Retirement planning activities of mobile phone dealers
- Authors: Kapp, Anton
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Cell phone systems -- Retirement -- South Africa -- Planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/48257 , vital:40757
- Description: The mobile phone industry is one of the most technologically-advanced industries in South Africa, however, little information is available concerning retirement planning activities of mobile phone dealers in this industry. As research into the area of retirement planning and retirement planning activities of mobile phone dealers in the telecommunications industry is thus required, this study intended to fill this gap. The main objective of the study was to investigate whether mobile phone dealers were planning for their retirement and the retirement planning activities they performed. The study also further investigated the retirement activities of the mobile phone dealers’ employees. A case study research in six phases was conducted and data was obtained from 18 participants using a semi-structured interview schedule. The interview guide was prepared to focus on three theoretical themes, namely, retirement activities for retirement, retirement activities at retirement and retirement activities after retirement. The rich qualitative data was transcribed and analysed using content analysis. Most of the participants were male and in the 51+ year age category. The analysis of the feedback from the participants suggested that one out of 18 (5.56%) participants could not retire, seven out of 18 participants (38.89%) participants did not plan to retire, while ten out of 18 (55.56%) had a planned retirement date. A small number of participants actively used the retirement planning activities for employees as a successful retention tool in their businesses in an environment where employee rotation was reported to be high. The study found that the majority of mobile phone dealers had planned and provided for their own retirement. The feedback and recommendations of this study show that employees in the mobile phone dealer businesses lack knowledge on the importance of retirement planning in their lives, and that retirement planning knowledge intervention programmes should be introduced.
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- Date Issued: 2020
The fourth industrial revolution: assessing the intelligences of engineers in the South African automotive industry
- Authors: Kapp, Jaco
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Technological innovations -- Economic aspects -- South Africa , Artificial intelligence , Emotional intelligence , Automobile industry and trade -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22288 , vital:29937
- Description: The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is a new phenomenon that will impact human society drastically. It is complex, highly dynamic and constantly evolving at an everincreasing pace. To date the majority of research on the topic of the 4IR is focused on technological and scientific topics, with little to no work done on the human behavioural aspects such as intelligence. At the commencement of this paper only one other author published papers on the intelligences that are required to cope with the disruption associated with the 4IR. This paper is therefore the first known study paper which aims to determine the level of physical-, contextual-, emotional- and inspired intelligence of engineers in the South African automotive industry. Two comprehensive literature reviews were performed in this study. The first literature review aimed to create the context of this study by describing the historical significance, impact, drivers, critical emerging technologies and likely manufacturing scenarios of the 4IR. The second literature review investigated the theories of intelligence including the single factor approach as well as the theory of multiple intelligences. Additionally, the 4IR intelligence proposition is described and the application thereof in this study justified. A mixed method empirical study, consisting of 101 respondents, was conducted. Descriptive statistics were used to comprehensively describe the level of awareness, timeframe, emerging technologies and likely manufacturing scenarios. Furthermore, the thematic analysis of open-ended responses was used to identify the potential positive and negative implications associated with the 4IR. After the level and importance of the four intelligence components were established, inferential statistical tests were performed to establish the relationship between the four intelligences as well as to identify any deviance in the responses based on demographic variables. The study concludes by making various managerial recommendations that could be applied by managers in the automotive sector in order for their companies to survive and prosper in the disruption to be caused by the 4IR. As it is clear that the 4IR will have an impact upon the South African automotive industry in the very near future, it is of the utmost importance that this topic be included into the organisations’ strategic dialogues as a matter of urgency. This study found the level of perceived intelligence of South African engineers to be high. Additionally, this cohort indicated a heightened level of awareness and in-depth knowledge surrounding the 4IR. Therefore, this study recommends that organisations leverage these strategic resources to their fullest benefit. Joint 4IR task teams should be setup comprising of engineers and individuals from other departments such as Information Technology (IT) and Human Resources (HR). These teams should spearhead pilot projects in line with the advances associated with the 4IR. Management should further take into cognisance, monitor and pro-actively investigate the possible behavioural and psychological implications associated with the increased use of technology. It is therefore recommended that regular surveys, open dialogues and possible voluntary psychometric evaluations be conducted wherever these new technologies are piloted. This study also found that the 4IR might lead to the loss of unskilled jobs which would have a broader socio-economic impact. In sharp contrast to popular belief, humans will still play an important role in the 4IR and as such organisations should, therefore, openly commit to educating and upskilling their lower skilled employees in line with the needs of the 4IR as this would be mutually beneficial for the organisation and employees. This would demonstrate the companies’ long-term commitment to their lesser skilled employees and reassure them of their job security, thereby reducing the risk of job losses and potential industrial action.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Physical characteristics as performance indicators in surfing
- Authors: Hayselden, Kirsten Jacqui-Anne
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Surfing -- South Africa , Athletic ability , Physical fitness -- Testing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10097 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/662 , Surfing -- South Africa , Athletic ability , Physical fitness -- Testing
- Description: The aim of this study was to identify indictors of performance in surfing. Therefore the objectives of the study were to determine the following: {u100085} Anthropometric measures such as: height, weight, body proportions; {u100085} Flexibility measures such as: back extension, hip flexion, ankle plantarflexion and dorsiflexion; {u100085} Core stability; {u100085} Dynamic balance; {u100085} Explosive leg power; {u100085} Which of the physical characteristics measured discriminate between elite and non-elite surfers. To achieve the aim and objectives of this study, the literature pertaining to excellence in surfing, and the theory surrounding talent identification and the many factors that can contribute to success in sport, were reviewed. Potential criteria important for performance in surfing were identified and appropriate tests to assess these criteria were selected. An ex post facto quasi experimental design was used to assess which of the identified criteria best discriminated between elite and non-elite surfboard riders. The test battery included a personal information questionnaire and the assessment of: anthropometric variables, flexibility, core stability, dynamic balance and explosive leg power. These abovementioned physical characteristics were identified from the literature as the factors most important to success in surfing. Fifty five (55) surfers were assessed of which 28 were elite surfers and 27 were non-elite surfers. The results obtained from the evaluation of the samples were compared in terms of their descriptive statistics and the differences tested for statistical and practical significance. The variables of height, age started surfing, core stability, dynamic balance, number of days surfed per week and number of hours surfed per day were found to most discriminate between the elite and non-elite participants. Finally, a stepwise discriminant analysis was used to determine classification functions that could be used for future prediction purposes. The variables included in the discriminant analyses included height, age started surfing, number of years surfing, core stability and dynamic balance. To verify the prediction model a jack-knife procedure was performed. The results from the jack-knife procedure indicated that 85.5 perecent of the entire sample was correctly classified while 92.9 percent of the elite sample and 77.8 percent of the non-elite sample were correctly classified. Thus, the discriminant functions obtained can be used for predictive purposes.
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- Date Issued: 2007