result of this in-depth qualitative study, an holistic model encompassing all of the dimensions of a dining out experience at a niche restaurant have been proposed. Consequently the pillars upon which a sustained, enduring, loyal staunch customer base can be bed-rocked have been identified. Further, for the study unit, a typology of its diner corpse has been developed. The owners of the establishment under investigation have succeeded to provide an intimate family haven for their patrons. They, and their diners have collectively given strong, descriptive voice to the psychogenic need satisfying elements that have always existed, but to date have been unarticulated and unrecorded. This thesis brings the milieu of the iconoclast niche restaurant marketing practitioner to life.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
The influence of individual employee performance metrics on a sub-culture in a professional services firm in Durban, South Africa
- Authors: Zvarevashe, Marshall
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Performance -- Evaluation Corporate culture -- South Africa Organizational effectiveness Leadership Management -- South Africa Organizational behavior -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:714 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001868
- Description: In today’s fast paced and global economy, competitive advantage is increasingly focused more on organisational behaviours rather than on the traditional tenets of land, labour and capital. Going beyond the traditional, organisations that are best able to get the most and the best out of their people are the ones most likely to perform better. This study aims to build an understanding of how culture is influenced by individual employee performance metrics that are used in an organisation. Previous research has been done in the broad fields of organisational culture and employee performance metrics separately, but no studies were identified in literature that focused on the interaction of the two concepts specifically. Therefore, this study seeks to answer the following research question: How do individual employee performance metrics influence sub-culture in the context of a professional services firm in Durban? This study predominantly focused not on performance at the organisational level, but rather the more granular level of individual employee performance metrics and sub-culture in one of the divisions of a professional services firm. This qualitative study explores the multiple perspectives of reality of ten of the 32 managers in the Advisory division of a professional services organisation, regarding how individual employee performance metrics influence their world view of work, or the way they perceive, think, feel and interact in the world of work. The focus of the study was limited to one department, in one branch of a multinational organisation and focused only on the horizontal layer of the “manager group” within the staff levels. Semi-structured, in-depth and face-to-face interviews were conducted with these managers as a means of gathering and saturating data. Interviewees were identified using a stratified sampling from the group of managers in the Advisory division. Open coding and constant comparison was used to analyse data. Page ii of viii The results of the study show that managers had very varied and complex perceptions of how the individual performance metrics used to assess their performance influence the sub-culture of their world of work. The key findings manifested that misuse and abuse of performance metrics by leaders, leadership bias in respect to recognition, reward and remunerations, the predominant focus of the division on the bottom line and emphasis on success at all cost, and low employee morale were all aspects of performance that impacted on how employees behaved in the division. The effect of these factors on the managers operating in this division was that there were low levels of employee commitment which were experienced through low morale and reduced productivity; managers felt that there was a restriction in the development of their careers, all of which resulted in a disregard to values of the organisation. This study reflects how the reward and recognition system using the balanced scorecard has shifted the focus of the department away from the organisation’s espoused values. This has resulted in various leadership and management questions for the leadership of the division in this study. This research also adds to existing literature that links performance and culture within the organisational context that it goes beyond the prevalent themes in literature which focus on performance at the organisation level. This study focuses on performance at the employee level and in particular in a professional services firm in South Africa. The study has three interrelated sections which are however considered as standalone. The first section is an evaluation report based on the Advisory division of a professional services firm in Durban, South Africa, and consists of a literature review, the methodology followed in conducting the study, results and the discussion thereof. The report also highlights limitations of the study, recommendations and the perceived value of the study. The report ends with a summary in the form of a conclusion. Section 2 comprises a more comprehensive literature review while Section 3 documents the research methodology followed in the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Zvarevashe, Marshall
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Performance -- Evaluation Corporate culture -- South Africa Organizational effectiveness Leadership Management -- South Africa Organizational behavior -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:714 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001868
- Description: In today’s fast paced and global economy, competitive advantage is increasingly focused more on organisational behaviours rather than on the traditional tenets of land, labour and capital. Going beyond the traditional, organisations that are best able to get the most and the best out of their people are the ones most likely to perform better. This study aims to build an understanding of how culture is influenced by individual employee performance metrics that are used in an organisation. Previous research has been done in the broad fields of organisational culture and employee performance metrics separately, but no studies were identified in literature that focused on the interaction of the two concepts specifically. Therefore, this study seeks to answer the following research question: How do individual employee performance metrics influence sub-culture in the context of a professional services firm in Durban? This study predominantly focused not on performance at the organisational level, but rather the more granular level of individual employee performance metrics and sub-culture in one of the divisions of a professional services firm. This qualitative study explores the multiple perspectives of reality of ten of the 32 managers in the Advisory division of a professional services organisation, regarding how individual employee performance metrics influence their world view of work, or the way they perceive, think, feel and interact in the world of work. The focus of the study was limited to one department, in one branch of a multinational organisation and focused only on the horizontal layer of the “manager group” within the staff levels. Semi-structured, in-depth and face-to-face interviews were conducted with these managers as a means of gathering and saturating data. Interviewees were identified using a stratified sampling from the group of managers in the Advisory division. Open coding and constant comparison was used to analyse data. Page ii of viii The results of the study show that managers had very varied and complex perceptions of how the individual performance metrics used to assess their performance influence the sub-culture of their world of work. The key findings manifested that misuse and abuse of performance metrics by leaders, leadership bias in respect to recognition, reward and remunerations, the predominant focus of the division on the bottom line and emphasis on success at all cost, and low employee morale were all aspects of performance that impacted on how employees behaved in the division. The effect of these factors on the managers operating in this division was that there were low levels of employee commitment which were experienced through low morale and reduced productivity; managers felt that there was a restriction in the development of their careers, all of which resulted in a disregard to values of the organisation. This study reflects how the reward and recognition system using the balanced scorecard has shifted the focus of the department away from the organisation’s espoused values. This has resulted in various leadership and management questions for the leadership of the division in this study. This research also adds to existing literature that links performance and culture within the organisational context that it goes beyond the prevalent themes in literature which focus on performance at the organisation level. This study focuses on performance at the employee level and in particular in a professional services firm in South Africa. The study has three interrelated sections which are however considered as standalone. The first section is an evaluation report based on the Advisory division of a professional services firm in Durban, South Africa, and consists of a literature review, the methodology followed in conducting the study, results and the discussion thereof. The report also highlights limitations of the study, recommendations and the perceived value of the study. The report ends with a summary in the form of a conclusion. Section 2 comprises a more comprehensive literature review while Section 3 documents the research methodology followed in the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Regional connectivity, differentiation and biogeography of three species of the genus Lutjanus in the western Indian Ocean
- Authors: Morallana, Jonas Moqebelo
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Lutjanus -- Indian Ocean , Biogeography -- Indian Ocean , Phylogeography -- Indian Ocean , Lutjanus -- Geographical distribution , Lutjanus -- Variation , Mitochondrial DNA , Animal genetics , Variation (Biology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5369 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013293
- Description: Snappers of the genus Lutjanus are small to large predatory fishes occurring in inshore circumtropical and subtropical waters throughout the world. These fishes support fisheries across their distribution range. Within the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), previous studies on Lutjanus kasmira revealed limited spatial genetic differentiation, whereas Lutjanus fulviflamma showed high genetic connectivity. The phylogenetic relationships among WIO snappers are unknown. Previous studies in the Indo-Pacific (IP) did not include any WIO representatives. This study examined (1) the phylogeographic patterns in Lutjanus bohar, L. fulviflamma and L. lutjanus to understand the origins and factors influencing the distribution of diversity in the region, (2) how the physical environment, biological, and ecological factors influence genetic diversity, (3) the placement of WIO snappers in context to those from the IP, as well as the placement of taxa not included previously, (4) extent of differentiation among conspecifics from the two regions, and (5) the relationship of the Caesionidae to the Lutjanidae. Samples were sourced from across the WIO and from peripheral localities, where possible. DNA sequence data were generated from two mitochondrial gene regions (cyt-b and NADH-2) and a nuclear gene region (S7 intron 1). Data were analysed under a phylogeographic framework to examine genetic structure, diversity and differentiation among identified regions for each of the three species. Other sequence data were generated from two mitochondrial gene regions (COII and 16S rDNA) to examine the phylogenetic placement of WIO snappers in context of the IP snappers and the relationship of the Caesionidae to the Lutjanidae. Lutjanus bohar and L. fulviflamma displayed high genetic diversity, but lower diversities were observed for L. lutjanus. Genetic differentiation was observed between Mozambique and Maldives in L. bohar. Lutjanus fulviflamma was differentiated in South Africa, Mozambique, Mauritius and Thailand, while differentiation was observed between Kenya and Tanzania in Lutjanus lutjanus. Overall, low genetic differentiation and high connectivity were observed for each of the three species. This differentiation may result from intrinsic features of the species and extrinsic features of the environment, whereas the connectivity is mainly influenced by the pelagic larval duration. These patterns of differentiation are in accordance with a proposed vicariant biogeographic hypothesis for the origins of regional faunas of the IP. Phylogenies were similar to those published, with additional taxa not altering the previous groupings found. Conspecifics from the two regions clustered together, with varying degrees of differentiation among the WIO and IP, depending on the species. Members of the Caesionidae were nested within Lutjanidae, suggesting that morphological characters separating the two families are taxonomically insignificant. This affirms previous notions that the Caesionidae should be a subfamily within the Lutjanidae. This is the first multi-gene study, examining differentiation in multiple species of snapper over a wide geographic area in the WIO, and the results of this study could have potential implications for fisheries management and conservation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Morallana, Jonas Moqebelo
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Lutjanus -- Indian Ocean , Biogeography -- Indian Ocean , Phylogeography -- Indian Ocean , Lutjanus -- Geographical distribution , Lutjanus -- Variation , Mitochondrial DNA , Animal genetics , Variation (Biology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5369 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013293
- Description: Snappers of the genus Lutjanus are small to large predatory fishes occurring in inshore circumtropical and subtropical waters throughout the world. These fishes support fisheries across their distribution range. Within the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), previous studies on Lutjanus kasmira revealed limited spatial genetic differentiation, whereas Lutjanus fulviflamma showed high genetic connectivity. The phylogenetic relationships among WIO snappers are unknown. Previous studies in the Indo-Pacific (IP) did not include any WIO representatives. This study examined (1) the phylogeographic patterns in Lutjanus bohar, L. fulviflamma and L. lutjanus to understand the origins and factors influencing the distribution of diversity in the region, (2) how the physical environment, biological, and ecological factors influence genetic diversity, (3) the placement of WIO snappers in context to those from the IP, as well as the placement of taxa not included previously, (4) extent of differentiation among conspecifics from the two regions, and (5) the relationship of the Caesionidae to the Lutjanidae. Samples were sourced from across the WIO and from peripheral localities, where possible. DNA sequence data were generated from two mitochondrial gene regions (cyt-b and NADH-2) and a nuclear gene region (S7 intron 1). Data were analysed under a phylogeographic framework to examine genetic structure, diversity and differentiation among identified regions for each of the three species. Other sequence data were generated from two mitochondrial gene regions (COII and 16S rDNA) to examine the phylogenetic placement of WIO snappers in context of the IP snappers and the relationship of the Caesionidae to the Lutjanidae. Lutjanus bohar and L. fulviflamma displayed high genetic diversity, but lower diversities were observed for L. lutjanus. Genetic differentiation was observed between Mozambique and Maldives in L. bohar. Lutjanus fulviflamma was differentiated in South Africa, Mozambique, Mauritius and Thailand, while differentiation was observed between Kenya and Tanzania in Lutjanus lutjanus. Overall, low genetic differentiation and high connectivity were observed for each of the three species. This differentiation may result from intrinsic features of the species and extrinsic features of the environment, whereas the connectivity is mainly influenced by the pelagic larval duration. These patterns of differentiation are in accordance with a proposed vicariant biogeographic hypothesis for the origins of regional faunas of the IP. Phylogenies were similar to those published, with additional taxa not altering the previous groupings found. Conspecifics from the two regions clustered together, with varying degrees of differentiation among the WIO and IP, depending on the species. Members of the Caesionidae were nested within Lutjanidae, suggesting that morphological characters separating the two families are taxonomically insignificant. This affirms previous notions that the Caesionidae should be a subfamily within the Lutjanidae. This is the first multi-gene study, examining differentiation in multiple species of snapper over a wide geographic area in the WIO, and the results of this study could have potential implications for fisheries management and conservation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
A critique of dispute resolution in the public service
- Authors: Smith, Boy Siphiwo
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa , Civil service -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10234 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/754 , Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa , Civil service -- South Africa
- Description: Effective, efficient and expeditious resolution of labour disputes plays a crucial role in terms of the realization of one of the primary objectives of the Labour Relations Act (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) which is the achievement of labour peace. Although there is no proper definition of a dispute offered by the Act, there are several elements raised by authors within the labour relations and labour law fields which constitute a dispute. Two types of disputes are discussed, namely disputes of right (emanating from entitlement) and disputes of interest (based on demands not provided for, and these are also known as disputes based on matters of mutual interests). Labour relations in South Africa has a history that is tarnished by segregation and dualism, where there was a system of labour relations and labour statutes for all races (except for Africans). The first statute dealing somewhat comprehensive with labour disputes, the Industrial Conciliation Act, did not apply to Africans. This situation (exclusion of Africans) prevailed until the early 1980’s. Therefore, although the apartheid system was legislated in 1948, its segregation practices based on race existed long before 1948 and also extended to the workplaces. The turning point in the labour relations arena in South Africa was the appointment of the Wiehahn Commission. As a result of the recommendations by this Commission, African Workers were for the first time included in labour legislation. So, of great interest is the fact that African Workers attained labour rights before the demise of the apartheid system. The birth of the Act with its dispute resolution fora like the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (hereinafter referred to as “the CCMA”), Bargaining Councils, Labour Court and the Labour Appeal Court, revolutionized dispute resolution in the country. However, there are some challenges that have emerged even within the new system. Prior to 1993, labour relations in the public service, simply just did not exist. This was mainly due to the fact that the public service was excluded from mainstream legal framework governing labour relations. The State was very much in control of what was happening with regards to employment relations in the public service. There were some structures developed for engagement with the State like the Public Service Commission (PSC) which was politicized to push the agenda of apartheid, Public Servants Association (PSA) for White Public Servants, Public Service Union (PSU) for Indian Public Servants and Public Service League for Coloured Public Servants. There was no structure established for African Public Servants though. Nevertheless, these established structures were useless. One of the recommendations of the Wiehahn Commission was the inclusion of public servants within the mainstream labour relations framework and this was never pursued by the then government. It took the wave of strikes in the early 1990’s for the Act to be extended to the public service. Even with the inclusion of public service within the scope of the Act, there are still challenges pertinent to the public service. Central to these challenges is the problem of fragmentation in terms of approach regarding dispute resolution and the fact that there are too many pieces of legislation dealing with dispute resolution. This situation has also resulted in a jurisdictional debacle within the public service. Also, there is a huge challenge in terms of dealing with abscondments / desertion within the public service. In terms of the way forward, there is an initiative to streamline the public service. In this regard, there is a Draft Single Public Service Bill and also the Public Service Amendment Bill.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Smith, Boy Siphiwo
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa , Civil service -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10234 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/754 , Dispute resolution (Law) -- South Africa , Civil service -- South Africa
- Description: Effective, efficient and expeditious resolution of labour disputes plays a crucial role in terms of the realization of one of the primary objectives of the Labour Relations Act (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) which is the achievement of labour peace. Although there is no proper definition of a dispute offered by the Act, there are several elements raised by authors within the labour relations and labour law fields which constitute a dispute. Two types of disputes are discussed, namely disputes of right (emanating from entitlement) and disputes of interest (based on demands not provided for, and these are also known as disputes based on matters of mutual interests). Labour relations in South Africa has a history that is tarnished by segregation and dualism, where there was a system of labour relations and labour statutes for all races (except for Africans). The first statute dealing somewhat comprehensive with labour disputes, the Industrial Conciliation Act, did not apply to Africans. This situation (exclusion of Africans) prevailed until the early 1980’s. Therefore, although the apartheid system was legislated in 1948, its segregation practices based on race existed long before 1948 and also extended to the workplaces. The turning point in the labour relations arena in South Africa was the appointment of the Wiehahn Commission. As a result of the recommendations by this Commission, African Workers were for the first time included in labour legislation. So, of great interest is the fact that African Workers attained labour rights before the demise of the apartheid system. The birth of the Act with its dispute resolution fora like the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (hereinafter referred to as “the CCMA”), Bargaining Councils, Labour Court and the Labour Appeal Court, revolutionized dispute resolution in the country. However, there are some challenges that have emerged even within the new system. Prior to 1993, labour relations in the public service, simply just did not exist. This was mainly due to the fact that the public service was excluded from mainstream legal framework governing labour relations. The State was very much in control of what was happening with regards to employment relations in the public service. There were some structures developed for engagement with the State like the Public Service Commission (PSC) which was politicized to push the agenda of apartheid, Public Servants Association (PSA) for White Public Servants, Public Service Union (PSU) for Indian Public Servants and Public Service League for Coloured Public Servants. There was no structure established for African Public Servants though. Nevertheless, these established structures were useless. One of the recommendations of the Wiehahn Commission was the inclusion of public servants within the mainstream labour relations framework and this was never pursued by the then government. It took the wave of strikes in the early 1990’s for the Act to be extended to the public service. Even with the inclusion of public service within the scope of the Act, there are still challenges pertinent to the public service. Central to these challenges is the problem of fragmentation in terms of approach regarding dispute resolution and the fact that there are too many pieces of legislation dealing with dispute resolution. This situation has also resulted in a jurisdictional debacle within the public service. Also, there is a huge challenge in terms of dealing with abscondments / desertion within the public service. In terms of the way forward, there is an initiative to streamline the public service. In this regard, there is a Draft Single Public Service Bill and also the Public Service Amendment Bill.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
Archives and Records Management Programmes in selected Universities in South Africa: A Study of University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University
- Authors: Somniso, Zoleka
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Records -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Library and information science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18280 , vital:42248
- Description: The study investigates the Archives and Records Management Programmes (ARMP) in the University of Fort Hare (UFH) and Rhodes University (RU). The task of managing huge quantities of records and archives material is not an easy task when people have to use limited resources. The Research Objectives of the this study was to find out types of records created, received and maintained by university archives and records management programmes at University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University. Establish the available infrastructure for ARMP at the UFH and RU. Find out the legislative and regulatory frameworks that govern the ARMP at the UFH and RU. Identify challenges if there are any facing ARMP at the UFH and Rhodes University. Interviews and questionnaires were two research instruments used in this study to collect data; additional data was collected by reading relevant documents gathered on both institutions and on their website. In this study, the sample was 26 respondents from both universities. The study dealt with administrative staff who deal with records management: Records managers/Officers and Archivists at both institutions. viii Data collected was coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and the findings were presented using pie chart , graphs. The triangulation approaches involves using more than one method to collect data and it is a way of assuring the validity of research with variety of methods to collect data. Findings revealed that respondents were unaware of ARMP in the university. And also some of the findings were the infrastructural needs such as the Lack of records storage, space, Records Preservation facilities (RH, Light), Personnel Training and Development. The challenges facing ARMP in universities includes: a lack of programmes to manage records and archives material, absence of policy that regulates archives and records keeping in the universities understudy, the existing infrastructure at hand cannot meet the requirements for regulatory framework on records and archives management. Based on these challenges mentioned above, the study recommended that both institutions should improve their infrastructure as to be able to preserve the archival material. Training and retraining of staff among others should include use of technology, filing, records creation, maintenance and disposition
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Somniso, Zoleka
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Records -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Library and information science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18280 , vital:42248
- Description: The study investigates the Archives and Records Management Programmes (ARMP) in the University of Fort Hare (UFH) and Rhodes University (RU). The task of managing huge quantities of records and archives material is not an easy task when people have to use limited resources. The Research Objectives of the this study was to find out types of records created, received and maintained by university archives and records management programmes at University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University. Establish the available infrastructure for ARMP at the UFH and RU. Find out the legislative and regulatory frameworks that govern the ARMP at the UFH and RU. Identify challenges if there are any facing ARMP at the UFH and Rhodes University. Interviews and questionnaires were two research instruments used in this study to collect data; additional data was collected by reading relevant documents gathered on both institutions and on their website. In this study, the sample was 26 respondents from both universities. The study dealt with administrative staff who deal with records management: Records managers/Officers and Archivists at both institutions. viii Data collected was coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and the findings were presented using pie chart , graphs. The triangulation approaches involves using more than one method to collect data and it is a way of assuring the validity of research with variety of methods to collect data. Findings revealed that respondents were unaware of ARMP in the university. And also some of the findings were the infrastructural needs such as the Lack of records storage, space, Records Preservation facilities (RH, Light), Personnel Training and Development. The challenges facing ARMP in universities includes: a lack of programmes to manage records and archives material, absence of policy that regulates archives and records keeping in the universities understudy, the existing infrastructure at hand cannot meet the requirements for regulatory framework on records and archives management. Based on these challenges mentioned above, the study recommended that both institutions should improve their infrastructure as to be able to preserve the archival material. Training and retraining of staff among others should include use of technology, filing, records creation, maintenance and disposition
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Midwives' perceptions in KwaZulu-Natal public hospitals regarding their level of competence related to cardiotocography
- Maduna, Ntsepiseng Elizabeth
- Authors: Maduna, Ntsepiseng Elizabeth
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Midwifery -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Fetal heart rate monitoring -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Public hospitals -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5698 , vital:20968
- Description: The primary purpose of CTG is to detect early signs of intrapartum hypoxia and improve foetal outcomes. Intrapartum hypoxia remains the major cause of perinatal deaths mainly in monitored labours. This is attributed to the midwives’ lack of skills in the foetal implementation and interpretation of CTG. Midwives interpret foetal heart rate patterns erroneously hence they fail to detect early signs of severe foetal compromise. Accurate interpretation of CTG is the cornerstone for clinical decision during intra-partum foetal surveillance. Therefore, it is mandatory that midwives are competent in CTG. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwives in KwaZulu-Natal public hospitals regarding their level of competence related to the CTG. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwives in KwaZulu-Natal public hospitals regarding their level of competence related to the CTG. The objectives of this study were: -to explore and describe the perceptions of the midwives regarding their level of competence relating to cardiotocography. -to establish the levels of competence of midwives in relation to CTG. -to develop clinical guidelines that could be utilised by midwives in the implementation and interpretation of the cardiotocograph. The study utilised a quantitative non-experimental comparative descriptive research design. A self-developed and self-administered questionnaire was developed under the supervision of a statistician and was to collect data from a purposively selected sample of midwives who work in labour wards in Kwa-Zulu Natal public hospitals. A sample of 226 practicing midwives working in labour wards of the nine KZN public hospitals was selected using a non-probability convenience sampling method; only 125 responded. Data were collected on an excel spread sheet and analysed under the supervision of the statistician and research supervisor. The researcher assured of validity and reliability of the data collection method and data as well as of the data collection instrument. The findings revealed that the midwives in KZN public hospitals perceived themselves as being competent regarding CTG tasks; however they lack knowledge and skills in the implementation and interpretation of CTG. It was also evident that the midwives’ years of midwifery clinical experience, labour ward experience, possession of additional post basic midwifery qualification and the perceived level of competence related to CTG tasks number of years of the midwives did not influence their level of competence in the implementation and interpretation of CTG. Literature control supported these findings and there was consistency with that literature. Recommendations were made and clinical guidelines were developed to assist midwives with the assessment of foetal heart rate and the interpretation of the cardiotocograph results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Maduna, Ntsepiseng Elizabeth
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Midwifery -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Fetal heart rate monitoring -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Public hospitals -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5698 , vital:20968
- Description: The primary purpose of CTG is to detect early signs of intrapartum hypoxia and improve foetal outcomes. Intrapartum hypoxia remains the major cause of perinatal deaths mainly in monitored labours. This is attributed to the midwives’ lack of skills in the foetal implementation and interpretation of CTG. Midwives interpret foetal heart rate patterns erroneously hence they fail to detect early signs of severe foetal compromise. Accurate interpretation of CTG is the cornerstone for clinical decision during intra-partum foetal surveillance. Therefore, it is mandatory that midwives are competent in CTG. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwives in KwaZulu-Natal public hospitals regarding their level of competence related to the CTG. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of midwives in KwaZulu-Natal public hospitals regarding their level of competence related to the CTG. The objectives of this study were: -to explore and describe the perceptions of the midwives regarding their level of competence relating to cardiotocography. -to establish the levels of competence of midwives in relation to CTG. -to develop clinical guidelines that could be utilised by midwives in the implementation and interpretation of the cardiotocograph. The study utilised a quantitative non-experimental comparative descriptive research design. A self-developed and self-administered questionnaire was developed under the supervision of a statistician and was to collect data from a purposively selected sample of midwives who work in labour wards in Kwa-Zulu Natal public hospitals. A sample of 226 practicing midwives working in labour wards of the nine KZN public hospitals was selected using a non-probability convenience sampling method; only 125 responded. Data were collected on an excel spread sheet and analysed under the supervision of the statistician and research supervisor. The researcher assured of validity and reliability of the data collection method and data as well as of the data collection instrument. The findings revealed that the midwives in KZN public hospitals perceived themselves as being competent regarding CTG tasks; however they lack knowledge and skills in the implementation and interpretation of CTG. It was also evident that the midwives’ years of midwifery clinical experience, labour ward experience, possession of additional post basic midwifery qualification and the perceived level of competence related to CTG tasks number of years of the midwives did not influence their level of competence in the implementation and interpretation of CTG. Literature control supported these findings and there was consistency with that literature. Recommendations were made and clinical guidelines were developed to assist midwives with the assessment of foetal heart rate and the interpretation of the cardiotocograph results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
A study of the performance of a Bantu sample on a test of perceptual field-dependence under conditions of normal and abnormal sensory environments
- Authors: Cogill, Charles John
- Date: 1970
- Subjects: Perception -- Testing , Senses and sensation -- Cross-cultural studies , Bantu speaking peoples
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3201 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010503 , Perception -- Testing , Senses and sensation -- Cross-cultural studies , Bantu speaking peoples
- Description: For purposes of this background study, previous research findings relating to the development of the concept of field dependence - independence may be traced in five clearly distinct and logical stages: Stage 1: The Determination of the Factors Responsible for the Maintenance of Proper Orientation to the Upright. Stage 11: The Investigation of Individual Differences in the Manner of Establishing the Upright. Stage III: The Consideration of Possible Hypotheses to Account for Consistent Individual Differences in this Mode of Perception. Stage IV: An Investigation of the Relationship Between an Individual's Characteristic Way of Perceiving and his General Personality Organisation Stage V: The Ultimate Extension and Elaboration of this Work into the Construct of Psychological Differentiation which proposes that individuals are likely to function at a more differentiated or less differentiated level in many areas of behaviour. Some discussion of these stages is necessary to provide background for the present study. Chapter 1, p. 1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1970
- Authors: Cogill, Charles John
- Date: 1970
- Subjects: Perception -- Testing , Senses and sensation -- Cross-cultural studies , Bantu speaking peoples
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3201 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010503 , Perception -- Testing , Senses and sensation -- Cross-cultural studies , Bantu speaking peoples
- Description: For purposes of this background study, previous research findings relating to the development of the concept of field dependence - independence may be traced in five clearly distinct and logical stages: Stage 1: The Determination of the Factors Responsible for the Maintenance of Proper Orientation to the Upright. Stage 11: The Investigation of Individual Differences in the Manner of Establishing the Upright. Stage III: The Consideration of Possible Hypotheses to Account for Consistent Individual Differences in this Mode of Perception. Stage IV: An Investigation of the Relationship Between an Individual's Characteristic Way of Perceiving and his General Personality Organisation Stage V: The Ultimate Extension and Elaboration of this Work into the Construct of Psychological Differentiation which proposes that individuals are likely to function at a more differentiated or less differentiated level in many areas of behaviour. Some discussion of these stages is necessary to provide background for the present study. Chapter 1, p. 1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1970
The influence of motivational factors on corporate performance and customer satisfaction
- Authors: Potgieter, Adéle
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Consumer satisfaction , Employee motivation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9312 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019738
- Description: South Africa is ranked 44th place out of 53 countries (IMD 2011). It would seem imperative for the South African Government and the private sector to pay close attention to studies of this nature that indicate the importance of certain factors on the motivation of employees. In essence this study could assist Government and the private sector in understanding the importance of different factors that influence motivation of employees and the profitability of organisations. Should organisations re-align their focus on motivation of employees by taking cognisance of the elements addressed in this study, it could have a positive effect on the productivity of individual firms as well as on national productivity. The purpose of this study was to establish which motivational factors have an effect on the motivation of employees that would affect their individual, the organisational performance and customer satisfaction. The study aimed at firstly identifying motivational factors that has an influence on organisational performance. Secondly, investigating the effect of employee performance on organisational performance and thirdly investigating the impact of employee performance on customer satisfaction. The primary objective of this study was to establish which motivational factors have an effect on the motivation of employees thus affecting their individual and organisational performance and customer satisfaction. The relationship between work motivation, performance and productivity is complex. Although work motivation seems to have a significant impact on performance and productivity, it is certainly not the only influencing factor (Fisher, Katz, Miller & Thatcher 2003:82). Research has indicated that besides motivation, productivity is influenced by a variety of factors which could include the employee’s ability, skills, training, and availability of resources, management practices and economic conditions. In the light of the above, this study endeavoured to establish which dominant motivational factors have an influence on employee, corporate performance and customer satisfaction. Different motivational factors including hygiene factors, such as attitude, job satisfaction, rewards, leadership styles and communication were discussed as well as their influence on employee and organisational performance Information was gathered through secondary research. The investigation also included an exploration of different research methodologies, methods of data collection and analysis for this specific study. The main empirical research findings indicated that there is a positive relationship between motivator factors and employee performance as well as between management communication and employee performance. It is recommended that a policy and control manual should be compiled and distributed to new employees as part of their induction programme. The policies should be updated annually to incorporate changes in the organisation and to indicate to employees that management is serious about creating positive relationships between employees and employers. There is also a positive relationship between employee performance and organisational performance. It is recommended that organisations implement employee performance management systems that link to organisational performance goals in order to be able to critically access the performance of the employee in relation to the broader goals and results of an organisation. The relationship between motivational factors and customer satisfaction should however be investigated further. There seems to be different views in the literature on whether customer satisfaction surveys (or other measurements) should be used to support this relationship.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Potgieter, Adéle
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Consumer satisfaction , Employee motivation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9312 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019738
- Description: South Africa is ranked 44th place out of 53 countries (IMD 2011). It would seem imperative for the South African Government and the private sector to pay close attention to studies of this nature that indicate the importance of certain factors on the motivation of employees. In essence this study could assist Government and the private sector in understanding the importance of different factors that influence motivation of employees and the profitability of organisations. Should organisations re-align their focus on motivation of employees by taking cognisance of the elements addressed in this study, it could have a positive effect on the productivity of individual firms as well as on national productivity. The purpose of this study was to establish which motivational factors have an effect on the motivation of employees that would affect their individual, the organisational performance and customer satisfaction. The study aimed at firstly identifying motivational factors that has an influence on organisational performance. Secondly, investigating the effect of employee performance on organisational performance and thirdly investigating the impact of employee performance on customer satisfaction. The primary objective of this study was to establish which motivational factors have an effect on the motivation of employees thus affecting their individual and organisational performance and customer satisfaction. The relationship between work motivation, performance and productivity is complex. Although work motivation seems to have a significant impact on performance and productivity, it is certainly not the only influencing factor (Fisher, Katz, Miller & Thatcher 2003:82). Research has indicated that besides motivation, productivity is influenced by a variety of factors which could include the employee’s ability, skills, training, and availability of resources, management practices and economic conditions. In the light of the above, this study endeavoured to establish which dominant motivational factors have an influence on employee, corporate performance and customer satisfaction. Different motivational factors including hygiene factors, such as attitude, job satisfaction, rewards, leadership styles and communication were discussed as well as their influence on employee and organisational performance Information was gathered through secondary research. The investigation also included an exploration of different research methodologies, methods of data collection and analysis for this specific study. The main empirical research findings indicated that there is a positive relationship between motivator factors and employee performance as well as between management communication and employee performance. It is recommended that a policy and control manual should be compiled and distributed to new employees as part of their induction programme. The policies should be updated annually to incorporate changes in the organisation and to indicate to employees that management is serious about creating positive relationships between employees and employers. There is also a positive relationship between employee performance and organisational performance. It is recommended that organisations implement employee performance management systems that link to organisational performance goals in order to be able to critically access the performance of the employee in relation to the broader goals and results of an organisation. The relationship between motivational factors and customer satisfaction should however be investigated further. There seems to be different views in the literature on whether customer satisfaction surveys (or other measurements) should be used to support this relationship.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
'Leaders like children playing with a grenade?' : an analysis of how the Arab Spring was received in South Africa
- Authors: Gevers, Tristan Ronald
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Arab Spring, 2010- Revolutions -- Theory Arab countries -- Social conditions -- 21st century South Africa -- Social condtions -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2846 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006031
- Description: When the Arab Spring took place, it took the world by surprise and sparked renewed interest in the idea of revolution. With differing opinions on what caused such a revolutionary wave throughout the North African and Middle Eastern region, many began looking at their own countries, and South Africa was no different. A debate was sparked in South Africa, as to whether there would be a revolution or not. What I originally set out to accomplish is to find out which side of the debate would be correct through the philosophical context of revolutionary theory. Initially, we attempted to define and consider the history of revolutionary theory. We found that revolutionary theory has gone through four generation and that even finding a theoretically informed definition is difficult. Following this, we considered some social-psychological theories of revolution as well as theories of moral indignation. We found that these theories were incredibly informative and that they provide some insight into the reasoning for revolutionary fear in the South African debate. Through the use of opinion pieces, we then considered the South African debate, and – using socialpsychological theories and the theories of moral indignation - found that both sides of the argument had valuable points, however, they often lacked some foresight. With tentative agreement, we found that the side arguing that there would a revolution in South Africa had a more valuable argument, despite its limitations. However, far more research is required before one can – with more accuracy – predict a revolutionary occurrence in such a way as was done in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Gevers, Tristan Ronald
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Arab Spring, 2010- Revolutions -- Theory Arab countries -- Social conditions -- 21st century South Africa -- Social condtions -- 21st century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2846 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006031
- Description: When the Arab Spring took place, it took the world by surprise and sparked renewed interest in the idea of revolution. With differing opinions on what caused such a revolutionary wave throughout the North African and Middle Eastern region, many began looking at their own countries, and South Africa was no different. A debate was sparked in South Africa, as to whether there would be a revolution or not. What I originally set out to accomplish is to find out which side of the debate would be correct through the philosophical context of revolutionary theory. Initially, we attempted to define and consider the history of revolutionary theory. We found that revolutionary theory has gone through four generation and that even finding a theoretically informed definition is difficult. Following this, we considered some social-psychological theories of revolution as well as theories of moral indignation. We found that these theories were incredibly informative and that they provide some insight into the reasoning for revolutionary fear in the South African debate. Through the use of opinion pieces, we then considered the South African debate, and – using socialpsychological theories and the theories of moral indignation - found that both sides of the argument had valuable points, however, they often lacked some foresight. With tentative agreement, we found that the side arguing that there would a revolution in South Africa had a more valuable argument, despite its limitations. However, far more research is required before one can – with more accuracy – predict a revolutionary occurrence in such a way as was done in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Electrospun nanofibers : an alternative sorbent material for solid phase extraction
- Chigome, Samuel, Samuel Chigome
- Authors: Chigome, Samuel , Samuel Chigome
- Date: 2012 , 2012-03-26
- Subjects: Nanofibers -- Research Electrospinning -- Research Sorbents -- Research Extraction (Chemistry) -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4314 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004972
- Description: The work described in the thesis seeks to lay a foundation for a better understanding of the use of electrospun nanofibers as a sorbent material. Three miniaturised electrospun nanofiber based solid phase extraction devices were fabricated. For the first two, 10 mg of electrospun polystyrene fibers were used as a sorbent bed for a micro column SPE device (8 mm bed height in a 200 μl pipette tip) and a disk (I) SPE device (5 mm 1 mm sorbent bed in a 1000 μl SPE barrel). While for the third, 4.6 mg of electrospun nylon nanofibers were used as a sorbent bed for a disk (II) SPE device, (sorbent bed consisting of 5 5 mm 350 μm stacked disks in a 500 μl SPE barrel). Corticosteroids were employed as model analytes for performance evaluation of the fabricated SPE devices. Quantitative recoveries (45.5-124.29 percent) were achieved for all SPE devices at a loading volume of 100 μl and analyte concentration of 500 ng ml-1. Three mathematical models; the Boltzmann, Weibull five parameter and the Sigmoid three parameter were employed to describe the break through profiles of each of the sorbent beds. The micro column SPE device exhibited a breakthrough volume of 1400 μl, and theoretical plates (7.98-9.1) while disk (I) SPE device exhibited 400-500 μl and 1.39-2.82 respectively. Disk (II) SPE device exhibited a breakthrough volume of 200 μl and theoretical plates 0.38-1.15. It was proposed that the formats of future electrospun nanofiber sorbent based SPE devices will be guided by mechanical strength of the polymer. The study classified electrospun polymer fibers into two as polystyrene type (relatively low mechanical strength) and nylon type (relatively high mechanical strength).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Chigome, Samuel , Samuel Chigome
- Date: 2012 , 2012-03-26
- Subjects: Nanofibers -- Research Electrospinning -- Research Sorbents -- Research Extraction (Chemistry) -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:4314 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004972
- Description: The work described in the thesis seeks to lay a foundation for a better understanding of the use of electrospun nanofibers as a sorbent material. Three miniaturised electrospun nanofiber based solid phase extraction devices were fabricated. For the first two, 10 mg of electrospun polystyrene fibers were used as a sorbent bed for a micro column SPE device (8 mm bed height in a 200 μl pipette tip) and a disk (I) SPE device (5 mm 1 mm sorbent bed in a 1000 μl SPE barrel). While for the third, 4.6 mg of electrospun nylon nanofibers were used as a sorbent bed for a disk (II) SPE device, (sorbent bed consisting of 5 5 mm 350 μm stacked disks in a 500 μl SPE barrel). Corticosteroids were employed as model analytes for performance evaluation of the fabricated SPE devices. Quantitative recoveries (45.5-124.29 percent) were achieved for all SPE devices at a loading volume of 100 μl and analyte concentration of 500 ng ml-1. Three mathematical models; the Boltzmann, Weibull five parameter and the Sigmoid three parameter were employed to describe the break through profiles of each of the sorbent beds. The micro column SPE device exhibited a breakthrough volume of 1400 μl, and theoretical plates (7.98-9.1) while disk (I) SPE device exhibited 400-500 μl and 1.39-2.82 respectively. Disk (II) SPE device exhibited a breakthrough volume of 200 μl and theoretical plates 0.38-1.15. It was proposed that the formats of future electrospun nanofiber sorbent based SPE devices will be guided by mechanical strength of the polymer. The study classified electrospun polymer fibers into two as polystyrene type (relatively low mechanical strength) and nylon type (relatively high mechanical strength).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Investigating variables that have impact on annual financial statement audit report outcomes in local government
- Authors: Sigcau, Ntsikelelo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Local finance -- South Africa -- Auditing , Finance, Public -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8906 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021004
- Description: The third sphere of government (Local Government) has been persistently clouded by unfavourable Annual Financial Statement (AFS) audit reports. This results in local government losing credibility and its stakeholders losing confidence in the institutions or municipalities. In-depth analysis of the root cause of this dilemma is an opportunity for the municipality to reorganise its house and redeem its dignity and credibility to its stakeholders through addressing the identified challenges. The importance of the study can be attributed to the need to investigate the root causes of unfavourable audit opinion and recommend possible remedies that can assist municipalities to improve their audit report outcomes which in turn will improve the confidence of its stakeholders. The primary objective of the study was to investigate variables that impact on the audit report outcomes on annual financial statements of the municipalities that are within Alfred Nzo District (AND) Jurisdiction, including Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM). This was achieved through investigating the root causes of the audit report outcomes with specific focus on the relationship that exists between the management role and audit outcomes of the Alfred Nzo District Municipalities. This was measured by the municipality’s leadership, governance, internal controls and human capital management. Convenient sampling was used wherein 150 questionnaires (30 per municipality) were sent out to the selected employees in all the municipalities in the Alfred Nzo District. Out of the questionnaires that were sent out, 103 responses were received. These were analysed to draw findings, conclusion and recommendations. The empirical results of the study revealed that there is strong evidence that leadership, governance and human capital management have a positive influence on the municipality’s AFS audit report outcomes. It also revealed that there is overwhelming evidence that internal controls have a positive influence on the municipality’s AFS audit report outcomes. The study recommends how leadership, governance, internal controls and human capital management must be improved. It also provides future research recommendations to improve this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Sigcau, Ntsikelelo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Local finance -- South Africa -- Auditing , Finance, Public -- South Africa , Local government -- South Africa -- Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8906 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021004
- Description: The third sphere of government (Local Government) has been persistently clouded by unfavourable Annual Financial Statement (AFS) audit reports. This results in local government losing credibility and its stakeholders losing confidence in the institutions or municipalities. In-depth analysis of the root cause of this dilemma is an opportunity for the municipality to reorganise its house and redeem its dignity and credibility to its stakeholders through addressing the identified challenges. The importance of the study can be attributed to the need to investigate the root causes of unfavourable audit opinion and recommend possible remedies that can assist municipalities to improve their audit report outcomes which in turn will improve the confidence of its stakeholders. The primary objective of the study was to investigate variables that impact on the audit report outcomes on annual financial statements of the municipalities that are within Alfred Nzo District (AND) Jurisdiction, including Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM). This was achieved through investigating the root causes of the audit report outcomes with specific focus on the relationship that exists between the management role and audit outcomes of the Alfred Nzo District Municipalities. This was measured by the municipality’s leadership, governance, internal controls and human capital management. Convenient sampling was used wherein 150 questionnaires (30 per municipality) were sent out to the selected employees in all the municipalities in the Alfred Nzo District. Out of the questionnaires that were sent out, 103 responses were received. These were analysed to draw findings, conclusion and recommendations. The empirical results of the study revealed that there is strong evidence that leadership, governance and human capital management have a positive influence on the municipality’s AFS audit report outcomes. It also revealed that there is overwhelming evidence that internal controls have a positive influence on the municipality’s AFS audit report outcomes. The study recommends how leadership, governance, internal controls and human capital management must be improved. It also provides future research recommendations to improve this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A risk mitigation tool for merchant selection
- Schutte, Philippus Jacobus Wilhelmus
- Authors: Schutte, Philippus Jacobus Wilhelmus
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Financial rsik management -- South Africa , Credit -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8650 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1382 , Financial rsik management -- South Africa , Credit -- Management
- Description: Organisations or individuals that lend money (banks and micro lenders) or that sell goods on credit (retailers) are classified as credit providers. The debtor enters into a contractual agreement with a credit provider, or creditor, with the obligation to repay the loan amount, fees and interest according to a predetermined schedule. The contractual agreement, also known as a credit agreement, is as a general rule very complex. Legislation protecting debtors in various ways is an international phenomenon. In South Africa, the National Credit Act, Act 34 of 2005 (NCA) was enacted in 2005. The NCA changed the playing field for credit providers participating in the South African consumer credit market to a great extent. Consumer lending is the sleeping giant of the financial sector. The key to successfully unlock this enormous market is the credit provider's ability to accurately assess the creditworthiness of a potential customer during the customer acquisition phase. The creditworthiness of the customer is related to the risk of default, i.e. a debtor's non-payment of debt in terms of the credit agreement. The risk of default is also known as credit risk. Real People Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd (RPIH) classifies credit risk as the single largest risk the Group is exposed to. They recognise that the intelligent and responsible management of credit risk makes it the Group's largest profit driver. Credit risk scorecards are excellent decision aids during the customer acquisition phase. The characteristics and behaviour of merchants submitting credit applications to RPIH for assessment have a definite impact on the credit risk of the Group. The merchant plays a pivotal role in the debtor-creditor-supplier business model. The merchant influences the customer's sales experience and subsequent level of satisfaction with the transaction. A satisfied customer constitutes a lower level of credit risk for the creditor, in this case RPIH. The research is conducted with a positivistic paradigm. The cross-sectional study approach is used. The merchant is the unit of analysis. A sample of 77 merchants is selected from the population of 244 merchants who submitted credit applications to RPIH during the observation period. Questionnaires are used as the data collection method in this research project. The predictive ability of fourteen merchant related characteristics are demonstrated through this empirical study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Schutte, Philippus Jacobus Wilhelmus
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Financial rsik management -- South Africa , Credit -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8650 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1382 , Financial rsik management -- South Africa , Credit -- Management
- Description: Organisations or individuals that lend money (banks and micro lenders) or that sell goods on credit (retailers) are classified as credit providers. The debtor enters into a contractual agreement with a credit provider, or creditor, with the obligation to repay the loan amount, fees and interest according to a predetermined schedule. The contractual agreement, also known as a credit agreement, is as a general rule very complex. Legislation protecting debtors in various ways is an international phenomenon. In South Africa, the National Credit Act, Act 34 of 2005 (NCA) was enacted in 2005. The NCA changed the playing field for credit providers participating in the South African consumer credit market to a great extent. Consumer lending is the sleeping giant of the financial sector. The key to successfully unlock this enormous market is the credit provider's ability to accurately assess the creditworthiness of a potential customer during the customer acquisition phase. The creditworthiness of the customer is related to the risk of default, i.e. a debtor's non-payment of debt in terms of the credit agreement. The risk of default is also known as credit risk. Real People Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd (RPIH) classifies credit risk as the single largest risk the Group is exposed to. They recognise that the intelligent and responsible management of credit risk makes it the Group's largest profit driver. Credit risk scorecards are excellent decision aids during the customer acquisition phase. The characteristics and behaviour of merchants submitting credit applications to RPIH for assessment have a definite impact on the credit risk of the Group. The merchant plays a pivotal role in the debtor-creditor-supplier business model. The merchant influences the customer's sales experience and subsequent level of satisfaction with the transaction. A satisfied customer constitutes a lower level of credit risk for the creditor, in this case RPIH. The research is conducted with a positivistic paradigm. The cross-sectional study approach is used. The merchant is the unit of analysis. A sample of 77 merchants is selected from the population of 244 merchants who submitted credit applications to RPIH during the observation period. Questionnaires are used as the data collection method in this research project. The predictive ability of fourteen merchant related characteristics are demonstrated through this empirical study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Translating Heaney: a study of Sweeney astray, The cure at Troy, and Beowulf
- Van der Woude, Peter William
- Authors: Van der Woude, Peter William
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Heaney, Seamus, 1939- Criticism and interpretation Heaney, Seamus, 1939- Sweeney astray Sophocles. Philoctetes -- Translations History and criticism Beowulf -- Translations History and criticism Buile Suibhne Geilt Buile Suibhne Geilt -- Translations History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2213 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002256
- Description: This thesis examines Seamus Heaney’s approach to translation with specific reference to Sweeney Astray, The Cure at Troy, and Beowulf. An assessment of Heaney’s translations, and the ways in which they relate to his poetry, is essential to an understanding of his work as a poet. This thesis demonstrates the centrality of translation to Heaney’s oeuvre as an effective means to comment on his Northern Irish socio-political context without producing political propaganda. Translation is a valuable means for Heaney to elucidate his contemporary experience by considering it in terms of the recorded past captured within his chosen translations. Instead of comparing the three translations with their original texts, this thesis concentrates on Heaney’s translations as a continuation of his own creative work and as catalysts for further poetry. The translations are explored in chronological order to allow a sense of Heaney’s development as a translator and his efforts to remain critically attuned to the Northern Irish political situation. The first chapter examines Heaney’s translation of the Gaelic poem Buile Suibhne, which is published as Sweeney Astray. In this first major act of translation Heaney recognises the political role that translation is able to play. He draws attention to the protagonist’s sense of cultural ease in both Britain and Ireland, which he argues is exemplary for the people of Ulster and renders the narrative particularly accessible to a Northern Irish readership due to his anglicisation of the text, which is intended as a reminder to both Catholics and Protestants of their shared identity as Irishmen. The second chapter focuses on Heaney’s translation of Sophocles’ Philoctetes, entitled The Cure at Troy. Heaney’s translation contextualises the Ancient Greek concern for personal integrity in the face of political necessity, a situation relevant to his own complex relationship with Northern Irish politics. His alterations to the text accentuate the positive aspects of the play, suggesting the very real possibility of social change within the seemingly constant violence of Northern Ireland. The third chapter explores Heaney’s engagement with the Anglo-Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, as a means of coming to terms with the complex history of Irish colonisation through language. This chapter assesses Heaney’s incorporation of Irish dialectal words into his translation, which lend the poem political weight, and yet prove to be contextually appropriate, rendering Heaney’s Beowulf a masterpiece of readability and subtle political commentary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Van der Woude, Peter William
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Heaney, Seamus, 1939- Criticism and interpretation Heaney, Seamus, 1939- Sweeney astray Sophocles. Philoctetes -- Translations History and criticism Beowulf -- Translations History and criticism Buile Suibhne Geilt Buile Suibhne Geilt -- Translations History and criticism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2213 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002256
- Description: This thesis examines Seamus Heaney’s approach to translation with specific reference to Sweeney Astray, The Cure at Troy, and Beowulf. An assessment of Heaney’s translations, and the ways in which they relate to his poetry, is essential to an understanding of his work as a poet. This thesis demonstrates the centrality of translation to Heaney’s oeuvre as an effective means to comment on his Northern Irish socio-political context without producing political propaganda. Translation is a valuable means for Heaney to elucidate his contemporary experience by considering it in terms of the recorded past captured within his chosen translations. Instead of comparing the three translations with their original texts, this thesis concentrates on Heaney’s translations as a continuation of his own creative work and as catalysts for further poetry. The translations are explored in chronological order to allow a sense of Heaney’s development as a translator and his efforts to remain critically attuned to the Northern Irish political situation. The first chapter examines Heaney’s translation of the Gaelic poem Buile Suibhne, which is published as Sweeney Astray. In this first major act of translation Heaney recognises the political role that translation is able to play. He draws attention to the protagonist’s sense of cultural ease in both Britain and Ireland, which he argues is exemplary for the people of Ulster and renders the narrative particularly accessible to a Northern Irish readership due to his anglicisation of the text, which is intended as a reminder to both Catholics and Protestants of their shared identity as Irishmen. The second chapter focuses on Heaney’s translation of Sophocles’ Philoctetes, entitled The Cure at Troy. Heaney’s translation contextualises the Ancient Greek concern for personal integrity in the face of political necessity, a situation relevant to his own complex relationship with Northern Irish politics. His alterations to the text accentuate the positive aspects of the play, suggesting the very real possibility of social change within the seemingly constant violence of Northern Ireland. The third chapter explores Heaney’s engagement with the Anglo-Saxon epic poem, Beowulf, as a means of coming to terms with the complex history of Irish colonisation through language. This chapter assesses Heaney’s incorporation of Irish dialectal words into his translation, which lend the poem political weight, and yet prove to be contextually appropriate, rendering Heaney’s Beowulf a masterpiece of readability and subtle political commentary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The development of a segmented variable pitch small horizontal axis wind turbine with active pitch control
- Authors: Poole, Sean
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Horizontal axis wind turbines , Wind turbines -- Environmental aspects , Wind turbines -- Aerodynamics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEngineering
- Identifier: vital:9657 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020583
- Description: Small scale wind turbines operating in an urban environment produce dismal amounts of power when compared to their expected output [1-4]. This is largely due to the gusty wind conditions found in an urban environment, coupled with the fact that the wind turbines are not designed for these conditions. A new concept of a Segmented Variable Pitch (SVP) wind turbine has been proposed, which has a strong possibility to perform well in gusty and variable wind conditions. This dissertation explains the concept of a SVP wind turbine in more detail and shows analytical and experimental results relating to this concept. Also, the potential benefits of the proposed concept are mentioned. The results from this dissertation show that this concept has potential with promising results on possible turbine blade aerofoil configurations. Scaled model tests were completed and although further design optimisation is required, the tests showed good potential for the SVP concept. Lastly a proof-of-concept full scale model was manufactured and tested to prove scalability to full size from concept models. Along with the proof-of-concept full scale model, a wireless control system (to control the blade segments) was developed and tested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Poole, Sean
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Horizontal axis wind turbines , Wind turbines -- Environmental aspects , Wind turbines -- Aerodynamics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEngineering
- Identifier: vital:9657 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020583
- Description: Small scale wind turbines operating in an urban environment produce dismal amounts of power when compared to their expected output [1-4]. This is largely due to the gusty wind conditions found in an urban environment, coupled with the fact that the wind turbines are not designed for these conditions. A new concept of a Segmented Variable Pitch (SVP) wind turbine has been proposed, which has a strong possibility to perform well in gusty and variable wind conditions. This dissertation explains the concept of a SVP wind turbine in more detail and shows analytical and experimental results relating to this concept. Also, the potential benefits of the proposed concept are mentioned. The results from this dissertation show that this concept has potential with promising results on possible turbine blade aerofoil configurations. Scaled model tests were completed and although further design optimisation is required, the tests showed good potential for the SVP concept. Lastly a proof-of-concept full scale model was manufactured and tested to prove scalability to full size from concept models. Along with the proof-of-concept full scale model, a wireless control system (to control the blade segments) was developed and tested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
An evaluation of the quality of customer service provided to large power users by Eskom in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Caza, Akhona Nobusi
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Eskom (Firm) -- Evaluation , Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Evaluation , Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Quality control , SERVQUAL (Service quality framework) , Gap analysis (Planning)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:862 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020610
- Description: The aim of this research is to evaluate the level of service quality provided by Eskom to its Large Power User (LPU) customer segment in the Eastern Cape. The research uses the SERVQUAL model in order to assess the customers’ expectations and perceptions of the service provided by Eskom. This evaluation report comprises three sections. Section one consists of (a) a review of service quality literature that exists and is applied to Eskom where relevant, (b) a summary of the method used to conduct the research, (c) the research findings, and (d) a discussion of the research findings and recommendations. Section two consists of a review of the key concepts identified for this study as follows: (a) defining customer service quality by looking at the concepts of the customer, service, quality and the dimensions of quality, (b) the importance of service quality, (c) the components of service quality in Eskom, (d) models of service quality, and (e) the SERVQUAL model used in this study. Section three consists of the detail of the research methodology used to conduct this study. The Gap Model of Service Quality (Parasuraman et al., 1985:44) is evaluated in order to understand the gaps between expected and perceived service. The provider gap (Zeithaml et al., 2006: 34) is also reviewed in order to identify the gaps that occur within the organisation. An extensive review of customer service quality models is undertaken before a discussion of the SERVQUAL model, which was used in this evaluation study, is provided. The researcher adopted the critical realism research paradigm and quantitative data was collected from a sample of 120 Eskom customers within the LPU customer segment in the Eastern Cape. These customers were randomly selected from the Eskom Customer Care and Billing database and comprised customers from Port Elizabeth, Aliwal North, Mthatha and East London Areas within the Eastern Cape. The data was collected online through a questionnaire which was based on SERVQUAL and modified for electricity services. The quantitative data obtained from the study is presented in the form of tables and graphs created from the data obtained from the 45 customers who responded to the questionnaire. The gaps between LPU customer perceptions and expectations were calculated for the five SERVQUAL dimensions. The research identifies the existing gaps in the service delivered by Eskom; this is based on the perceptions and expectations of the LPU customers in the Eastern Cape, who participated in the study. The results reveal that gaps exist between LPU customer perceptions and their expectations of the service provided by Eskom in the Eastern Cape. The key findings reveal that the largest gaps are within the reliability and empathy dimensions and the smallest gap is in the tangibles dimension. The recommendations were made on the basis of the gaps which were identified and these focus on the training of the front line staff responsible for servicing customers. It is recommended that this training should include an overview of the organisation’s policies and procedures to enable employees to respond adequately to customer queries. Recommendation is also made on training staff to interact with customers effectively in order to resolve customer queries satisfactorily. Finally, it is recommended that regular assessments of the existing customer service quality levels are conducted in order for the organisation to remain aware of the current customer perceptions and expectations
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Caza, Akhona Nobusi
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Eskom (Firm) -- Evaluation , Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Evaluation , Customer services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Quality control , SERVQUAL (Service quality framework) , Gap analysis (Planning)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:862 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020610
- Description: The aim of this research is to evaluate the level of service quality provided by Eskom to its Large Power User (LPU) customer segment in the Eastern Cape. The research uses the SERVQUAL model in order to assess the customers’ expectations and perceptions of the service provided by Eskom. This evaluation report comprises three sections. Section one consists of (a) a review of service quality literature that exists and is applied to Eskom where relevant, (b) a summary of the method used to conduct the research, (c) the research findings, and (d) a discussion of the research findings and recommendations. Section two consists of a review of the key concepts identified for this study as follows: (a) defining customer service quality by looking at the concepts of the customer, service, quality and the dimensions of quality, (b) the importance of service quality, (c) the components of service quality in Eskom, (d) models of service quality, and (e) the SERVQUAL model used in this study. Section three consists of the detail of the research methodology used to conduct this study. The Gap Model of Service Quality (Parasuraman et al., 1985:44) is evaluated in order to understand the gaps between expected and perceived service. The provider gap (Zeithaml et al., 2006: 34) is also reviewed in order to identify the gaps that occur within the organisation. An extensive review of customer service quality models is undertaken before a discussion of the SERVQUAL model, which was used in this evaluation study, is provided. The researcher adopted the critical realism research paradigm and quantitative data was collected from a sample of 120 Eskom customers within the LPU customer segment in the Eastern Cape. These customers were randomly selected from the Eskom Customer Care and Billing database and comprised customers from Port Elizabeth, Aliwal North, Mthatha and East London Areas within the Eastern Cape. The data was collected online through a questionnaire which was based on SERVQUAL and modified for electricity services. The quantitative data obtained from the study is presented in the form of tables and graphs created from the data obtained from the 45 customers who responded to the questionnaire. The gaps between LPU customer perceptions and expectations were calculated for the five SERVQUAL dimensions. The research identifies the existing gaps in the service delivered by Eskom; this is based on the perceptions and expectations of the LPU customers in the Eastern Cape, who participated in the study. The results reveal that gaps exist between LPU customer perceptions and their expectations of the service provided by Eskom in the Eastern Cape. The key findings reveal that the largest gaps are within the reliability and empathy dimensions and the smallest gap is in the tangibles dimension. The recommendations were made on the basis of the gaps which were identified and these focus on the training of the front line staff responsible for servicing customers. It is recommended that this training should include an overview of the organisation’s policies and procedures to enable employees to respond adequately to customer queries. Recommendation is also made on training staff to interact with customers effectively in order to resolve customer queries satisfactorily. Finally, it is recommended that regular assessments of the existing customer service quality levels are conducted in order for the organisation to remain aware of the current customer perceptions and expectations
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014