Coping as a moderator between work-family conflict and psychological well-being among academic employees at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa
- Authors: Samkange, Victoria
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Work and family -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Psychological aspect Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12524 , vital:39271
- Description: The effects of changing academic environments at universities have attracted considerable research attraction on the psychological well-being of academics. The growing number of students entering tertiary education, the increase of emphasis on research, and higher quality learning this puts pressure on the academics leading to psychological distress. This study investigated the relationship that exists between work family conflict and psychological well-being among academic staff at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. The main aim of this study was to investigate the moderating role of the use of coping strategies as a moderator of the relationship between work-family conflict among the academic staff at the university of Fort Hare. A quantitative research design was adopted in conducting this study. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire to academics from all faculties within the university of Fort Hare. The respondents were selected using simple random sampling method, from 350 academic staff members a sample size of 184 respondents was used in this study. Five-point Likert scale was used to measure the responses. Data analysis methods used include descriptive statistics, one sample statistic test, Chi-square tests and independent t-test. The validity and reliability of the research instrument and the findings were assured through pilot study and Cronbach alpha reliability test. The results indicate that the use of coping strategies moderates the relationship between work family conflict and psychological well-being. Recommendations to reduce work family conflict and promoting psychological well-being among academic staff were also discussed in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Samkange, Victoria
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Work and family -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Psychological aspect Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12524 , vital:39271
- Description: The effects of changing academic environments at universities have attracted considerable research attraction on the psychological well-being of academics. The growing number of students entering tertiary education, the increase of emphasis on research, and higher quality learning this puts pressure on the academics leading to psychological distress. This study investigated the relationship that exists between work family conflict and psychological well-being among academic staff at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. The main aim of this study was to investigate the moderating role of the use of coping strategies as a moderator of the relationship between work-family conflict among the academic staff at the university of Fort Hare. A quantitative research design was adopted in conducting this study. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire to academics from all faculties within the university of Fort Hare. The respondents were selected using simple random sampling method, from 350 academic staff members a sample size of 184 respondents was used in this study. Five-point Likert scale was used to measure the responses. Data analysis methods used include descriptive statistics, one sample statistic test, Chi-square tests and independent t-test. The validity and reliability of the research instrument and the findings were assured through pilot study and Cronbach alpha reliability test. The results indicate that the use of coping strategies moderates the relationship between work family conflict and psychological well-being. Recommendations to reduce work family conflict and promoting psychological well-being among academic staff were also discussed in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Corporate Social Responsibility as a strategy for community development in the Eastern Cape Province: The Case of Volkswagen in Uitenhage
- Authors: Mutongoza, Bonginkosi Hardy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business Community development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Development Studies)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16963 , vital:40789
- Description: The turn of the new millennium has brought with it a heightened emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), particularly more recently in the global South where underdevelopment is more prevalent. While corporates continue to be viewed as more better-placed than global South governments in the attempt to deal with underdevelopment, this contribution of corporates does not come naturally since their primary focus is making profit. In the case of South Africa, the CSR agenda is regulated primarily by two legal instruments: the B-BBEE Act and the Companies Act. This study set out to determine whether CSR is an effective strategy for community development (CD). The study relied on a qualitative research methodology, employing face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions as the primary sources of data. Data was gathered primarily from two sets of samples: a community sample which comprised of members from wards 47, 50 and 51 in Uitenhage; and a sample comprising of officials from the B-BBEE Commission, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Local Economic Development, and the Volkswagen Community Trust. Participants were purposively sampled in order to save time and resources. The study established that although CSR can be employed for the purposes of achieving community development, there is need for dedicated policies that deal specifically with CSR and set the parameters within which CSR can be carried out. The effectiveness of the CSR agenda in South Africa, thus, relies heavily on the institution of an effective regulatory framework.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mutongoza, Bonginkosi Hardy
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business Community development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Development Studies)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16963 , vital:40789
- Description: The turn of the new millennium has brought with it a heightened emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), particularly more recently in the global South where underdevelopment is more prevalent. While corporates continue to be viewed as more better-placed than global South governments in the attempt to deal with underdevelopment, this contribution of corporates does not come naturally since their primary focus is making profit. In the case of South Africa, the CSR agenda is regulated primarily by two legal instruments: the B-BBEE Act and the Companies Act. This study set out to determine whether CSR is an effective strategy for community development (CD). The study relied on a qualitative research methodology, employing face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions as the primary sources of data. Data was gathered primarily from two sets of samples: a community sample which comprised of members from wards 47, 50 and 51 in Uitenhage; and a sample comprising of officials from the B-BBEE Commission, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Local Economic Development, and the Volkswagen Community Trust. Participants were purposively sampled in order to save time and resources. The study established that although CSR can be employed for the purposes of achieving community development, there is need for dedicated policies that deal specifically with CSR and set the parameters within which CSR can be carried out. The effectiveness of the CSR agenda in South Africa, thus, relies heavily on the institution of an effective regulatory framework.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Critical Success Factors for Enhanced Information Systems Capabilities in Water Billing Processes: A Case Study of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Naki, Avuyile
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Information networks -- Security measures Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Information Systems)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13793 , vital:39712
- Description: Water is a nation's most precious resource as humans depend upon it for their lives and livelihoods. Water resources, therefore, require efficient and strategic management by those entities tasked with such a responsibility. Municipalities manage the water distribution to local citizens, but experience challenges due to the numerous tasks involved in water management. A major challenge that municipalities face is inefficiencies in water management business processes due to immature information system capabilities. Many studies focus on the infrastructure-related challenges such as ageing pipes, but little emphasis is placed on the information system-based challenges in water management and their relationship to the local water consumer. Therefore, the focus of this research investigation was on the water billing process activities and the information systems involved in these activities. The study collected primary data by conducting a focus group comprising seven respondents working in water billing-related processes and then conducted semi-structured interviews with two managers at the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM). The Nvivo software tool was used to organise the collected data. Finally, the collected data was analysed using the principles of thematic analysis. Firstly, the primary evidence indicates that the water billing information systems that are used at BCMM are unintegrated. Secondly, that there are numerous manual processes in the water billing-related processes, which lead to mistakes in the capturing of consumer data. Thirdly, the analysis confirms that BCMM is faced with water management challenges. Fourthly, the analysis revealed that there is inadequate communication between various water billing information systems that are used, which results in delays in data capturing, errors and outdated information. The findings conclude that BCMM has immature water billing information system capabilities and that there are problems related to water processes. The research investigation derived several critical success factors (CSFs) for BCMM to action to ensure that their water billing information systems are enhanced. The CSFs were reviewed by the two managers used for the study in order to ascertain their relevance to the context and were considered relevant by the managers. Therefore, the recommendation is that BCMM, and other municipalities with similar contexts, should action the proposed CSFs to enhance their water billing-related information systems capabilities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Naki, Avuyile
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Information networks -- Security measures Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Information Systems)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13793 , vital:39712
- Description: Water is a nation's most precious resource as humans depend upon it for their lives and livelihoods. Water resources, therefore, require efficient and strategic management by those entities tasked with such a responsibility. Municipalities manage the water distribution to local citizens, but experience challenges due to the numerous tasks involved in water management. A major challenge that municipalities face is inefficiencies in water management business processes due to immature information system capabilities. Many studies focus on the infrastructure-related challenges such as ageing pipes, but little emphasis is placed on the information system-based challenges in water management and their relationship to the local water consumer. Therefore, the focus of this research investigation was on the water billing process activities and the information systems involved in these activities. The study collected primary data by conducting a focus group comprising seven respondents working in water billing-related processes and then conducted semi-structured interviews with two managers at the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM). The Nvivo software tool was used to organise the collected data. Finally, the collected data was analysed using the principles of thematic analysis. Firstly, the primary evidence indicates that the water billing information systems that are used at BCMM are unintegrated. Secondly, that there are numerous manual processes in the water billing-related processes, which lead to mistakes in the capturing of consumer data. Thirdly, the analysis confirms that BCMM is faced with water management challenges. Fourthly, the analysis revealed that there is inadequate communication between various water billing information systems that are used, which results in delays in data capturing, errors and outdated information. The findings conclude that BCMM has immature water billing information system capabilities and that there are problems related to water processes. The research investigation derived several critical success factors (CSFs) for BCMM to action to ensure that their water billing information systems are enhanced. The CSFs were reviewed by the two managers used for the study in order to ascertain their relevance to the context and were considered relevant by the managers. Therefore, the recommendation is that BCMM, and other municipalities with similar contexts, should action the proposed CSFs to enhance their water billing-related information systems capabilities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Determinants of consumerisation of information technology and its effect on employee performance
- Authors: Khayundi, Hilda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Information technology -- Economic aspect Organizational effectiveness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Business Management)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16906 , vital:40784
- Description: The ubiquitous nature of personally technological advanced devices and applications has engendered various predictions for the current employee at the workplace. With the introduction and adoption of mobile phones, tablets, laptops and even software, organisations are gradually allowing employees to utilise their personal mobile devices at the office to accomplish their tasks. This has led to the term Consumerisation of Information Technology (CIT) or IT consumerisation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of consumerisation of IT and its effect on job performance of staff at an institution of higher learning. This study used a theoretical framework - The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Usage of Technology – to find out if indeed consumerisation of IT has an effect on job performance. An online questionnaire was sent to the university’s staff email and a total of 230 responses were recorded. The study used a quantitative research approach. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used for data analysis to test the hypotheses. Tests such as the multiple linear regression, factor analysis, correlations, ANOVA and t-tests were used to test the hypotheses. The findings of the study showed that there is a relationship between the determinants of consumerisation of IT and their effect on job performance at the workplace. These determinants are performance expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions. Effort expectancy was the only factor that did not have an effect on consumerisation of IT. As such the study suggested that institutions and organisations to take note of the technological development of devices that can help employees improve their productivity. However, this should be treated with caution as there are also negative effects such as technostress and cyberloafing which may be associated with the advent of consumerisation of IT, therefore it should be a gradual process in order to see the benefits.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Khayundi, Hilda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Information technology -- Economic aspect Organizational effectiveness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Business Management)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16906 , vital:40784
- Description: The ubiquitous nature of personally technological advanced devices and applications has engendered various predictions for the current employee at the workplace. With the introduction and adoption of mobile phones, tablets, laptops and even software, organisations are gradually allowing employees to utilise their personal mobile devices at the office to accomplish their tasks. This has led to the term Consumerisation of Information Technology (CIT) or IT consumerisation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of consumerisation of IT and its effect on job performance of staff at an institution of higher learning. This study used a theoretical framework - The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Usage of Technology – to find out if indeed consumerisation of IT has an effect on job performance. An online questionnaire was sent to the university’s staff email and a total of 230 responses were recorded. The study used a quantitative research approach. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used for data analysis to test the hypotheses. Tests such as the multiple linear regression, factor analysis, correlations, ANOVA and t-tests were used to test the hypotheses. The findings of the study showed that there is a relationship between the determinants of consumerisation of IT and their effect on job performance at the workplace. These determinants are performance expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions. Effort expectancy was the only factor that did not have an effect on consumerisation of IT. As such the study suggested that institutions and organisations to take note of the technological development of devices that can help employees improve their productivity. However, this should be treated with caution as there are also negative effects such as technostress and cyberloafing which may be associated with the advent of consumerisation of IT, therefore it should be a gradual process in order to see the benefits.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
E-books preference compared to print books based on student perceptions: a case of University of Fort Hare students
- Authors: Makwanya, Comfort
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electronic books College students
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Business Management)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13653 , vital:39688
- Description: Technology has been shifting students’ perceptions and preferences on how they learn. The way in which students perceive print books and e-books greatly affects which format they prefer to use for academic purposes. In recent years, e-book accessibility on a variety of mobile gadgets has become a substitute to print based resources which are costly in terms of production, sharing and heavy in terms of their physical nature. Institutions of higher learning have decided that e-books and related resources are the most preferred options among students. This, however, is in contrary to the research findings which propound that students do not actually favour e-books. The intention of this study was to determine students’ perceptions with regards to using e-books and print books in meeting information needs. In addition, the study aimed to determine students’ awareness, usage, preference and students’ plan to adopt e-books as their only source of information in the future. Contrasting views exist on which format (print or e-book) students prefer for academic purposes to enhance their learning experience with most studies being done in developed countries. Hence, the investigation that uncovers students’ perceptions and preferences towards the two formats in South Africa can provide a better comprehension and conclusion on an African student. This will consequently lead to improved student engagement and improved learning outcomes. A cross-sectional research design was used and a questionnaire administered to a sample of 307 students at the University of Fort Hare’s East London Campus through convenience sampling. Findings from this study showed that students at the University of Fort Hare’s Faculty of Management and Commerce preferred using both (e-books and print books) for their information needs. They also perceived e-books as good as print books, easier and friendly to use and capable of providing adequate information to meet study needs. The findings will assist practitioners to understand readers’ needs, improve awareness, and develop e-book collections and designs that improve the learning process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Makwanya, Comfort
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electronic books College students
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Business Management)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13653 , vital:39688
- Description: Technology has been shifting students’ perceptions and preferences on how they learn. The way in which students perceive print books and e-books greatly affects which format they prefer to use for academic purposes. In recent years, e-book accessibility on a variety of mobile gadgets has become a substitute to print based resources which are costly in terms of production, sharing and heavy in terms of their physical nature. Institutions of higher learning have decided that e-books and related resources are the most preferred options among students. This, however, is in contrary to the research findings which propound that students do not actually favour e-books. The intention of this study was to determine students’ perceptions with regards to using e-books and print books in meeting information needs. In addition, the study aimed to determine students’ awareness, usage, preference and students’ plan to adopt e-books as their only source of information in the future. Contrasting views exist on which format (print or e-book) students prefer for academic purposes to enhance their learning experience with most studies being done in developed countries. Hence, the investigation that uncovers students’ perceptions and preferences towards the two formats in South Africa can provide a better comprehension and conclusion on an African student. This will consequently lead to improved student engagement and improved learning outcomes. A cross-sectional research design was used and a questionnaire administered to a sample of 307 students at the University of Fort Hare’s East London Campus through convenience sampling. Findings from this study showed that students at the University of Fort Hare’s Faculty of Management and Commerce preferred using both (e-books and print books) for their information needs. They also perceived e-books as good as print books, easier and friendly to use and capable of providing adequate information to meet study needs. The findings will assist practitioners to understand readers’ needs, improve awareness, and develop e-book collections and designs that improve the learning process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Factors to improve data quality of electronic medical records
- Authors: Makeleni, Noloyiso Anele
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electronic records , Medical records -- Management , Medical records -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19881 , vital:43618
- Description: Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems have been identified as having the potential to improve health care and allow the health care sector to reap a number of benefits when implemented successfully. These benefits include enabling quick and easy access to patient files and also reducing the problem of misplaced or lost patient files. Such EMRs allow for patient records to be up to date, provided that health care practitioners capture standard and consistent data in the relevant fields. In Africa, there are only a few countries that have successfully implemented EMR systems due to social and technological challenges. Social factors include lack of computer skilled health workers, lack of adequate training, physician’s resistance to shift from using paper records to electronic records, either due to complex systems or the fear of being replaced by the systems. On the other hand, the technological factors include lack of Information Technology (IT) and clinical resources, lack of internet access, financial barriers to purchase the necessary technological hardware and implementation costs. A few South African health care institutions have implemented EMR systems, however, most of the public health care facilities still make use of a manual system to capture patient information. In the case where public health care facilities do have an EMR system implemented, there are problems with the consistency of the data that is captured. The inconsistency is caused by the different understandings that the health care professionals have regarding the importance of capturing the necessary information that is collected at various points in health care institutions, thus affecting data quality. For the successful implementation and use of EMR systems, everything within the health care organisation should be integrated. In other words, the steering committee and workgroup, the equipment, the product, the processes, the system and the facility design and construction should be incorporated to work together. The common problems identified in literature regarding data quality in EMRs include misspelled words, inconsistent word strings, inaccurate information entered on the record and incompleteness of the record. These problems lead to poor quality information, lack of accessibility of the record, poorly organised notes and inaccurate information about the patient. The South African strategy aims to implement a National Health Insurance (NHI) which will provide citizens with equitable access to health care. For the successful implementation of the NHI strategy, South African health care sectors should address the barriers which were identified and learn from other African countries that have successfully implemented EMR systems and had positive outcomes. Therefore, this study investigates how data quality can be improved on electronic medical records in public health care in South Africa? The qualitative research methodology approach was used for this study. Interviews were conducted with eight health care professionals at Klerksdorp, in the North West province to obtain data regarding the factors they would deem important for the improvement of data quality in EMRs. The Data Quality Framework (DQF) was applied in this study and six dimensions were identified as the factors to improve data quality. These dimensions include completeness, accuracy, consistency, conformity, timeliness, and integrity. From the analysis of the interview responses, it was discovered that there were, in fact, data quality issues experienced at the public health care facilities of South Africa. A need was identified for the use of data quality assessment tools and solutions to address the data quality issues or challenges that health care practitioners are faced with during their daily jobs. Seven barriers were also identified as having an impact on the successful implementation of EMRs at health care institutions. These barriers, together with the data quality issues, influence the successful use of EMRs and should not be overlooked. From these barriers the study developed seven Critical Success Factors which can be used by the National Department of Health to improve the quality of EMRs. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2019
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Makeleni, Noloyiso Anele
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electronic records , Medical records -- Management , Medical records -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/19881 , vital:43618
- Description: Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems have been identified as having the potential to improve health care and allow the health care sector to reap a number of benefits when implemented successfully. These benefits include enabling quick and easy access to patient files and also reducing the problem of misplaced or lost patient files. Such EMRs allow for patient records to be up to date, provided that health care practitioners capture standard and consistent data in the relevant fields. In Africa, there are only a few countries that have successfully implemented EMR systems due to social and technological challenges. Social factors include lack of computer skilled health workers, lack of adequate training, physician’s resistance to shift from using paper records to electronic records, either due to complex systems or the fear of being replaced by the systems. On the other hand, the technological factors include lack of Information Technology (IT) and clinical resources, lack of internet access, financial barriers to purchase the necessary technological hardware and implementation costs. A few South African health care institutions have implemented EMR systems, however, most of the public health care facilities still make use of a manual system to capture patient information. In the case where public health care facilities do have an EMR system implemented, there are problems with the consistency of the data that is captured. The inconsistency is caused by the different understandings that the health care professionals have regarding the importance of capturing the necessary information that is collected at various points in health care institutions, thus affecting data quality. For the successful implementation and use of EMR systems, everything within the health care organisation should be integrated. In other words, the steering committee and workgroup, the equipment, the product, the processes, the system and the facility design and construction should be incorporated to work together. The common problems identified in literature regarding data quality in EMRs include misspelled words, inconsistent word strings, inaccurate information entered on the record and incompleteness of the record. These problems lead to poor quality information, lack of accessibility of the record, poorly organised notes and inaccurate information about the patient. The South African strategy aims to implement a National Health Insurance (NHI) which will provide citizens with equitable access to health care. For the successful implementation of the NHI strategy, South African health care sectors should address the barriers which were identified and learn from other African countries that have successfully implemented EMR systems and had positive outcomes. Therefore, this study investigates how data quality can be improved on electronic medical records in public health care in South Africa? The qualitative research methodology approach was used for this study. Interviews were conducted with eight health care professionals at Klerksdorp, in the North West province to obtain data regarding the factors they would deem important for the improvement of data quality in EMRs. The Data Quality Framework (DQF) was applied in this study and six dimensions were identified as the factors to improve data quality. These dimensions include completeness, accuracy, consistency, conformity, timeliness, and integrity. From the analysis of the interview responses, it was discovered that there were, in fact, data quality issues experienced at the public health care facilities of South Africa. A need was identified for the use of data quality assessment tools and solutions to address the data quality issues or challenges that health care practitioners are faced with during their daily jobs. Seven barriers were also identified as having an impact on the successful implementation of EMRs at health care institutions. These barriers, together with the data quality issues, influence the successful use of EMRs and should not be overlooked. From these barriers the study developed seven Critical Success Factors which can be used by the National Department of Health to improve the quality of EMRs. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2019
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Gender differences and online shopping decisions of consumers in South Africa
- Authors: Mqulo, Thandokazi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electronic commerce Consumer behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Business Management)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16952 , vital:40788
- Description: Online shopping has emerged as one of the most convenient ways of shopping in both emerging and advanced economies. In South Africa, it has received much attention due to its unique way of satisfying both the rural and urban populations. Online shopping is growing and carries great potential of contributing to a country and/or local areas’ economy and development. The primary aim of the study was to analyse the differences of online shopping between males and females in South Africa. The main objective of this study is to determine if there are significant differences between male and female online shoppers in South Africa. The study is motivated by the literature gap that exists on the online shopping discourse, in that there are few published studies on the online shopping differences between males and females in South Africa. Therefore, there is a lack of information on the importance of online shopping activities on promoting convenience for shoppers in these busy times that people live in. A quantitative approach was used to analyse the data that were collected using a questionnaire. Data was collected from a sample of 377 people who are online shoppers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Simple random sampling was utilised for this study. The results showed that there is a significant difference between males and females online shopping patterns as determined by specific variables mentioned in this study. Their study had findings on research hypothesis of attitude towards online shopping, the difference in the usefulness of media on online websites, perceived ease of use of online websites, intrinsic enjoyment, perceived risk and trust towards online shopping. The implications of this study unpack and provides discussion on empirical evidence drawn from the study’s statistical results. The implications are presented in a way which explains how the results of this study affect theoretical dimensions of the studied phenomenon, online shoppers and the retail industry. There is a need for more research in this environment and this research study will stimulate further studies in the online shopping environment. Future research may focus on the development of a customer satisfaction scale that uses service quality items in the retail industry, to gather data about what satisfies customers in the retail context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mqulo, Thandokazi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Electronic commerce Consumer behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Business Management)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16952 , vital:40788
- Description: Online shopping has emerged as one of the most convenient ways of shopping in both emerging and advanced economies. In South Africa, it has received much attention due to its unique way of satisfying both the rural and urban populations. Online shopping is growing and carries great potential of contributing to a country and/or local areas’ economy and development. The primary aim of the study was to analyse the differences of online shopping between males and females in South Africa. The main objective of this study is to determine if there are significant differences between male and female online shoppers in South Africa. The study is motivated by the literature gap that exists on the online shopping discourse, in that there are few published studies on the online shopping differences between males and females in South Africa. Therefore, there is a lack of information on the importance of online shopping activities on promoting convenience for shoppers in these busy times that people live in. A quantitative approach was used to analyse the data that were collected using a questionnaire. Data was collected from a sample of 377 people who are online shoppers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Simple random sampling was utilised for this study. The results showed that there is a significant difference between males and females online shopping patterns as determined by specific variables mentioned in this study. Their study had findings on research hypothesis of attitude towards online shopping, the difference in the usefulness of media on online websites, perceived ease of use of online websites, intrinsic enjoyment, perceived risk and trust towards online shopping. The implications of this study unpack and provides discussion on empirical evidence drawn from the study’s statistical results. The implications are presented in a way which explains how the results of this study affect theoretical dimensions of the studied phenomenon, online shoppers and the retail industry. There is a need for more research in this environment and this research study will stimulate further studies in the online shopping environment. Future research may focus on the development of a customer satisfaction scale that uses service quality items in the retail industry, to gather data about what satisfies customers in the retail context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Human resources competencies, employability and career success in South Africa: reflections of a sample of senior human resource practitioners
- Hlatywayo, Clifford Kendrick
- Authors: Hlatywayo, Clifford Kendrick
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Personnel management Career development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13474 , vital:39671
- Description: Orientation: The research was a reflection on the careers of senior human resources (HR) personnel registered with the SABPP as master or chartered human resources practitioners. The study identified the human resources competencies in South Africa which are attributed to employability and subsequently career success; the study also tested the applicability of the competency model proposed by the SABPP. Purpose: The study explored human resource competencies, employability and career success in South Africa. It targeted participants registered as master or chartered practitioners with the SABPP. As human resource management is professionalising, there is a need to align the requirements of the profession to what the stakeholders (employers, universities, graduates and professional bodies) require. Without a set baseline for competencies which are instrumental to human resource employability and career success, it becomes challenging to identify human resource shortcomings in the workplace. Method: The study made use of an interpretive orientation. This interpretivist approach was adopted for two reasons – it could provide useful insight to human resource employability and secondly, to gain insight into the experiences of participants. Purposive sampling was used to solicit participants as the researcher decided to select practitioners registered as master or chartered HR professionals with the SABPP. In the study, 35 practitioner interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data and themes were derived from this. Main findings: The study identified: Volunteering; Work experience; Internships; Networking; Recommendations; Easy access to job market; Extracurricular activities; Resilience; Research; Having the right qualification; Recruitment agencies; Creativity; Further education; Willingness to learn; Attitude; Work ethic; Equity legislation; Work readiness; Passion for the job; Emotional intelligence; Personality; Positive psychology; Critical thinking; Emotional maturity; Behavioural competencies; Emotional intelligence; Technology; Entrepreneurial orientation; Technology and Entrepreneurial orientation as the factors which make one employable. Lack of work experience, Lack of jobs, Expectations of the world of work, Flooded market and No right qualification for HR professionals were identified as factors which make one unemployable. The competencies which are essential for HR employability and career success were identified. The meaning of career success for human resource practitioners was identified as: contribution to strategy. Being entrepreneurial, enjoying what one does, support from organisation, mastering HR competencies, income, v career planning and career were the themes identified to infer the meaning of career success. Areas of dissatisfaction were also identified from practitioners as: being underutilised; lack of a concise career path; always greener ‘on the other side’; monetary dissatisfaction; glass ceiling; and lack of contribution to strategy. After the SABPP model had been introduced, it enhanced organisation efficiency and guidance to HR strategy. It was used by practitioners to meet organisation objectives and to set objectives for personal development; however, in some organisations, the model was yet to be implemented and the public sector was putting in place a framework to be in line with the SABPP competency model. Some had no model in place and thus there was no impact on such organisations’. With regards to the competency model, its applicability to the human resource context and its shortcomings were deliberated upon. Practitioners gave their opinions of the applicability of the SABPP competency model: Model lays a solid foundation for HR as the Model justifies HR to the boardroom; Model covers all essential HR competencies. However, the model was also criticised as it was: too academic, lacked personal characteristics; nothing new here and it is relatively unknown by other practitioners. Practitioners also identified competencies they regarded as key: these were classified as traditional, modern and behavioural. Lastly, practitioners suggested competencies they think must be added into the SABPP competency model: the human touch; work ethic; love for people, passion for the profession, personality, emotional intelligence, attitude, behavioural competencies, positive psychology and arithmetic numeracy were identified as key items to be added. Human resource practitioners were content with the state of the model; the general weakness was the omission of personal attributes which are crucial for effective performance within the HR profession. Contribution: The study is a step towards enhancing sector-specific employability. In attaining employability, the generic skills, which are crucial, have to be cemented by disciplinespecific knowledge. Attaining a mark of 65% and above is a reflection of trainability of a job seeker. The meaning of career success is derived from the areas of dissatisfaction and satisfaction of practitioners. HR practitioners value contribution to strategy and are acknowledged for what they are doing. The legal framework in South Africa hinders career progression. There are 12 traits (networking, positive psychology, interpersonal strength, human touch, work ethic, love for people, passion for the profession, personality, emotional intelligence, arithmetic competency, attitude, behavioural competencies and being vi entrepreneurial) which are essential for effective performance which must be incorporated in the SABPP competency model. From the study, HR must go back to basics, master the basics and in doing so, create a solid foundation for HR ascendancy to the boardroom Managerial implication The implications of the study are synonymous to universities and the HR curriculum, the professional body and the future HR professional. HR graduate employability links labour market requirements to higher education. Higher education offers HR degrees for candidates who are willing to work in HR. The study is a contribution to the global professionalisation of human resource management. South Africa is setting the trend as the SABPP is actively involved in the certification of human resource curricula, setting standards and providing a sound code of ethics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Hlatywayo, Clifford Kendrick
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Personnel management Career development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13474 , vital:39671
- Description: Orientation: The research was a reflection on the careers of senior human resources (HR) personnel registered with the SABPP as master or chartered human resources practitioners. The study identified the human resources competencies in South Africa which are attributed to employability and subsequently career success; the study also tested the applicability of the competency model proposed by the SABPP. Purpose: The study explored human resource competencies, employability and career success in South Africa. It targeted participants registered as master or chartered practitioners with the SABPP. As human resource management is professionalising, there is a need to align the requirements of the profession to what the stakeholders (employers, universities, graduates and professional bodies) require. Without a set baseline for competencies which are instrumental to human resource employability and career success, it becomes challenging to identify human resource shortcomings in the workplace. Method: The study made use of an interpretive orientation. This interpretivist approach was adopted for two reasons – it could provide useful insight to human resource employability and secondly, to gain insight into the experiences of participants. Purposive sampling was used to solicit participants as the researcher decided to select practitioners registered as master or chartered HR professionals with the SABPP. In the study, 35 practitioner interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data and themes were derived from this. Main findings: The study identified: Volunteering; Work experience; Internships; Networking; Recommendations; Easy access to job market; Extracurricular activities; Resilience; Research; Having the right qualification; Recruitment agencies; Creativity; Further education; Willingness to learn; Attitude; Work ethic; Equity legislation; Work readiness; Passion for the job; Emotional intelligence; Personality; Positive psychology; Critical thinking; Emotional maturity; Behavioural competencies; Emotional intelligence; Technology; Entrepreneurial orientation; Technology and Entrepreneurial orientation as the factors which make one employable. Lack of work experience, Lack of jobs, Expectations of the world of work, Flooded market and No right qualification for HR professionals were identified as factors which make one unemployable. The competencies which are essential for HR employability and career success were identified. The meaning of career success for human resource practitioners was identified as: contribution to strategy. Being entrepreneurial, enjoying what one does, support from organisation, mastering HR competencies, income, v career planning and career were the themes identified to infer the meaning of career success. Areas of dissatisfaction were also identified from practitioners as: being underutilised; lack of a concise career path; always greener ‘on the other side’; monetary dissatisfaction; glass ceiling; and lack of contribution to strategy. After the SABPP model had been introduced, it enhanced organisation efficiency and guidance to HR strategy. It was used by practitioners to meet organisation objectives and to set objectives for personal development; however, in some organisations, the model was yet to be implemented and the public sector was putting in place a framework to be in line with the SABPP competency model. Some had no model in place and thus there was no impact on such organisations’. With regards to the competency model, its applicability to the human resource context and its shortcomings were deliberated upon. Practitioners gave their opinions of the applicability of the SABPP competency model: Model lays a solid foundation for HR as the Model justifies HR to the boardroom; Model covers all essential HR competencies. However, the model was also criticised as it was: too academic, lacked personal characteristics; nothing new here and it is relatively unknown by other practitioners. Practitioners also identified competencies they regarded as key: these were classified as traditional, modern and behavioural. Lastly, practitioners suggested competencies they think must be added into the SABPP competency model: the human touch; work ethic; love for people, passion for the profession, personality, emotional intelligence, attitude, behavioural competencies, positive psychology and arithmetic numeracy were identified as key items to be added. Human resource practitioners were content with the state of the model; the general weakness was the omission of personal attributes which are crucial for effective performance within the HR profession. Contribution: The study is a step towards enhancing sector-specific employability. In attaining employability, the generic skills, which are crucial, have to be cemented by disciplinespecific knowledge. Attaining a mark of 65% and above is a reflection of trainability of a job seeker. The meaning of career success is derived from the areas of dissatisfaction and satisfaction of practitioners. HR practitioners value contribution to strategy and are acknowledged for what they are doing. The legal framework in South Africa hinders career progression. There are 12 traits (networking, positive psychology, interpersonal strength, human touch, work ethic, love for people, passion for the profession, personality, emotional intelligence, arithmetic competency, attitude, behavioural competencies and being vi entrepreneurial) which are essential for effective performance which must be incorporated in the SABPP competency model. From the study, HR must go back to basics, master the basics and in doing so, create a solid foundation for HR ascendancy to the boardroom Managerial implication The implications of the study are synonymous to universities and the HR curriculum, the professional body and the future HR professional. HR graduate employability links labour market requirements to higher education. Higher education offers HR degrees for candidates who are willing to work in HR. The study is a contribution to the global professionalisation of human resource management. South Africa is setting the trend as the SABPP is actively involved in the certification of human resource curricula, setting standards and providing a sound code of ethics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Implementation and management of code of conduct in addressing service delivery, in the Eastern Cape department of basic education
- Authors: Mhambi, Mbulelo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Professional ethics Code of life
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16940 , vital:40787
- Description: The study seeks to assess and examine the management and implementation of the code of conduct by the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education in addressing service delivery in the Province. The reason for the Researcher to undertake the study is influenced among others by poor of service delivery, maladministration and corruption reported in this department through media, newspapers, Auditor General (AG) Reports and Portfolio Committee on Basic Education Eastern Cape Legislature which act as the oversight mechanism for this department. Literature review was conducted as a secondary source of information and primary information was conducted through sample of 30 respondents which were selected by the Researcher. The respondents were from the most key units of the department of Education Eastern Cape, which are stated in chapter one of the study. The study followed qualitative research approach which included semi-structured questionnaire, observation and document analysis. The findings of the study indicate lack of management and implementation of the code of conduct by the department. They clearly shows, lack of awareness and understanding of the code itself by the general staff members, lack of discipline, poor employee attitude, and unwillingness to improve service delivery and corruption in the department systems. The findings of the study expose lack of understanding of the code of conduct by the civil servants in the Department of Education, Eastern Cape. This can be attributed to lack of induction, orientation and training, in order to understand the importance of the code of conduct. Document analysis revealed that, there was lack of adherence and observation of the department’s established policies, rules, regulations, procedures and flouting of supply chain management processes and corruption in the system which is tantamount to violation of the DPSA code of conduct. These factors all contributed to this department’s failure in achieving clean audit outcomes from the AG during the last term. Department of Basic Education, Eastern Cape Province, received qualified and adverse audit reports between 2009 and 2014 financial years. The study recommends trainings of the department of education officials in the DPSA code of conduct. More vigorous on going ethical training is very crucial in the attempt to promote ethical behaviour, to root out corruption, under performance and vi maladministration activities experienced in this department so as to fast track service delivery to the people of the Province, in the following terms of Government administration going forward.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mhambi, Mbulelo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Professional ethics Code of life
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/16940 , vital:40787
- Description: The study seeks to assess and examine the management and implementation of the code of conduct by the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education in addressing service delivery in the Province. The reason for the Researcher to undertake the study is influenced among others by poor of service delivery, maladministration and corruption reported in this department through media, newspapers, Auditor General (AG) Reports and Portfolio Committee on Basic Education Eastern Cape Legislature which act as the oversight mechanism for this department. Literature review was conducted as a secondary source of information and primary information was conducted through sample of 30 respondents which were selected by the Researcher. The respondents were from the most key units of the department of Education Eastern Cape, which are stated in chapter one of the study. The study followed qualitative research approach which included semi-structured questionnaire, observation and document analysis. The findings of the study indicate lack of management and implementation of the code of conduct by the department. They clearly shows, lack of awareness and understanding of the code itself by the general staff members, lack of discipline, poor employee attitude, and unwillingness to improve service delivery and corruption in the department systems. The findings of the study expose lack of understanding of the code of conduct by the civil servants in the Department of Education, Eastern Cape. This can be attributed to lack of induction, orientation and training, in order to understand the importance of the code of conduct. Document analysis revealed that, there was lack of adherence and observation of the department’s established policies, rules, regulations, procedures and flouting of supply chain management processes and corruption in the system which is tantamount to violation of the DPSA code of conduct. These factors all contributed to this department’s failure in achieving clean audit outcomes from the AG during the last term. Department of Basic Education, Eastern Cape Province, received qualified and adverse audit reports between 2009 and 2014 financial years. The study recommends trainings of the department of education officials in the DPSA code of conduct. More vigorous on going ethical training is very crucial in the attempt to promote ethical behaviour, to root out corruption, under performance and vi maladministration activities experienced in this department so as to fast track service delivery to the people of the Province, in the following terms of Government administration going forward.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Indigenisation and participatory development in Zimbabwe: the case of the indigenisation and empowerment policy
- Musasa, Gabriel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1906-5624
- Authors: Musasa, Gabriel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1906-5624
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Community development -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20359 , vital:45657
- Description: The study analysed the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Programme (IEEP) with regard to majority participation and its implementation, given the unfriendly macroeconomic and international environment the country is currently facing. The IEEP is claimed to be addressing poverty and seeking to promote economic participation of indigenous Zimbabweans, particularly targeting women, youth and disabled sections of society. The main aim of the study was to analyse the outcomes of the IEEP with regard to creating space for participation and to promote social justice of Zimbabwean nationals in the main economic sectors of the country, which are agriculture, manufacturing, mining and tourism. Using a qualitative approach, this study analysed the perspectives of government, non-governmental organisations, academics and the marginalised groups of women, disabled and youth in Zimbabwe through interviews and focus group discussions. The data from the fieldwork was analysed using the thematic approach. The findings revealed that a new elite of black entrepreneurs has emerged and foreign capital is diminishing, with limited success being attributed to policy outputs, particularly the community share ownership schemes and employee share ownership scheme. However, the policy did not produce positive outcomes as expected, owing to lack of policy clarity, heavy politicisation and political manoeuvring, as well as lack of information, education and training. Further problems were corruption, lack of support for beneficiaries, lack of funding, the unfavourable macro-economic environment, the liquidity crisis, limited access to credit facilities, broken internal politics and exclusion, lack of monitoring and evaluation, economic sanctions and international isolation. The programme fell victim to improper association and some institutional inertia. Participation in the IEEP, as implied in the social justice approach, does not fully embrace attainment of basic liberties and equality of opportunity, mainly because of the patterns of accumulation, dispossession, economic structures and social relations that are politicised. Elite capture, ethnic and regional segregation, the macro-economic environment and the narrow focus on the formal sector that led to the collapse of industry are the major hurdles to participation. Efforts to facilitate equality of opportunity for women and people with disabilities are heavily subdued by the lack of good institutional support that may enable meaningful participation and possibly yield better outcomes for the worst off in society. The IEEP has failed to redress the inequalities inherent in Zimbabwean economy, with evidence from the findings that the majority cannot take the opportunities that are offered by the programme. The study identified a way forward on how participation can be incorporated in the comprehensive framework for socio-economic development in Zimbabwe through a menu of intervention, giving direction to what needs to be done for individuals and communities to participate in the IEEP in a meaningful way. In particular, this will involve land entitlement, promoting innovation in global value chains, a hybridised two-pathway model of indigenisation, a disability intervention model, and a sustainable model of community share ownership schemes. These interventions are ideal for bringing about the desired aspiration of transformation in a sustainable way in Zimbabwe, as well as fostering social justice for people with disabilities. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Musasa, Gabriel https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1906-5624
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Community development -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20359 , vital:45657
- Description: The study analysed the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Programme (IEEP) with regard to majority participation and its implementation, given the unfriendly macroeconomic and international environment the country is currently facing. The IEEP is claimed to be addressing poverty and seeking to promote economic participation of indigenous Zimbabweans, particularly targeting women, youth and disabled sections of society. The main aim of the study was to analyse the outcomes of the IEEP with regard to creating space for participation and to promote social justice of Zimbabwean nationals in the main economic sectors of the country, which are agriculture, manufacturing, mining and tourism. Using a qualitative approach, this study analysed the perspectives of government, non-governmental organisations, academics and the marginalised groups of women, disabled and youth in Zimbabwe through interviews and focus group discussions. The data from the fieldwork was analysed using the thematic approach. The findings revealed that a new elite of black entrepreneurs has emerged and foreign capital is diminishing, with limited success being attributed to policy outputs, particularly the community share ownership schemes and employee share ownership scheme. However, the policy did not produce positive outcomes as expected, owing to lack of policy clarity, heavy politicisation and political manoeuvring, as well as lack of information, education and training. Further problems were corruption, lack of support for beneficiaries, lack of funding, the unfavourable macro-economic environment, the liquidity crisis, limited access to credit facilities, broken internal politics and exclusion, lack of monitoring and evaluation, economic sanctions and international isolation. The programme fell victim to improper association and some institutional inertia. Participation in the IEEP, as implied in the social justice approach, does not fully embrace attainment of basic liberties and equality of opportunity, mainly because of the patterns of accumulation, dispossession, economic structures and social relations that are politicised. Elite capture, ethnic and regional segregation, the macro-economic environment and the narrow focus on the formal sector that led to the collapse of industry are the major hurdles to participation. Efforts to facilitate equality of opportunity for women and people with disabilities are heavily subdued by the lack of good institutional support that may enable meaningful participation and possibly yield better outcomes for the worst off in society. The IEEP has failed to redress the inequalities inherent in Zimbabwean economy, with evidence from the findings that the majority cannot take the opportunities that are offered by the programme. The study identified a way forward on how participation can be incorporated in the comprehensive framework for socio-economic development in Zimbabwe through a menu of intervention, giving direction to what needs to be done for individuals and communities to participate in the IEEP in a meaningful way. In particular, this will involve land entitlement, promoting innovation in global value chains, a hybridised two-pathway model of indigenisation, a disability intervention model, and a sustainable model of community share ownership schemes. These interventions are ideal for bringing about the desired aspiration of transformation in a sustainable way in Zimbabwe, as well as fostering social justice for people with disabilities. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2020
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Indigenous cereal crops and food security issues in Zimbabwe: the case of Matabeleland Provinces
- Authors: Nyathi, Vuyiswa Sandra
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Food security Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Developmental Studies)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17070 , vital:40845
- Description: The study endeavoured to find out how indigenous cereal crops in the form of sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet, popularly known as small grain, would help in increasing cereal production in the dry regions of Zimbabwe so as to alleviate food insecurity. For the past decade the nation’s cereal production has been on the decline with the country having to rely on grain imports from neighbouring countries to prevent hunger. Studies that have been carried out have indicated that these indigenous cereal crops are better suited for semi-arid regions like Matabeleland, used as a case study, where maize has almost always been a failing crop. The study examined representations of smallholder farmers through interviews held with agricultural personnel in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South Provinces. The study argues that instead of relying on maize only as a staple crop, in the semiarid regions of the country, indigenous cereal crops are suitable alternative staple crops in Zimbabwe. Indications from the findings of the study are that diversification of staple crop production should stress the importance of state mediation, distribution and promotion of indigenous cereal crops. The researcher thus proposes that the reliance on indigenous crops be anchored in community food security, food sovereignty and rural food system perspectives, not negating the negative effects of climate change on food production. The results showed that despite progress made by the state in assisting farmers with agricultural inputs, very little has been achieved in alleviating food insecurity in the dry regions, as indigenous cereal crops continue being pushed to the periphery of the agricultural sector. iii The study concludes by putting forward that addressing the stated challenges could lead to the potential of indigenous cerealcrops potentially increasing the cereal supply for the nation, thus alleviating food security woes as these crops grow favourably even in the most adverse weather conditions and poor topography.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Nyathi, Vuyiswa Sandra
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Food security Farms, Small
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Developmental Studies)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17070 , vital:40845
- Description: The study endeavoured to find out how indigenous cereal crops in the form of sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet, popularly known as small grain, would help in increasing cereal production in the dry regions of Zimbabwe so as to alleviate food insecurity. For the past decade the nation’s cereal production has been on the decline with the country having to rely on grain imports from neighbouring countries to prevent hunger. Studies that have been carried out have indicated that these indigenous cereal crops are better suited for semi-arid regions like Matabeleland, used as a case study, where maize has almost always been a failing crop. The study examined representations of smallholder farmers through interviews held with agricultural personnel in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South Provinces. The study argues that instead of relying on maize only as a staple crop, in the semiarid regions of the country, indigenous cereal crops are suitable alternative staple crops in Zimbabwe. Indications from the findings of the study are that diversification of staple crop production should stress the importance of state mediation, distribution and promotion of indigenous cereal crops. The researcher thus proposes that the reliance on indigenous crops be anchored in community food security, food sovereignty and rural food system perspectives, not negating the negative effects of climate change on food production. The results showed that despite progress made by the state in assisting farmers with agricultural inputs, very little has been achieved in alleviating food insecurity in the dry regions, as indigenous cereal crops continue being pushed to the periphery of the agricultural sector. iii The study concludes by putting forward that addressing the stated challenges could lead to the potential of indigenous cerealcrops potentially increasing the cereal supply for the nation, thus alleviating food security woes as these crops grow favourably even in the most adverse weather conditions and poor topography.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Job engagement, Self-efficacy and Organisational citizenship behaviour among employees in selected insurance companies in the eastern cape province
- Authors: Ntshentshe, Sinazo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Management -- Employee participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12502 , vital:39269
- Description: The present study investigated “Job engagement, self-efficacy and organisational citizenship behaviour among employees in an insurance company in the Eastern Cape province”. A research issue is emphasized and debated in details methodically. Social exchange theory (SET) and social cognitive theory (SCT were used in the study with the support of variable. Previous studies discovered and established the relationship between job engagement (JE) and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB); as well as self-efficacy (SE) and organisational citizenship behavior; and all variables combined together. Hypothesis is formulated that used to achieve objectives. The study used quantitative research design. The sample (N=100) of the study consist of the employees in the selected insurance companies in Eastern Cape, province. The data was collected with the use of questionnaire method and analyses was done using Statistical Package for the social science.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Ntshentshe, Sinazo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Management -- Employee participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12502 , vital:39269
- Description: The present study investigated “Job engagement, self-efficacy and organisational citizenship behaviour among employees in an insurance company in the Eastern Cape province”. A research issue is emphasized and debated in details methodically. Social exchange theory (SET) and social cognitive theory (SCT were used in the study with the support of variable. Previous studies discovered and established the relationship between job engagement (JE) and organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB); as well as self-efficacy (SE) and organisational citizenship behavior; and all variables combined together. Hypothesis is formulated that used to achieve objectives. The study used quantitative research design. The sample (N=100) of the study consist of the employees in the selected insurance companies in Eastern Cape, province. The data was collected with the use of questionnaire method and analyses was done using Statistical Package for the social science.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Land Reform and the Challenge of Rural Development in Zimbabwe: The Case of the Fast Track Reform in Mashonaland West Region
- Authors: Chigarira, Tangai Sylvester
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Land reform -- Zimbabwe Agriculture and state -- Zimbabwe Zimbabwe -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18665 , vital:42704
- Description: A largely agricultural country, land remains an important factor of production and a critical element in the livelihoods of rural Zimbabweans. Small-scale farmers rely on land for food and income. The post-independence development of Zimbabwe has been tied to land holding. As such, land reform aimed at addressing colonial racial land inequalities and rural underdevelopment became an imperative. In the post-independence era, Zimbabwe undertook two phases of land reform – the first occurred between 1980 and 1999 and was known as the Land reform and Resettlement Programme (LRRP). This was based on the ‘willing-buyer and willing seller’. The second phase which took place from 2000, known as the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP), took a radical approach. However, due to a variety of reasons, including the dominance of small-scale farming and challenges of land reform, agricultural productivity remains low. Moreover, despite land reform, including massive land redistribution, the process appears incomplete and inconclusive. This is so essentially because the land reform neither increased food production nor reduced poverty. Accordingly, sustainable development remains a distant reality, especially among rural small-scale farmers. The study aimed at assessing the impact of the fast track land reform (FTLRP) on poverty reduction and sustainable rural development in Zimbabwe. Despite undertaking one of Southern Africa’s largest post-colonial redistributive land reform to date, the provision of land on its own has not been sufficient to address rural poverty and achieving meaningful rural development. This is so because the land reform has not articulated integrated growth as remoteness and poverty remain endemic, which is connected to the land. So, resolving the land question still remains crucial for sustainable rural development in Zimbabwe.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Chigarira, Tangai Sylvester
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Land reform -- Zimbabwe Agriculture and state -- Zimbabwe Zimbabwe -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18665 , vital:42704
- Description: A largely agricultural country, land remains an important factor of production and a critical element in the livelihoods of rural Zimbabweans. Small-scale farmers rely on land for food and income. The post-independence development of Zimbabwe has been tied to land holding. As such, land reform aimed at addressing colonial racial land inequalities and rural underdevelopment became an imperative. In the post-independence era, Zimbabwe undertook two phases of land reform – the first occurred between 1980 and 1999 and was known as the Land reform and Resettlement Programme (LRRP). This was based on the ‘willing-buyer and willing seller’. The second phase which took place from 2000, known as the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP), took a radical approach. However, due to a variety of reasons, including the dominance of small-scale farming and challenges of land reform, agricultural productivity remains low. Moreover, despite land reform, including massive land redistribution, the process appears incomplete and inconclusive. This is so essentially because the land reform neither increased food production nor reduced poverty. Accordingly, sustainable development remains a distant reality, especially among rural small-scale farmers. The study aimed at assessing the impact of the fast track land reform (FTLRP) on poverty reduction and sustainable rural development in Zimbabwe. Despite undertaking one of Southern Africa’s largest post-colonial redistributive land reform to date, the provision of land on its own has not been sufficient to address rural poverty and achieving meaningful rural development. This is so because the land reform has not articulated integrated growth as remoteness and poverty remain endemic, which is connected to the land. So, resolving the land question still remains crucial for sustainable rural development in Zimbabwe.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Lending technologies and small, micro and medium enterprise borrowing: evidence from the Eastern Cape province of South
- Authors: Mbedzi, Edson
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Financial services industry -- Information technology Banks and banking -- Information technology Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Economics)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12621 , vital:39293
- Description: Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) play a major role in contributing to the development of most economies globally. However, such small firms often lack external financing due to their information opacity. Besides, the small firm size nature of most SMMEs impairs their ability to access finance as motivated by the market power theory. In order to address the information asymmetry problem associated with such small firms, financial institutions use different forms of lending technologies as the basis upon which lending decisions are made, that is, whether to loan or not and if the decision to lend is taken, how the intrinsic credit risks are taken into consideration. In the evaluation of the credit worthiness of small businesses, the decision to lend or not depends on soft or hard information acquired through use of a particular lending technology. Many studies in the literature cite access to credit as the main hindrance to SMMEs success. Lending technologies being the conduits transmitting that credit access, the study hypothesises that more emphasis be placed on the relationship between lending technologies and the success of small firms. Success in this case is measured in two ways; the level of SMME credit rationing that small firms endure and the resultant growth of small businesses if they access funding. However, the use of lending technologies as a measure of SMME finance access is missing in academic literature. Specifically, literature on SMMEs in South Africa only narrate the structure of SMMEs and factors affecting SMMEs funding and growth without providing a link on how these eventually influence lending technologies used that determine the lending process. This study therefore traces types of lending technologies used, factors influencing their usage and the subsequent level of credit rationing and growth of small firms. The study uses only formal and registered small firms that are members of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business and Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and listed in their data bases. The study adopts a mixed methods methodology in a two stage analysis approach. In the first stage, the study identifies types of lending technologies used by funding institutions in the study area and factors lenders take into account in order to extend funding to small vi businesses. Based on interview data gathered from eight financial institutions, the types of lending technologies and factors that influence lending decisions are identified using thematic analysis method. In the second stage, the study then interrogates how lending technologies shape the credit rationing and growth of SMMEs within the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. A sample of three hundred and twenty one (321) randomly selected SMMEs from Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitans in the Eastern Cape Province is used. Data collected from SMMEs using questionnaires has been analysed to reveal the extent of credit rationing and firm growth variations among SMMEs based on the main lender and firm characteristics identified in the first stage. Credit rationing is both dichotomous, by the firm being either rationed or not, and categorical, by forms of credit rationing experienced by firms. The analysis therefore uses a combination of binary and multinomial logistic regression to evaluate effects of determinants of lending technologies on credit rationing of firms. Financial efficiency scores of firms are used as the proxy for growth of firms. The financial efficiency score is preferred because in its derivation several firm activities are incorporated as opposed to using only one growth indicator such as sales volume. The efficiency scores are generated using Data Enveloping Analysis based on selected main activity inputs and outputs of sampled firms. Since efficiency scores of a firm representing growth are a scale dependent variable, a two-way factorial analysis is used to determine the effect of lender and firm characteristics on the firm’s growth. Both the main and interaction effects of the lender and firm characteristics are captured in the analysis of both credit rationing and growth of firms. Results show that four classes of financial institutions financed formal and registered SMMEs. These are commercial banks, government-owned development financial institutions, private-owned development financial institutions and microfinance institutions. In addition, four types of lending technologies have been used to finance SMMEs in which financial institutions consider people, firm and financial information vii factors as pillars of financing decisions. Findings indicate extensive discriminatory credit rationing among SMMEs in South Africa and that growth paths followed by firms vary significantly as a result of these characteristics. The study therefore recommends the implementation of a financing framework model that allocates funds to different company structures based on credit rationing risk profiles of enterprises so as to minimize the extent of inequality exhibited in the South African population structures which have historical differences on the basis of enterprise size, ownership structure and race. The study further recommends matching of types of lending technologies with types of lenders in order to minimize overall industry credit rationing level in the SMME sector as a supplementary funding model. However, this may need further research to evaluate its application. This is important given that financial institutions use different lending technologies at the same time and further, not all financing institutions may use all forms of lending technologies. For example, microfinance institutions may not have the capacity to use venture capital lending technologies
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mbedzi, Edson
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Financial services industry -- Information technology Banks and banking -- Information technology Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Economics)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12621 , vital:39293
- Description: Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) play a major role in contributing to the development of most economies globally. However, such small firms often lack external financing due to their information opacity. Besides, the small firm size nature of most SMMEs impairs their ability to access finance as motivated by the market power theory. In order to address the information asymmetry problem associated with such small firms, financial institutions use different forms of lending technologies as the basis upon which lending decisions are made, that is, whether to loan or not and if the decision to lend is taken, how the intrinsic credit risks are taken into consideration. In the evaluation of the credit worthiness of small businesses, the decision to lend or not depends on soft or hard information acquired through use of a particular lending technology. Many studies in the literature cite access to credit as the main hindrance to SMMEs success. Lending technologies being the conduits transmitting that credit access, the study hypothesises that more emphasis be placed on the relationship between lending technologies and the success of small firms. Success in this case is measured in two ways; the level of SMME credit rationing that small firms endure and the resultant growth of small businesses if they access funding. However, the use of lending technologies as a measure of SMME finance access is missing in academic literature. Specifically, literature on SMMEs in South Africa only narrate the structure of SMMEs and factors affecting SMMEs funding and growth without providing a link on how these eventually influence lending technologies used that determine the lending process. This study therefore traces types of lending technologies used, factors influencing their usage and the subsequent level of credit rationing and growth of small firms. The study uses only formal and registered small firms that are members of the Border-Kei Chamber of Business and Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber and listed in their data bases. The study adopts a mixed methods methodology in a two stage analysis approach. In the first stage, the study identifies types of lending technologies used by funding institutions in the study area and factors lenders take into account in order to extend funding to small vi businesses. Based on interview data gathered from eight financial institutions, the types of lending technologies and factors that influence lending decisions are identified using thematic analysis method. In the second stage, the study then interrogates how lending technologies shape the credit rationing and growth of SMMEs within the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. A sample of three hundred and twenty one (321) randomly selected SMMEs from Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitans in the Eastern Cape Province is used. Data collected from SMMEs using questionnaires has been analysed to reveal the extent of credit rationing and firm growth variations among SMMEs based on the main lender and firm characteristics identified in the first stage. Credit rationing is both dichotomous, by the firm being either rationed or not, and categorical, by forms of credit rationing experienced by firms. The analysis therefore uses a combination of binary and multinomial logistic regression to evaluate effects of determinants of lending technologies on credit rationing of firms. Financial efficiency scores of firms are used as the proxy for growth of firms. The financial efficiency score is preferred because in its derivation several firm activities are incorporated as opposed to using only one growth indicator such as sales volume. The efficiency scores are generated using Data Enveloping Analysis based on selected main activity inputs and outputs of sampled firms. Since efficiency scores of a firm representing growth are a scale dependent variable, a two-way factorial analysis is used to determine the effect of lender and firm characteristics on the firm’s growth. Both the main and interaction effects of the lender and firm characteristics are captured in the analysis of both credit rationing and growth of firms. Results show that four classes of financial institutions financed formal and registered SMMEs. These are commercial banks, government-owned development financial institutions, private-owned development financial institutions and microfinance institutions. In addition, four types of lending technologies have been used to finance SMMEs in which financial institutions consider people, firm and financial information vii factors as pillars of financing decisions. Findings indicate extensive discriminatory credit rationing among SMMEs in South Africa and that growth paths followed by firms vary significantly as a result of these characteristics. The study therefore recommends the implementation of a financing framework model that allocates funds to different company structures based on credit rationing risk profiles of enterprises so as to minimize the extent of inequality exhibited in the South African population structures which have historical differences on the basis of enterprise size, ownership structure and race. The study further recommends matching of types of lending technologies with types of lenders in order to minimize overall industry credit rationing level in the SMME sector as a supplementary funding model. However, this may need further research to evaluate its application. This is important given that financial institutions use different lending technologies at the same time and further, not all financing institutions may use all forms of lending technologies. For example, microfinance institutions may not have the capacity to use venture capital lending technologies
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Male nurses’ occupational experiences and meaning ascribed to dirty work in a female-dominated profession: A case of a hospital in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Chikungwa-Everson , Tarisai
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Quality of work life Occupational prestige
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13314 , vital:39633
- Description: Orientation: Work and individual pursuit for career development have become critical in modern society. Within this, new forms of work and categories of work have emerged. Given these new forms of work and categories of work, there is a need to understand individual sense-making and experiences of transition. Research Purpose: The study explores male nurses’ occupational experiences and meaning ascribed to dirty work in a female-dominated profession. Motivation of the Study: Calls exist within the extant literature to understand modern forms of work and individual transition. One such area is that of dirty work – classified as any form of work with physical, moral or emotional taint. Little research within an Industrial and Organisational Psychology context exists on dirty work. Research Approach, Design/Method: An interpretivist, qualitative research approach using the exploratory research design was utilised to explore male nurse's occupational experiences and meaning ascribed to dirty work in a female-dominated profession. Narrative analysis was used as a basis for analysis using 27 male nurses working within the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Main Findings: Based on the analysis of the 27 participants that took part in the study five main narratives emerged. These included: a) a career in nursing as framed as a recursive discourse; b) the experience of a nurse as oscillating as an agentic prowess and a communal assemblage of continued suspicion; c) striving more agentic domains ahead of communal domains in entering and surviving within dirty work; d) male nurses fulfilling a gendered utility role that female nurses cannot occupy and finally, e) male nurses’ ephemeral intention of being in the nursing profession influenced by the conditions of work. ii Practical/Managerial Implications: Based on the findings of the research, interventions are proposed with ramifications for the individual, organisation and career counselling. Contribution/Value-Add: Based on the findings of the research a theoretical framework of dirty work experiences and meaning of work amongst male nurses is proposed. The framework represents a departure away from traditional career theories espoused in the work of Holland and Super as it illustrates the role of intersectionality and marginality in shaping career development. Further, the proposed framework founded from the findings of the research (though supporting modern career models such as the Systems Theory Framework and the Career Construction Theory) uniquely show drivers towards dirty work, b) the processual work accompanying dirty work involvement and finally, c) the meaning ascribed to dirty work. The study becomes the first within a South African context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Chikungwa-Everson , Tarisai
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Quality of work life Occupational prestige
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13314 , vital:39633
- Description: Orientation: Work and individual pursuit for career development have become critical in modern society. Within this, new forms of work and categories of work have emerged. Given these new forms of work and categories of work, there is a need to understand individual sense-making and experiences of transition. Research Purpose: The study explores male nurses’ occupational experiences and meaning ascribed to dirty work in a female-dominated profession. Motivation of the Study: Calls exist within the extant literature to understand modern forms of work and individual transition. One such area is that of dirty work – classified as any form of work with physical, moral or emotional taint. Little research within an Industrial and Organisational Psychology context exists on dirty work. Research Approach, Design/Method: An interpretivist, qualitative research approach using the exploratory research design was utilised to explore male nurse's occupational experiences and meaning ascribed to dirty work in a female-dominated profession. Narrative analysis was used as a basis for analysis using 27 male nurses working within the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Main Findings: Based on the analysis of the 27 participants that took part in the study five main narratives emerged. These included: a) a career in nursing as framed as a recursive discourse; b) the experience of a nurse as oscillating as an agentic prowess and a communal assemblage of continued suspicion; c) striving more agentic domains ahead of communal domains in entering and surviving within dirty work; d) male nurses fulfilling a gendered utility role that female nurses cannot occupy and finally, e) male nurses’ ephemeral intention of being in the nursing profession influenced by the conditions of work. ii Practical/Managerial Implications: Based on the findings of the research, interventions are proposed with ramifications for the individual, organisation and career counselling. Contribution/Value-Add: Based on the findings of the research a theoretical framework of dirty work experiences and meaning of work amongst male nurses is proposed. The framework represents a departure away from traditional career theories espoused in the work of Holland and Super as it illustrates the role of intersectionality and marginality in shaping career development. Further, the proposed framework founded from the findings of the research (though supporting modern career models such as the Systems Theory Framework and the Career Construction Theory) uniquely show drivers towards dirty work, b) the processual work accompanying dirty work involvement and finally, c) the meaning ascribed to dirty work. The study becomes the first within a South African context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Mobile money adoption: a case study of Zimbaweans residing in South Africa
- Authors: Chimusoro, Anna
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mobile commerce Financial institutions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Business Management)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13326 , vital:39634
- Description: A mobile phone has become an essential tool for both social and economic development in various countries around the world. For Zimbabweans residing in South Africa, a mobile phone is a lifeline to support family and relatives back home through Eco-cash mobile money service. With the assistance of mobile commerce applications, consumers are able to use their devices for financial transactions, taking pictures, videos and accessing social networks. As such, a mobile phone can be used for a myriad of functions other than communication purposes. These innovative technological developments in the telecommunications sector have also empowered businesses to improve on their efficiency and effectiveness. However, the challenge remains for consumers to adopt these innovations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the factors influencing the adoption of mobile money (Eco-cash) by Zimbabweans residing in South Africa. The study also established if perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk, perceived trust, social influence and facilitating conditions influence the intention to adopt mobile money (Eco-cash). The research adopted the TAM, extended TAM and UTAUT constructs to develop a theoretical model. A quantitative, descriptive research approach was applied to the study. Both primary and secondary sources were utilised in the collection of data. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 377 respondents through convenience and snowballing sampling methods in East London. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 software packages was utilised to analyse the data. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) statistical techniques were employed to interpret the findings. The study found significant relationships on perceived ease of use, perceived trust, perceived risk, perceived usefulness, social influence and user intention. No significant relationship was found between facilitating conditions and user intention. The study recommends that MNOs design mobile money systems that are user-friendly and simple to use. Furthermore, MNOs and mobile money agents can offer value added services to attract more consumers to use their services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Chimusoro, Anna
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mobile commerce Financial institutions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Business Management)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13326 , vital:39634
- Description: A mobile phone has become an essential tool for both social and economic development in various countries around the world. For Zimbabweans residing in South Africa, a mobile phone is a lifeline to support family and relatives back home through Eco-cash mobile money service. With the assistance of mobile commerce applications, consumers are able to use their devices for financial transactions, taking pictures, videos and accessing social networks. As such, a mobile phone can be used for a myriad of functions other than communication purposes. These innovative technological developments in the telecommunications sector have also empowered businesses to improve on their efficiency and effectiveness. However, the challenge remains for consumers to adopt these innovations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the factors influencing the adoption of mobile money (Eco-cash) by Zimbabweans residing in South Africa. The study also established if perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk, perceived trust, social influence and facilitating conditions influence the intention to adopt mobile money (Eco-cash). The research adopted the TAM, extended TAM and UTAUT constructs to develop a theoretical model. A quantitative, descriptive research approach was applied to the study. Both primary and secondary sources were utilised in the collection of data. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 377 respondents through convenience and snowballing sampling methods in East London. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 software packages was utilised to analyse the data. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and multiple linear regression analysis (MLR) statistical techniques were employed to interpret the findings. The study found significant relationships on perceived ease of use, perceived trust, perceived risk, perceived usefulness, social influence and user intention. No significant relationship was found between facilitating conditions and user intention. The study recommends that MNOs design mobile money systems that are user-friendly and simple to use. Furthermore, MNOs and mobile money agents can offer value added services to attract more consumers to use their services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Personality and Psychological Conditions in Relation to Job Engagement among Municipal Workers in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Mhlanga, Tatenda Shaleen
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D.Com (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13729 , vital:39702
- Description: The efficiency of the public service delivery depends on the performance of the public employees. Due to high protest in the Eastern Cape due to poor service delivery, it is crucial to understand if the employees are engaged in doing their work. Although researchers have discovered many of the beneficial and positive consequences of job engagement, little is known about the multitude of antecedent factors that lead to employee engagement such as personality. The motivation of this study is to examine the relationship between the big five personality traits (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism) and job engagement (physical, cognitive and emotional engagement) among municipal employees working in the six district municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study also looked at psychological conditions (availability, meaningfulness and safety) as a moderating factor between personality and job engagement. This contributes to the theoretical and conceptual knowledge of how job engagement can be enhanced through the hiring employees with certain personality traits and enhancing meaningfulness, safety and availability of psychological resources in the workplace. Survey questionnaires were used to collect data. Inferential analysis from SPSS was carried out to understand the relationship between the study variables. An overall model of the study was also identified through which showed the relationship on the study variables. The study findings show that openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness had a positive relationship with job engagement while neuroticism has a negative relationship with job engagement. All psychological conditions had a positive correlation with job engagement and when combined with the big five personality traits they added more variance in job engagement. The results validate aspects of Kahn’s personal engagement model. v The study recommends managers to switch from an intervention-based focus to a selection-based focus as municipalities can maximize their resources by being able to better predict job success early in the selection process as opposed to trying to maximize performance on a continual basis through interventions. In addition, management practitioners should regularly measure and track employee engagement for the effectiveness of strategic efforts to increase employee engagement to be monitored and evaluated
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mhlanga, Tatenda Shaleen
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , D.Com (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13729 , vital:39702
- Description: The efficiency of the public service delivery depends on the performance of the public employees. Due to high protest in the Eastern Cape due to poor service delivery, it is crucial to understand if the employees are engaged in doing their work. Although researchers have discovered many of the beneficial and positive consequences of job engagement, little is known about the multitude of antecedent factors that lead to employee engagement such as personality. The motivation of this study is to examine the relationship between the big five personality traits (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism) and job engagement (physical, cognitive and emotional engagement) among municipal employees working in the six district municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study also looked at psychological conditions (availability, meaningfulness and safety) as a moderating factor between personality and job engagement. This contributes to the theoretical and conceptual knowledge of how job engagement can be enhanced through the hiring employees with certain personality traits and enhancing meaningfulness, safety and availability of psychological resources in the workplace. Survey questionnaires were used to collect data. Inferential analysis from SPSS was carried out to understand the relationship between the study variables. An overall model of the study was also identified through which showed the relationship on the study variables. The study findings show that openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness had a positive relationship with job engagement while neuroticism has a negative relationship with job engagement. All psychological conditions had a positive correlation with job engagement and when combined with the big five personality traits they added more variance in job engagement. The results validate aspects of Kahn’s personal engagement model. v The study recommends managers to switch from an intervention-based focus to a selection-based focus as municipalities can maximize their resources by being able to better predict job success early in the selection process as opposed to trying to maximize performance on a continual basis through interventions. In addition, management practitioners should regularly measure and track employee engagement for the effectiveness of strategic efforts to increase employee engagement to be monitored and evaluated
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Personality in relation to work-family conflict among employees in a mining company in South Africa
- Authors: Ruzungunde, Vongai Sarah
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job stress Role conflict Work and family
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17007 , vital:40809
- Description: The study set out to investigate how the Big Five personality traits related to work family conflict, taking into consideration the different forms of work family conflict within the mining industry. The study made use of the quantitative design, with the sample consisting of 270 respondents from the selected mine in South Africa. Probability sampling was used to select respondents from the whole population. Data was analysed using descriptive statistical analysis. To examine the association between variables, linear regression analysis was used. Confirmatory analysis was used to measure validity for work-family conflict (WFC). To measure the validity for personality; face validity, construct and content validity were used. Reliability was measured using the Cronbach alpha. The results of the study showed a significant negative relationship between the personality traits and WFC except for the agreeableness trait. The results also showed significant negative correlations with the different forms of WFC, except for the agreeableness trait. Further, the results showed that, when combined, personality traits had greater variance on the experiences of WFC than each of them separately. The findings of this study are helpful to the mining industry as they assist in the implementation of procedures and policies that will help to reduce WFC and its consequences in the work environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Ruzungunde, Vongai Sarah
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job stress Role conflict Work and family
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17007 , vital:40809
- Description: The study set out to investigate how the Big Five personality traits related to work family conflict, taking into consideration the different forms of work family conflict within the mining industry. The study made use of the quantitative design, with the sample consisting of 270 respondents from the selected mine in South Africa. Probability sampling was used to select respondents from the whole population. Data was analysed using descriptive statistical analysis. To examine the association between variables, linear regression analysis was used. Confirmatory analysis was used to measure validity for work-family conflict (WFC). To measure the validity for personality; face validity, construct and content validity were used. Reliability was measured using the Cronbach alpha. The results of the study showed a significant negative relationship between the personality traits and WFC except for the agreeableness trait. The results also showed significant negative correlations with the different forms of WFC, except for the agreeableness trait. Further, the results showed that, when combined, personality traits had greater variance on the experiences of WFC than each of them separately. The findings of this study are helpful to the mining industry as they assist in the implementation of procedures and policies that will help to reduce WFC and its consequences in the work environment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Post-violent community protest recovery process (PVCPRP) and service delivery in Gauteng Province: a case of Merafong City Local Municipality
- Ngada,Leon Simphiwe Hopewell
- Authors: Ngada,Leon Simphiwe Hopewell
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Political participation -- South Africa Municipal government -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13859 , vital:39719
- Description: The on-going violent community public protests in most South African municipalities, including Merafong Local City Municipality in Gauteng Province, continue unabated. While community public protests is a democratic right provided for in the Constitution (RSA 1996), the violent nature and persistence thereof at municipal level is a cause for serious concern. The associated violence often results in the destruction of both public and private property, disruptions in economic activities, loss of lives and severe injuries to innocent victims. Since the end of the 5-year of violent community protest in Khutsong in 2009, there has been a surge in post-violent protest recovery processes, reconstruction and service delivery operations. Despite the expertise and funding since 2009, external driven operations have not led to lasting peace and stability, establishment of functioning institutions, eradication of poverty, livelihood improvements, or economic reconstruction and development in the violence-torn municipality. All too often, programmes, policies and solutions were designed and imposed by external actors either because they had worked elsewhere or they were influenced by the political and economic interests of powerful politicians. Furthermore, external actors have tended to assume that local approaches based on the liberal peace framework would be successful wherever its implemented, while ignoring local communities, contexts and knowledge. This exploratory qualitative study based on the Merafong City Local Municipality critically explores and assesses the impact of community engagement during post-violent recovery processes. Moreover, it endeavours to comprehend the strengths and shortcomings of this approach and provide recommendations for future improvement. This is important since socio-economic recovery and economic development are crucial for lasting stability and peace in post-war countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Ngada,Leon Simphiwe Hopewell
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Political participation -- South Africa Municipal government -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13859 , vital:39719
- Description: The on-going violent community public protests in most South African municipalities, including Merafong Local City Municipality in Gauteng Province, continue unabated. While community public protests is a democratic right provided for in the Constitution (RSA 1996), the violent nature and persistence thereof at municipal level is a cause for serious concern. The associated violence often results in the destruction of both public and private property, disruptions in economic activities, loss of lives and severe injuries to innocent victims. Since the end of the 5-year of violent community protest in Khutsong in 2009, there has been a surge in post-violent protest recovery processes, reconstruction and service delivery operations. Despite the expertise and funding since 2009, external driven operations have not led to lasting peace and stability, establishment of functioning institutions, eradication of poverty, livelihood improvements, or economic reconstruction and development in the violence-torn municipality. All too often, programmes, policies and solutions were designed and imposed by external actors either because they had worked elsewhere or they were influenced by the political and economic interests of powerful politicians. Furthermore, external actors have tended to assume that local approaches based on the liberal peace framework would be successful wherever its implemented, while ignoring local communities, contexts and knowledge. This exploratory qualitative study based on the Merafong City Local Municipality critically explores and assesses the impact of community engagement during post-violent recovery processes. Moreover, it endeavours to comprehend the strengths and shortcomings of this approach and provide recommendations for future improvement. This is important since socio-economic recovery and economic development are crucial for lasting stability and peace in post-war countries.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Public health expenditure and economic development: the case of South Africa
- Authors: Hlotywa, Anathi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Public health -- South Africa -- Finance Public health -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Medical economics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Economics)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13491 , vital:39673
- Description: Literature shows that there is a relationship between health expenditure and a country’s level of development. The labour productivity depends on health and the level of education of the employees. Given this background, the study’s main objective was to examine the impact of public healthcare expenditure on economic development in South Africa for the period 1996- 2016 utilising the Autoregressive Distributed lag Model. The empirical results show that there is a positive relationship between Public Health Expenditure and Human development Index. This shows that an increase in government expenditure on health increases economic development in South Africa. The results are consistent with other previous studies such as Wang (2015) and Riayati and Unaidah (2016). The study recommends that the government should increase public health expenditure. This will increase economic development. The government can do this by building hospitals and rolling out more funds to improve the healthcare in South Africa. The study also recommends that the government should reduce unemployment. Unemployment has been seen to have an undesirable impact on economic development
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Hlotywa, Anathi
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Public health -- South Africa -- Finance Public health -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Medical economics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Economics)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13491 , vital:39673
- Description: Literature shows that there is a relationship between health expenditure and a country’s level of development. The labour productivity depends on health and the level of education of the employees. Given this background, the study’s main objective was to examine the impact of public healthcare expenditure on economic development in South Africa for the period 1996- 2016 utilising the Autoregressive Distributed lag Model. The empirical results show that there is a positive relationship between Public Health Expenditure and Human development Index. This shows that an increase in government expenditure on health increases economic development in South Africa. The results are consistent with other previous studies such as Wang (2015) and Riayati and Unaidah (2016). The study recommends that the government should increase public health expenditure. This will increase economic development. The government can do this by building hospitals and rolling out more funds to improve the healthcare in South Africa. The study also recommends that the government should reduce unemployment. Unemployment has been seen to have an undesirable impact on economic development
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019