The cost of free instant messaging: an attack modelling perspective
- Authors: Du Preez, Riekert
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Computer security , Instant messaging , Data protection
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9797 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/499 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011921 , Computer security , Instant messaging , Data protection
- Description: Instant Messaging (IM) has grown tremendously over the last few years. Even though IM was originally developed as a social chat system, it has found a place in many companies, where it is being used as an essential business tool. However, many businesses rely on free IM and have not implemented a secure corporate IM solution. Most free IM clients were never intended for use in the workplace and, therefore, lack strong security features and administrative control. Consequently, free IM clients can provide attackers with an entry point for malicious code in an organization’s network that can ultimately lead to a company’s information assets being compromised. Therefore, even though free IM allows for better collaboration in the workplace, it comes at a cost, as the title of this dissertation suggests. This dissertation sets out to answer the question of how free IM can facilitate an attack on a company’s information assets. To answer the research question, the dissertation defines an IM attack model that models the ways in which an information system can be attacked when free IM is used within an organization. The IM attack model was created by categorising IM threats using the STRIDE threat classification scheme. The attacks that realize the categorised threats were then modelled using attack trees as the chosen attack modelling tool. Attack trees were chosen because of their ability to model the sequence of attacker actions during an attack. The author defined an enhanced graphical notation that was adopted for the attack trees used to create the IM attack model. The enhanced attack tree notation extends traditional attack trees to allow nodes in the trees to be of different classes and, therefore, allows attack trees to convey more information. During the process of defining the IM attack model, a number of experiments were conducted where IM vulnerabilities were exploited. Thereafter, a case study was constructed to document a simulated attack on an information system that involves the exploitation of IM vulnerabilities. The case study demonstrates how an attacker’s attack path relates to the IM attack model in a practical scenario. The IM attack model provides insight into how IM can facilitate an attack on a company’s information assets. The creation of the attack model for free IM lead to several realizations. The IM attack model revealed that even though the use of free IM clients may seem harmless, such IM clients can facilitate an attack on a company’s information assets. Furthermore, certain IM vulnerabilities may not pose a great risk by themselves, but when combined with the exploitation of other vulnerabilities, a much greater threat can be realized. These realizations hold true to what French playwright Jean Anouilh once said: “What you get free costs too much”.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Du Preez, Riekert
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Computer security , Instant messaging , Data protection
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9797 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/499 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011921 , Computer security , Instant messaging , Data protection
- Description: Instant Messaging (IM) has grown tremendously over the last few years. Even though IM was originally developed as a social chat system, it has found a place in many companies, where it is being used as an essential business tool. However, many businesses rely on free IM and have not implemented a secure corporate IM solution. Most free IM clients were never intended for use in the workplace and, therefore, lack strong security features and administrative control. Consequently, free IM clients can provide attackers with an entry point for malicious code in an organization’s network that can ultimately lead to a company’s information assets being compromised. Therefore, even though free IM allows for better collaboration in the workplace, it comes at a cost, as the title of this dissertation suggests. This dissertation sets out to answer the question of how free IM can facilitate an attack on a company’s information assets. To answer the research question, the dissertation defines an IM attack model that models the ways in which an information system can be attacked when free IM is used within an organization. The IM attack model was created by categorising IM threats using the STRIDE threat classification scheme. The attacks that realize the categorised threats were then modelled using attack trees as the chosen attack modelling tool. Attack trees were chosen because of their ability to model the sequence of attacker actions during an attack. The author defined an enhanced graphical notation that was adopted for the attack trees used to create the IM attack model. The enhanced attack tree notation extends traditional attack trees to allow nodes in the trees to be of different classes and, therefore, allows attack trees to convey more information. During the process of defining the IM attack model, a number of experiments were conducted where IM vulnerabilities were exploited. Thereafter, a case study was constructed to document a simulated attack on an information system that involves the exploitation of IM vulnerabilities. The case study demonstrates how an attacker’s attack path relates to the IM attack model in a practical scenario. The IM attack model provides insight into how IM can facilitate an attack on a company’s information assets. The creation of the attack model for free IM lead to several realizations. The IM attack model revealed that even though the use of free IM clients may seem harmless, such IM clients can facilitate an attack on a company’s information assets. Furthermore, certain IM vulnerabilities may not pose a great risk by themselves, but when combined with the exploitation of other vulnerabilities, a much greater threat can be realized. These realizations hold true to what French playwright Jean Anouilh once said: “What you get free costs too much”.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The defence of inherent requirements of the job in unfair discrimination cases
- Authors: Kasika, Richard
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Discrimination in employment -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Unfair labor practices -- South Africa , Defense (Civil procedure) -- South Africa , Job analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10236 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/450 , Discrimination in employment -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Unfair labor practices -- South Africa , Defense (Civil procedure) -- South Africa , Job analysis
- Description: The discrimination jurisprudence in South Africa has developed over the previous decade since the promulgation of the interim and final Constitutions. The Employment Equity Act of 1998 also gave impetus to the development of equality jurisprudence with reference to the workplace. In terms of both the Constitution and the Employment Equity Act, unfair discrimination is forbidden. Both the Constitution and Employment Equity Act list specific grounds on which discrimination would be regarded as unfair. Although discrimination on any of the listed grounds would be regarded as automatically unfair, there is realisation that this cannot be an absolute position. The Employment Equity Act makes provision that employers be able to justify discrimination even on the listed grounds where there are justifiable reasons. In terms of the EEA, it is not unfair discrimination to differentiate between employees on the basis of an inherent requirement of the particular job. It is this defence that is considered in the present treatise. The inherent requirements of the job as a defence in unfair discrimination cases is one, which needs to be carefully considered it in fact requires a clear understanding of what constitutes an inherent requirement. It is equally important to understand that although in one instance it may be justifiable to exclude certain employees on the basis of an inherent requirement of the job, a generalisation may give an employer difficulties under certain circumstances. An employer who is faced with a prospective employee who suffers from a particular illness that would make it impossible to do the job, could raise the defence of an inherent requirement of the job. However, the fact that a particular employee has the same illness as the previous one not employed does not give an employer an automatic right to exclude all prospective employees who suffer from the same illness without having had consideration of their circumstances as well as those of their illnesses. The defence of inherent requirements of the job is therefore valid only where the essence of the business would be undermined by employing or not employing people with certain attributes required or not required to do the job.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Kasika, Richard
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Discrimination in employment -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Unfair labor practices -- South Africa , Defense (Civil procedure) -- South Africa , Job analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10236 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/450 , Discrimination in employment -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Unfair labor practices -- South Africa , Defense (Civil procedure) -- South Africa , Job analysis
- Description: The discrimination jurisprudence in South Africa has developed over the previous decade since the promulgation of the interim and final Constitutions. The Employment Equity Act of 1998 also gave impetus to the development of equality jurisprudence with reference to the workplace. In terms of both the Constitution and the Employment Equity Act, unfair discrimination is forbidden. Both the Constitution and Employment Equity Act list specific grounds on which discrimination would be regarded as unfair. Although discrimination on any of the listed grounds would be regarded as automatically unfair, there is realisation that this cannot be an absolute position. The Employment Equity Act makes provision that employers be able to justify discrimination even on the listed grounds where there are justifiable reasons. In terms of the EEA, it is not unfair discrimination to differentiate between employees on the basis of an inherent requirement of the particular job. It is this defence that is considered in the present treatise. The inherent requirements of the job as a defence in unfair discrimination cases is one, which needs to be carefully considered it in fact requires a clear understanding of what constitutes an inherent requirement. It is equally important to understand that although in one instance it may be justifiable to exclude certain employees on the basis of an inherent requirement of the job, a generalisation may give an employer difficulties under certain circumstances. An employer who is faced with a prospective employee who suffers from a particular illness that would make it impossible to do the job, could raise the defence of an inherent requirement of the job. However, the fact that a particular employee has the same illness as the previous one not employed does not give an employer an automatic right to exclude all prospective employees who suffer from the same illness without having had consideration of their circumstances as well as those of their illnesses. The defence of inherent requirements of the job is therefore valid only where the essence of the business would be undermined by employing or not employing people with certain attributes required or not required to do the job.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The development of a leadership brand to enhance the competitiveness of organisations
- Authors: Baatjes, Jerome Clinton
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Leadership , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8565 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/189 , Leadership , Competition
- Description: Effective leadership is and will remain the cornerstone of business success. It is leadership that differentiates world class from mediocre performance. The objective of this study is to investigate how positive leadership brand can be developed in order to leverage human capital and enhance the competitive position of organisations. To achieve this objective a comprehensive literature study was performed to determine the extent of existing knowledge on branding, leadership and leadership branding. The study included an investigation into the attributes of effective leaders, leadership development activities, leadership styles and a formula for effective leadership was presented. Managers from selected organisations were requested to complete questionnaires in order to determine the views of South African managers on leadership branding. The questionnaire was developed in accordance with the findings from the literature research. The answers of the respondents were analysed and compared to the literature study. The information obtained from the literature study and from the respondents resulted in various recommendations and conclusions. In general, support was found for investing resources into developing leadership brand as respondents indicated that positive leadership brand could result in a source of competitive advantage. The major obstacles in developing positive leadership brands are: absence of a clear message of what makes an effective leader, lack of feedback that leaders receive on the behaviours they display and no (or an unknown) link between leadership behaviours and rewards.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Baatjes, Jerome Clinton
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Leadership , Competition
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8565 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/189 , Leadership , Competition
- Description: Effective leadership is and will remain the cornerstone of business success. It is leadership that differentiates world class from mediocre performance. The objective of this study is to investigate how positive leadership brand can be developed in order to leverage human capital and enhance the competitive position of organisations. To achieve this objective a comprehensive literature study was performed to determine the extent of existing knowledge on branding, leadership and leadership branding. The study included an investigation into the attributes of effective leaders, leadership development activities, leadership styles and a formula for effective leadership was presented. Managers from selected organisations were requested to complete questionnaires in order to determine the views of South African managers on leadership branding. The questionnaire was developed in accordance with the findings from the literature research. The answers of the respondents were analysed and compared to the literature study. The information obtained from the literature study and from the respondents resulted in various recommendations and conclusions. In general, support was found for investing resources into developing leadership brand as respondents indicated that positive leadership brand could result in a source of competitive advantage. The major obstacles in developing positive leadership brands are: absence of a clear message of what makes an effective leader, lack of feedback that leaders receive on the behaviours they display and no (or an unknown) link between leadership behaviours and rewards.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The development of an entrepreneurial management model to promote the survival and growth of family estate wine businesses in the South African wine industry
- Cullen, Margaret Diane Munro
- Authors: Cullen, Margaret Diane Munro
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa , Wine industry -- South Africa -- Management , Entrepreneurship
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8766 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/491 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011909 , Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa , Wine industry -- South Africa -- Management , Entrepreneurship
- Description: The South African wine industry is polarised into the quantity-producing majority and the quality-conscious minority [Hughes, 2003]. The qualityproducing sector of the South African wine industry is dominated by family businesses. Research shows that there are approximately ninety familyowned wineries in South Africa. By international standards, South Africa is viewed as a quantity, not quality producing wine country, which will make it difficult to survive in an industry where quality is paramount for recognition. The ‘trailblazers’ of the international wine industry are family owned wineries [Robinson, 2000]. Twenty five percent of the 2003 five star South African wines were made by individuals or family wineries [Hughes, 2003], emphasising the growing importance of family wineries in the production of quality wines. It is important now, more than ever, with the industry opening up internationally, that survival of the family-owned wineries and their production of icon wines are promoted so that they can become flagship producers of the industry. The achievement of international status as a quality producing country, as well as building an industry based on the longevity of wine producing families, as well as a nation of wine lovers in South Africa should result.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Cullen, Margaret Diane Munro
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa , Wine industry -- South Africa -- Management , Entrepreneurship
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8766 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/491 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011909 , Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa , Wine industry -- South Africa -- Management , Entrepreneurship
- Description: The South African wine industry is polarised into the quantity-producing majority and the quality-conscious minority [Hughes, 2003]. The qualityproducing sector of the South African wine industry is dominated by family businesses. Research shows that there are approximately ninety familyowned wineries in South Africa. By international standards, South Africa is viewed as a quantity, not quality producing wine country, which will make it difficult to survive in an industry where quality is paramount for recognition. The ‘trailblazers’ of the international wine industry are family owned wineries [Robinson, 2000]. Twenty five percent of the 2003 five star South African wines were made by individuals or family wineries [Hughes, 2003], emphasising the growing importance of family wineries in the production of quality wines. It is important now, more than ever, with the industry opening up internationally, that survival of the family-owned wineries and their production of icon wines are promoted so that they can become flagship producers of the industry. The achievement of international status as a quality producing country, as well as building an industry based on the longevity of wine producing families, as well as a nation of wine lovers in South Africa should result.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The effect of different slaughter age regimes on the primary and secondary production parameters of Ostriches (Struthio Camelus Domesticus) and the economic consequences of different slaughter ages
- Authors: Bhiya, Clovis Solomon
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa , Ostrich farming -- South Africa , Ostriches -- Breeding -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10735 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/837 , Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa , Ostrich farming -- South Africa , Ostriches -- Breeding -- South Africa
- Description: The South African ostrich industry is presently characterised by a drastic decline in the slaughter price of slaughter birds, due to the drop in the price of meat as well as leather. As a result, the economic viability of ostrich farming is severely hampered by these developments, and many generally accepted industry practices have to be reviewed. Among the practices under review is the possibility of slaughtering ostriches at an earlier age than the traditional slaughter age of 12 - 14 months, in order to minimise feed costs and the incidence of damage to the skin. However, little information is available on the effect of the slaughter age on the yield and quality of the economically important end-products. The effect of slaughter age on production and the economic viability of a commercially intensive ostrich production system was consequently evaluated in a completely randomised experimental design involving two batches (n= 81 and n= 94) of ostriches. The experiments took place at Kromme Rhee experimental farm of the Elsenburg Research Centre near Stellenbosch. The birds were subject to experimental treatment at the age of 4 months (n= 81, from May 2004 to March 2005) and 6 months (n= 94, from August 2004 to August 2005) respectively. The ostriches were randomly divided into 10 groups of between 16 and 20 birds per group. Standard production practices, as applied in an intensive ostrich production unit, were implemented. Clean drinking water and self-mixed grower diet (min 15 percent crude protein, 0.68 percent lysine and 11.4 MJ ME per kg feed) and finisher diet (min 14 percent crude protein, 0.55 percent lysine and 9.8 MJ ME per kg feed) were provided ad libitum to the birds. Birds were slaughtered at the ages of 8.5, 10.5, 12.5, 14.5, and 16.5 months respectively. Data on feed intake and yields of cold carcass, crust skin size, skin grade and total feathers was recorded for birds slaughtered at the respective ages. Data was analysed according to the analysis of variances. Values for meat yield, skin size yield and feed intake were predicted by regression analysis based on experimental values. Industry figures and norms were used as proxy for other production inputs and costs. A gross margin type analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of different slaughter ages on the profitability of each production system. There was a positive correlation between age and feed intake (r2= 0.40), slaughter weight (r2= 0.97), cold carcass yield (r2= 0.48), skin surface area (r2= 0.39), skin grade (r2= 0.19) and total yield of feathers (r2= 0.29). The dry skin grade showed deterioration as slaughter age was prolonged. Highly significant differences (P< 0.01) in slaughter weight, cold carcass yield, skin surface area, dry skin grade and total feathers were detected at the different slaughter ages. There were no significant differences (P> 0.05) with respect to gender for slaughter weight, skin surface area and dry skin grade within the different age groups. Males had significantly higher (P< 0.05) cold carcass yield and total feather yield than their female counterparts. From this study it can be concluded that an increase in slaughter age significantly increases feed intake, slaughter weight, cold carcass yield, and skin surface area. It is also clear that an increase in slaughter age can be detrimental to dry skin grade. The relative income contribution of the three main products (skin: meat: feathers) occurred in a ratio of 47:53:0, 52:47:1, 47:50:3, 44:51:5, 39:56:5 at the respective slaughter ages. Total income revealed an increase of 26 percent from 8.5 to 10.5 months slaughtering, an increase of 4 percent between 10.5 and 12.5 months, and an increase of 11 percent between 12.5 and 14.5 months. The income dropped by 0.3 percent between 14.5 and 16.5 months slaughtering. Total costs increased with slaughter age, particularly feed costs which showed an increase (at a decreasing rate) between the different slaughter ages. The margin above specified cost per bird was the highest for birds slaughtered at the age of 10.5 months. The margin above cost showed a steady decline as birds were slaughtered at higher ages. Slaughtering at 16.5 months revealed a negative margin. To compare the effect of differences in time span on different slaughter age regimes, margin above costs for each system over 5 years were discounted to a present value. In this study, with current feed costs and income from end products, slaughtering at 10.5 months revealed the highest present value for the margin above cost. Furthermore, slaughtering at 16.5 months revealed a negative present value on the margin above cost after 5 years. Financial viability calculations are relevant and valid for data obtained in this case study. Financial viability is however case-specific and may vary between producers, depending on their individual management practices, production systems and cost structures. Results from this study may be of significant value to managerial decision-making in the ostrich industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Bhiya, Clovis Solomon
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa , Ostrich farming -- South Africa , Ostriches -- Breeding -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10735 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/837 , Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa , Ostrich farming -- South Africa , Ostriches -- Breeding -- South Africa
- Description: The South African ostrich industry is presently characterised by a drastic decline in the slaughter price of slaughter birds, due to the drop in the price of meat as well as leather. As a result, the economic viability of ostrich farming is severely hampered by these developments, and many generally accepted industry practices have to be reviewed. Among the practices under review is the possibility of slaughtering ostriches at an earlier age than the traditional slaughter age of 12 - 14 months, in order to minimise feed costs and the incidence of damage to the skin. However, little information is available on the effect of the slaughter age on the yield and quality of the economically important end-products. The effect of slaughter age on production and the economic viability of a commercially intensive ostrich production system was consequently evaluated in a completely randomised experimental design involving two batches (n= 81 and n= 94) of ostriches. The experiments took place at Kromme Rhee experimental farm of the Elsenburg Research Centre near Stellenbosch. The birds were subject to experimental treatment at the age of 4 months (n= 81, from May 2004 to March 2005) and 6 months (n= 94, from August 2004 to August 2005) respectively. The ostriches were randomly divided into 10 groups of between 16 and 20 birds per group. Standard production practices, as applied in an intensive ostrich production unit, were implemented. Clean drinking water and self-mixed grower diet (min 15 percent crude protein, 0.68 percent lysine and 11.4 MJ ME per kg feed) and finisher diet (min 14 percent crude protein, 0.55 percent lysine and 9.8 MJ ME per kg feed) were provided ad libitum to the birds. Birds were slaughtered at the ages of 8.5, 10.5, 12.5, 14.5, and 16.5 months respectively. Data on feed intake and yields of cold carcass, crust skin size, skin grade and total feathers was recorded for birds slaughtered at the respective ages. Data was analysed according to the analysis of variances. Values for meat yield, skin size yield and feed intake were predicted by regression analysis based on experimental values. Industry figures and norms were used as proxy for other production inputs and costs. A gross margin type analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of different slaughter ages on the profitability of each production system. There was a positive correlation between age and feed intake (r2= 0.40), slaughter weight (r2= 0.97), cold carcass yield (r2= 0.48), skin surface area (r2= 0.39), skin grade (r2= 0.19) and total yield of feathers (r2= 0.29). The dry skin grade showed deterioration as slaughter age was prolonged. Highly significant differences (P< 0.01) in slaughter weight, cold carcass yield, skin surface area, dry skin grade and total feathers were detected at the different slaughter ages. There were no significant differences (P> 0.05) with respect to gender for slaughter weight, skin surface area and dry skin grade within the different age groups. Males had significantly higher (P< 0.05) cold carcass yield and total feather yield than their female counterparts. From this study it can be concluded that an increase in slaughter age significantly increases feed intake, slaughter weight, cold carcass yield, and skin surface area. It is also clear that an increase in slaughter age can be detrimental to dry skin grade. The relative income contribution of the three main products (skin: meat: feathers) occurred in a ratio of 47:53:0, 52:47:1, 47:50:3, 44:51:5, 39:56:5 at the respective slaughter ages. Total income revealed an increase of 26 percent from 8.5 to 10.5 months slaughtering, an increase of 4 percent between 10.5 and 12.5 months, and an increase of 11 percent between 12.5 and 14.5 months. The income dropped by 0.3 percent between 14.5 and 16.5 months slaughtering. Total costs increased with slaughter age, particularly feed costs which showed an increase (at a decreasing rate) between the different slaughter ages. The margin above specified cost per bird was the highest for birds slaughtered at the age of 10.5 months. The margin above cost showed a steady decline as birds were slaughtered at higher ages. Slaughtering at 16.5 months revealed a negative margin. To compare the effect of differences in time span on different slaughter age regimes, margin above costs for each system over 5 years were discounted to a present value. In this study, with current feed costs and income from end products, slaughtering at 10.5 months revealed the highest present value for the margin above cost. Furthermore, slaughtering at 16.5 months revealed a negative present value on the margin above cost after 5 years. Financial viability calculations are relevant and valid for data obtained in this case study. Financial viability is however case-specific and may vary between producers, depending on their individual management practices, production systems and cost structures. Results from this study may be of significant value to managerial decision-making in the ostrich industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The experience of adolescense girls regarding verbal bullying in secondary school
- Authors: Jacobs, Ruwayda
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Teenage girls -- Mental health -- South Africa , Bullying in schools -- South Africa , Psychiatric nursing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10045 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/449 , Teenage girls -- Mental health -- South Africa , Bullying in schools -- South Africa , Psychiatric nursing -- South Africa
- Description: The experience of verbal bullying at school may cause a female adolescent much distress. This distress can result in the adolescent experiencing life as traumatic and may influence her sense of well being negatively. Verbal bullying usually takes the form of name-calling, put-downs and insults. This can be very traumatic for adolescents and can lower their self-esteem, which may eventually lead to mental illness. The parents of adolescent learners often have the misconception that bullying is a normal part of a teenager’s life and are unaware of the distress it may cause the adolescent. The victimized adolescent should, therefore, be provided with support in order to avert the occurrence of mental illness. The goals of this study were to: • Explore and describe the experiences of adolescent girls regarding verbal bullying in secondary school settings. • Develop guidelines to assist mental health nursing specialists in helping adolescent girls to cope with bullying in secondary schools. The researcher used a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design with a phenomenological approach. The research population consisted of female learners in a secondary school setting. Purposive sampling was used in this study to identify participants. Data was collected by means of naïve sketches, one-to-one-interviews and field notes based on observations. Data was analyzed using Tesch’s method (in Creswell, 1994:190) of descriptive analysis. The identified themes were compared to available literature. The data collected from this study was used to develop guidelines to aid mental health nursing specialists to help adolescents to cope with verbal bullying.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Jacobs, Ruwayda
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Teenage girls -- Mental health -- South Africa , Bullying in schools -- South Africa , Psychiatric nursing -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10045 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/449 , Teenage girls -- Mental health -- South Africa , Bullying in schools -- South Africa , Psychiatric nursing -- South Africa
- Description: The experience of verbal bullying at school may cause a female adolescent much distress. This distress can result in the adolescent experiencing life as traumatic and may influence her sense of well being negatively. Verbal bullying usually takes the form of name-calling, put-downs and insults. This can be very traumatic for adolescents and can lower their self-esteem, which may eventually lead to mental illness. The parents of adolescent learners often have the misconception that bullying is a normal part of a teenager’s life and are unaware of the distress it may cause the adolescent. The victimized adolescent should, therefore, be provided with support in order to avert the occurrence of mental illness. The goals of this study were to: • Explore and describe the experiences of adolescent girls regarding verbal bullying in secondary school settings. • Develop guidelines to assist mental health nursing specialists in helping adolescent girls to cope with bullying in secondary schools. The researcher used a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design with a phenomenological approach. The research population consisted of female learners in a secondary school setting. Purposive sampling was used in this study to identify participants. Data was collected by means of naïve sketches, one-to-one-interviews and field notes based on observations. Data was analyzed using Tesch’s method (in Creswell, 1994:190) of descriptive analysis. The identified themes were compared to available literature. The data collected from this study was used to develop guidelines to aid mental health nursing specialists to help adolescents to cope with verbal bullying.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The experiences and perceptions of midwives at Provincial Hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality regarding exclusive breastfeeding by HIV positive first-time mothers
- Authors: Moobi, Emily Keadimilwe
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Breastfeeding -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Midwives -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Attitudes , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10016 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/427 , Breastfeeding -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Midwives -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Attitudes , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Prevention
- Description: The Department of Health in South Africa, as in many countries, has developed a policy guideline and recommendations for feeding of infants of HIV positive mothers. This is aimed at providing midwives with detailed and sound information about HIV and infant feeding practices based on current understanding of HIV and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the infant’s life. The policy states that breastfeeding is a significant and preventable mode of HIV transmission to infants and there is an urgent need to educate, counsel and support women and families, so that they can make decisions about how best to feed infants in the context of HIV (http://www.doh.gov.za/aids/doc/feeding/html.2005-03-07). Speaking to midwives from the Provincial Hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Metropole, the researcher became aware of the midwives’ often-expressed unhappiness about the new policy from the Department of Health on exclusive breastfeeding. Midwives complained about the dilemma with which they are faced regarding infant feeding practices. They could not understand the advocacy of exclusive breastfeeding, when breastfeeding is recognised as one of the modes of Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV. The aim of the study was to help, support and encourage midwives to implement the policy of exclusive breastfeeding. The objectives of the study were to: • Explore and describe the experiences and perceptions of midwives related to promoting exclusive breastfeeding in HIV positive first-time mothers. • Make recommendations to the Department of Health regarding the support and help that can be given to midwives to encourage their implementation of the exclusive breastfeeding policy. The researcher made use of a qualitative, phenomenological, descriptive, explorative and contextual design. Permission for conducting the research was iv obtained from relevant authorities, and participants were asked to sign a consent form before the researcher proceeded with the study. Collection of data was done by means of unstructured interviews using an audiotape recorder. Once data was saturated, the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed, using the steps described by Tesch’s (1990 in Creswell, 1994: 153) method of descriptive analysis. Field notes were also taken to record non-verbal communication during the interviews. In order to ensure trustworthiness of the study, the ethical principles of Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991:215), namely truth-value, applicability, consistency and neutrality were used. The services of an independent coder were utilised and a consensus meeting was held between the researcher and the independent coder in order to discuss the identified themes. Prior to the consensus meeting, the independent coder was provided with interview transcripts and a protocol to guide the data analysis. Following the data analysis, a literature control was undertaken to highlight the similarities and differences found in the data analysis. Three themes with sub-themes were identified. The participants expressed positive views on the policy of exclusive breastfeeding in HIV positive first-time mothers. They were satisfied with the policy and viewed the policy of exclusive breastfeeding as an effective contribution to feeding options of babies born of HIV positive first-time mothers. However, the participants identified several factors hindering the effective implementation of the policy of exclusive breastfeeding in HIV positive first-time mothers. Factors identified were staffshortages, lack of cooperation among staff members regarding promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, lack of information regarding the CD4 count of patients on admission in the ward, cultural beliefs, lack of training among staff members and inadequate counseling facilities to ensure privacy and confidentiality for mothers. Participants also experienced a variety of emotions related to exclusive breastfeeding such as happiness, confidence, helplessness, frustration, worry and concern, stress and exhaustion. Based on the findings of the study, guidelines were developed and recommendations made concerning nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Moobi, Emily Keadimilwe
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Breastfeeding -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Midwives -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Attitudes , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10016 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/427 , Breastfeeding -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Midwives -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Attitudes , HIV infections -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Prevention
- Description: The Department of Health in South Africa, as in many countries, has developed a policy guideline and recommendations for feeding of infants of HIV positive mothers. This is aimed at providing midwives with detailed and sound information about HIV and infant feeding practices based on current understanding of HIV and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of the infant’s life. The policy states that breastfeeding is a significant and preventable mode of HIV transmission to infants and there is an urgent need to educate, counsel and support women and families, so that they can make decisions about how best to feed infants in the context of HIV (http://www.doh.gov.za/aids/doc/feeding/html.2005-03-07). Speaking to midwives from the Provincial Hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Metropole, the researcher became aware of the midwives’ often-expressed unhappiness about the new policy from the Department of Health on exclusive breastfeeding. Midwives complained about the dilemma with which they are faced regarding infant feeding practices. They could not understand the advocacy of exclusive breastfeeding, when breastfeeding is recognised as one of the modes of Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV. The aim of the study was to help, support and encourage midwives to implement the policy of exclusive breastfeeding. The objectives of the study were to: • Explore and describe the experiences and perceptions of midwives related to promoting exclusive breastfeeding in HIV positive first-time mothers. • Make recommendations to the Department of Health regarding the support and help that can be given to midwives to encourage their implementation of the exclusive breastfeeding policy. The researcher made use of a qualitative, phenomenological, descriptive, explorative and contextual design. Permission for conducting the research was iv obtained from relevant authorities, and participants were asked to sign a consent form before the researcher proceeded with the study. Collection of data was done by means of unstructured interviews using an audiotape recorder. Once data was saturated, the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed, using the steps described by Tesch’s (1990 in Creswell, 1994: 153) method of descriptive analysis. Field notes were also taken to record non-verbal communication during the interviews. In order to ensure trustworthiness of the study, the ethical principles of Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991:215), namely truth-value, applicability, consistency and neutrality were used. The services of an independent coder were utilised and a consensus meeting was held between the researcher and the independent coder in order to discuss the identified themes. Prior to the consensus meeting, the independent coder was provided with interview transcripts and a protocol to guide the data analysis. Following the data analysis, a literature control was undertaken to highlight the similarities and differences found in the data analysis. Three themes with sub-themes were identified. The participants expressed positive views on the policy of exclusive breastfeeding in HIV positive first-time mothers. They were satisfied with the policy and viewed the policy of exclusive breastfeeding as an effective contribution to feeding options of babies born of HIV positive first-time mothers. However, the participants identified several factors hindering the effective implementation of the policy of exclusive breastfeeding in HIV positive first-time mothers. Factors identified were staffshortages, lack of cooperation among staff members regarding promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, lack of information regarding the CD4 count of patients on admission in the ward, cultural beliefs, lack of training among staff members and inadequate counseling facilities to ensure privacy and confidentiality for mothers. Participants also experienced a variety of emotions related to exclusive breastfeeding such as happiness, confidence, helplessness, frustration, worry and concern, stress and exhaustion. Based on the findings of the study, guidelines were developed and recommendations made concerning nursing practice, nursing education and nursing research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The extent of discharge planning by nurses for patients who have undergone valvular surgery
- Authors: Verwey, Oriana
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Heart -- Surgery -- Nursing -- South Africa , Heart valves -- Surgery -- South Africa , Heart valves -- Surgery , Heart -- Surgery -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa , Hospitals -- Admission and discharge -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10015 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/445 , Heart -- Surgery -- Nursing -- South Africa , Heart valves -- Surgery -- South Africa , Heart valves -- Surgery , Heart -- Surgery -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa , Hospitals -- Admission and discharge -- South Africa
- Description: Valvular disorders can be corrected by means of surgery, after which very comprehensive discharge planning should be implemented to prevent the occurrence of post-operative complications. Advances in medical technology and intellect instigate earlier discharge for patients after they have undergone valvular surgery. The aim of this research study is to establish the extent of discharge planning by nurses for patients who have undergone valvular surgery, so that practice guidelines in the form of an in-service educational framework can be compiled for nurses in the management of these patients post-operatively. Patients, many of whom are from rural areas, are discharged without an adequate referral system. There are, currently, no set guidelines or referral persons to direct these patients during their rehabilitation period. Based on the researcher’s personal observations, it is evident that many patients suffer from bacterial endocarditis or clotted valves due to poor post-surgery management. However, both of these conditions could be avoided if proper health education was given to these patients. The study will take the form of a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual survey. Data will be collected by means of a structured questionnaire that will be completed by the nurses working in the cardiac general ward and the cardiac clinic. Findings of the research study will be used to assist the researcher in developing an in-service educational framework for staff that are both nursing and preparing post valvular surgery patients for discharge. The goal is to prevent complications such as clot formation and endocarditis and to enable patients to deal effectively with their rehabilitation period.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Verwey, Oriana
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Heart -- Surgery -- Nursing -- South Africa , Heart valves -- Surgery -- South Africa , Heart valves -- Surgery , Heart -- Surgery -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa , Hospitals -- Admission and discharge -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10015 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/445 , Heart -- Surgery -- Nursing -- South Africa , Heart valves -- Surgery -- South Africa , Heart valves -- Surgery , Heart -- Surgery -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- South Africa , Hospitals -- Admission and discharge -- South Africa
- Description: Valvular disorders can be corrected by means of surgery, after which very comprehensive discharge planning should be implemented to prevent the occurrence of post-operative complications. Advances in medical technology and intellect instigate earlier discharge for patients after they have undergone valvular surgery. The aim of this research study is to establish the extent of discharge planning by nurses for patients who have undergone valvular surgery, so that practice guidelines in the form of an in-service educational framework can be compiled for nurses in the management of these patients post-operatively. Patients, many of whom are from rural areas, are discharged without an adequate referral system. There are, currently, no set guidelines or referral persons to direct these patients during their rehabilitation period. Based on the researcher’s personal observations, it is evident that many patients suffer from bacterial endocarditis or clotted valves due to poor post-surgery management. However, both of these conditions could be avoided if proper health education was given to these patients. The study will take the form of a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual survey. Data will be collected by means of a structured questionnaire that will be completed by the nurses working in the cardiac general ward and the cardiac clinic. Findings of the research study will be used to assist the researcher in developing an in-service educational framework for staff that are both nursing and preparing post valvular surgery patients for discharge. The goal is to prevent complications such as clot formation and endocarditis and to enable patients to deal effectively with their rehabilitation period.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The four cycles of Herakles : towards the visual articulation of myth as psychological process
- Authors: Wentzel, Andrieta
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Art -- Philosophy , Psychoanalysis and the arts , Mythology -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:8500 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/642 , Art -- Philosophy , Psychoanalysis and the arts , Mythology -- Psychological aspects
- Description: My research involves the reassertion of mythic experience in a manner considered contemporaneously relevant. The relevancy resides in the Jungian assumption that myth structures psychic experience to the benefit of the individual and ultimately, society. To this end, I have taken the hero myth of Heracles, and, by filtering it through Jung’s system promoting psychological maturation, that is what he called the individuation process, I have reconfigured it in fine art form
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Wentzel, Andrieta
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Art -- Philosophy , Psychoanalysis and the arts , Mythology -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:8500 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/642 , Art -- Philosophy , Psychoanalysis and the arts , Mythology -- Psychological aspects
- Description: My research involves the reassertion of mythic experience in a manner considered contemporaneously relevant. The relevancy resides in the Jungian assumption that myth structures psychic experience to the benefit of the individual and ultimately, society. To this end, I have taken the hero myth of Heracles, and, by filtering it through Jung’s system promoting psychological maturation, that is what he called the individuation process, I have reconfigured it in fine art form
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The impact of cost saving on service quailty
- Authors: Van Rayner, Fiona Mary
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Service industries -- South Africa -- Cost control , Service industries -- South Africa -- Quality control , Employee morale , Job satisfaction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8751 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/631 , Service industries -- South Africa -- Cost control , Service industries -- South Africa -- Quality control , Employee morale , Job satisfaction
- Description: The aim of all companies is continuously to improve their products and/or services. Managers need to understand what service quality entails and what measures to take to ensure that quality is upheld and employees are satisfied. Cost-saving initiatives often require certain changes to take place within the organisation. In the event of such changes, the psychological contract is often violated, which may have a positive or negative effect on the affected individuals. Management expects to get more work done with fewer employees, who in turn are expected to keep up the service quality. The current shortage of medical technologists in the country has made it impossible for them to cope with the heavy workload. As a result, many leave the profession and venture into something completely different. Those that are left become completely demotivated; they experience less job satisfaction and show less commitment to their work. However, some may even embrace the changes because to them it may mean bigger and better challenges. The aim of this study is to identify which approaches management took to ensure cost saving and how these approaches impacted on the behaviour of employees. A literature review was conducted to determine what the theory reveals about cost saving and its impact on employee behaviour. This was followed by an empirical survey conducted within the National Health Laboratory Services in the Ibhayi region. Finally, the practical findings and literary theory were compared to make recommendations to management on how to ensure positive employee behaviour and boost employee morale.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Van Rayner, Fiona Mary
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Service industries -- South Africa -- Cost control , Service industries -- South Africa -- Quality control , Employee morale , Job satisfaction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8751 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/631 , Service industries -- South Africa -- Cost control , Service industries -- South Africa -- Quality control , Employee morale , Job satisfaction
- Description: The aim of all companies is continuously to improve their products and/or services. Managers need to understand what service quality entails and what measures to take to ensure that quality is upheld and employees are satisfied. Cost-saving initiatives often require certain changes to take place within the organisation. In the event of such changes, the psychological contract is often violated, which may have a positive or negative effect on the affected individuals. Management expects to get more work done with fewer employees, who in turn are expected to keep up the service quality. The current shortage of medical technologists in the country has made it impossible for them to cope with the heavy workload. As a result, many leave the profession and venture into something completely different. Those that are left become completely demotivated; they experience less job satisfaction and show less commitment to their work. However, some may even embrace the changes because to them it may mean bigger and better challenges. The aim of this study is to identify which approaches management took to ensure cost saving and how these approaches impacted on the behaviour of employees. A literature review was conducted to determine what the theory reveals about cost saving and its impact on employee behaviour. This was followed by an empirical survey conducted within the National Health Laboratory Services in the Ibhayi region. Finally, the practical findings and literary theory were compared to make recommendations to management on how to ensure positive employee behaviour and boost employee morale.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The impact of media commercialization on public service broadcasting : the case of Radio Zimbabwe after the adoption of the Commercialisation Act (No 26) of 2001
- Authors: Saurombe, Memory
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation , Broadcasting -- Zimbabwe , Mass media -- Social aspects -- Zimbabwe , Public broadcasting -- Zimbabwe -- History -- 20th century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8410 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/601 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011671 , Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation , Broadcasting -- Zimbabwe , Mass media -- Social aspects -- Zimbabwe , Public broadcasting -- Zimbabwe -- History -- 20th century
- Description: Cultural and educational functions of public service broadcasting come at a fortuitous time, as the changing environment of broadcasting is on various agendas. At the heart of this is the question of the present and future status of public service broadcasting. Major changes have taken place in the political economy of the media and the world economy at large, technological advancement has resulted in privatization and commercialization of the media. In most societies where these changes have taken place, public service broadcasting has been threatened by the rapid rise of commercial institutions, resulting in stiff competition for audiences. This study will examine the extent to which the adoption of the Commercialization Act (No 26) of 2001 in Zimbabwe has affected Radio Zimbabwe’s role as a public broadcaster. The study is based on the hypothesis that with the adoption of the Commercialization Act, Radio Zimbabwe is no longer playing its public service role effectively. The current nature of programming at Radio Zimbabwe as the research hopes to show will highlight tremendous changes towards a commercial logic. The study uses a combination of document analysis, secondary literature and qualitative interviews.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Saurombe, Memory
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation , Broadcasting -- Zimbabwe , Mass media -- Social aspects -- Zimbabwe , Public broadcasting -- Zimbabwe -- History -- 20th century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8410 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/601 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011671 , Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation , Broadcasting -- Zimbabwe , Mass media -- Social aspects -- Zimbabwe , Public broadcasting -- Zimbabwe -- History -- 20th century
- Description: Cultural and educational functions of public service broadcasting come at a fortuitous time, as the changing environment of broadcasting is on various agendas. At the heart of this is the question of the present and future status of public service broadcasting. Major changes have taken place in the political economy of the media and the world economy at large, technological advancement has resulted in privatization and commercialization of the media. In most societies where these changes have taken place, public service broadcasting has been threatened by the rapid rise of commercial institutions, resulting in stiff competition for audiences. This study will examine the extent to which the adoption of the Commercialization Act (No 26) of 2001 in Zimbabwe has affected Radio Zimbabwe’s role as a public broadcaster. The study is based on the hypothesis that with the adoption of the Commercialization Act, Radio Zimbabwe is no longer playing its public service role effectively. The current nature of programming at Radio Zimbabwe as the research hopes to show will highlight tremendous changes towards a commercial logic. The study uses a combination of document analysis, secondary literature and qualitative interviews.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The impact of total productive maintenance (TPM) on manufacturing performance at the Colt Section of DaimlerChrysler in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Ncube, Mfowabo
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Total productive maintenance , Plant maintenance -- Management , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8560 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/579 , Total productive maintenance , Plant maintenance -- Management , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Today's successful manufacturing organisations require a significant competitive advantage, hence the need to implement and develop a Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) strategy. This research paper addresses the impact of TPM on manufacturing performance at the Colt production facility (DCSA). A literature survey was undertaken into the elements and benefits of TPM. Questionaires were also sent to all levels of people at the Colt production facility for their views on TPM and the impact, they believe, it has had on manufacturing performance. In conclusion, this research paper has also led to the development of recommendations to improve TPM activities at the Colt production facility. From the research, it was shown that top management support for TPM activities is needed and that training is an essential factor for TPM's success in improving manufacturing performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Ncube, Mfowabo
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Total productive maintenance , Plant maintenance -- Management , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8560 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/579 , Total productive maintenance , Plant maintenance -- Management , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Today's successful manufacturing organisations require a significant competitive advantage, hence the need to implement and develop a Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) strategy. This research paper addresses the impact of TPM on manufacturing performance at the Colt production facility (DCSA). A literature survey was undertaken into the elements and benefits of TPM. Questionaires were also sent to all levels of people at the Colt production facility for their views on TPM and the impact, they believe, it has had on manufacturing performance. In conclusion, this research paper has also led to the development of recommendations to improve TPM activities at the Colt production facility. From the research, it was shown that top management support for TPM activities is needed and that training is an essential factor for TPM's success in improving manufacturing performance.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The influence of customer relationship management on the service quality of banks
- Authors: Rootman, Chantal
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Customer relations -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:8980 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/400 , Customer relations -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Quality control
- Description: Despite the extensive research undertaken in the subject area of services marketing, much is still unknown to service providers of specific services in terms of service delivery concepts. This study attempts to address this limitation. The study revolves around the customer relationship management and service quality of banks. Service firms, including banks, are vitally important to the economy of any country, as they contribute to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment rate. However, to survive in a complex, competitive business environment, service firms are required to focus on their clients’ needs. Specifically, banks can focus on their relationships with clients and levels of service quality. In order to establish the influence of selected variables on the customer relationship management (CRM) of banks and the influence of CRM on the service quality of banks, an empirical investigation was conducted. The aim of this study was to quantify significant relationships among selected variables; therefore the positivistic research paradigm was used. The sample consisted of banking clients in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area. The sample size was 290, with a response rate of 91.03%. The empirical investigation revealed that significant positive relationships exist between both the knowledgeability, and attitude, of bank employees and a bank’s CRM. These relationships imply that more extensive knowledgeability of bank employees and bank employees with more positive attitudes lead to improved, maintained relationships between a bank and its clients. In addition, the empirical investigation revealed that CRM positively influences the service quality of banks. This relationship implies that if a bank successfully maintains relationships with its clients, the bank’s level of perceived service quality would increase. Additionally, the empirical investigation has shown the relationship between a banking client’s age and the CRM of a bank. The higher the age of a banking client, the more that client considers the CRM of a bank to be important. There exists a relationship between a banking client’s education level and the perceived service quality of a bank. If a banking clients’ education level increases, the importance of their bank’s service quality decreases and, conversely, a banking client with a lower level of education regards the service quality level of a bank as more important than higher qualified clients. The study indicated that strategies to improve, specifically, the knowledgeability and attitude of bank employees can and should be implemented by banks in ways to positively influence their CRM and ultimately their service quality. In effect, this will increase client satisfaction and ensure client loyalty to the bank. Ultimately, this will contribute to the bank’s success, which will ensure economic stability and prosperity for a country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Rootman, Chantal
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Customer relations -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:8980 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/400 , Customer relations -- South Africa , Banks and banking -- South Africa , Quality control
- Description: Despite the extensive research undertaken in the subject area of services marketing, much is still unknown to service providers of specific services in terms of service delivery concepts. This study attempts to address this limitation. The study revolves around the customer relationship management and service quality of banks. Service firms, including banks, are vitally important to the economy of any country, as they contribute to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment rate. However, to survive in a complex, competitive business environment, service firms are required to focus on their clients’ needs. Specifically, banks can focus on their relationships with clients and levels of service quality. In order to establish the influence of selected variables on the customer relationship management (CRM) of banks and the influence of CRM on the service quality of banks, an empirical investigation was conducted. The aim of this study was to quantify significant relationships among selected variables; therefore the positivistic research paradigm was used. The sample consisted of banking clients in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area. The sample size was 290, with a response rate of 91.03%. The empirical investigation revealed that significant positive relationships exist between both the knowledgeability, and attitude, of bank employees and a bank’s CRM. These relationships imply that more extensive knowledgeability of bank employees and bank employees with more positive attitudes lead to improved, maintained relationships between a bank and its clients. In addition, the empirical investigation revealed that CRM positively influences the service quality of banks. This relationship implies that if a bank successfully maintains relationships with its clients, the bank’s level of perceived service quality would increase. Additionally, the empirical investigation has shown the relationship between a banking client’s age and the CRM of a bank. The higher the age of a banking client, the more that client considers the CRM of a bank to be important. There exists a relationship between a banking client’s education level and the perceived service quality of a bank. If a banking clients’ education level increases, the importance of their bank’s service quality decreases and, conversely, a banking client with a lower level of education regards the service quality level of a bank as more important than higher qualified clients. The study indicated that strategies to improve, specifically, the knowledgeability and attitude of bank employees can and should be implemented by banks in ways to positively influence their CRM and ultimately their service quality. In effect, this will increase client satisfaction and ensure client loyalty to the bank. Ultimately, this will contribute to the bank’s success, which will ensure economic stability and prosperity for a country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The knowledge and attitudes of registered nurses in public hospitals related to the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission
- Authors: Mo, Yabin
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Nurses -- South Africa -- Attitudes , AIDS (Disease) -- Nursing -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Nursing -- South Africa , Nurse and patient -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10018 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/571 , Nurses -- South Africa -- Attitudes , AIDS (Disease) -- Nursing -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Nursing -- South Africa , Nurse and patient -- South Africa
- Description: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) have brought about a global epidemic far more extensive than was predicted even a decade ago (van Rensburg, 2002:1). South Africa has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world (South African Department of Health, 2000: 5), it still increase yearly. Before a vaccine and/or effective treatment become available, effective education and information campaigns are necessary for preventing the spreading of HIV and AIDS (WHO (the World Health Organization), 1988:21). According to WHO and ICN (International Council of Nurses) (1988:12), Nurses can play a pivotal role in the education of patients, their families and friends with regard to the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission, so as to control the spread of this disease. In South Africa, more than 60 percent of the healthcare human resources comprise professional nursing practitioners (Muller, 2002: 95). Therefore, the education and training of nurses is one of the effective methods to preventing further spread of HIV and AIDS infection in South Africa. Accordingly, nurses need to reduce both personal and occupational risk of becoming infected with HIV themselves, as well as provide education to patients and their families. Before effective and efficient in-service education guidelines on the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission can be developed, any knowledge deficit and negative attitudes of registered nurses regarding the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission should be identified. Thus, it is important to survey the knowledge and attitudes of nurses in healthcare institutions related to the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission. The main goal of the study was to explore and describe the knowledge and attitudes of registered nurses in public hospitals related to the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission. The secondary objective was to develop in-service education guidelines for registered nurses in public hospitals to optimise both personal and occupational prevention measures relating to HIV and AIDS transmission. The research was conducted using a quantitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design. The purposive sampling method was used to select the participants and a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. This data was analysed by inferential statistics and descriptive statistics and areas of deficits concerning knowledge and negative attitudes were identified. In this study there were deficits concerning the knowledge and negative attitudes regarding the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission to a greater or lesser degree in all the subgroups of the questionnaire. In general, the registered nurses with the attendance of HIV and AIDS training program, experience in caring for HIV and AIDS patients made the level of certain knowledge related to the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission different; Working experience as a registered nurses and the attendance of HIV and AIDS training programmes did not make attitudes towards the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission significantly different. The registered nurses with experience of caring for HIV and AIDS patients had more positive attitudes than those without the experience. This information was used to compile in-service education guidelines for registered nurses concerning the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission. The in-service education guidelines will be given to clinical facilitators at public hospitals. It is envisaged that this will guide them as to what to include in their in-service education programmes concerning the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission for registered nurses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Mo, Yabin
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Nurses -- South Africa -- Attitudes , AIDS (Disease) -- Nursing -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Nursing -- South Africa , Nurse and patient -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10018 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/571 , Nurses -- South Africa -- Attitudes , AIDS (Disease) -- Nursing -- South Africa , HIV infections -- Nursing -- South Africa , Nurse and patient -- South Africa
- Description: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) have brought about a global epidemic far more extensive than was predicted even a decade ago (van Rensburg, 2002:1). South Africa has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world (South African Department of Health, 2000: 5), it still increase yearly. Before a vaccine and/or effective treatment become available, effective education and information campaigns are necessary for preventing the spreading of HIV and AIDS (WHO (the World Health Organization), 1988:21). According to WHO and ICN (International Council of Nurses) (1988:12), Nurses can play a pivotal role in the education of patients, their families and friends with regard to the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission, so as to control the spread of this disease. In South Africa, more than 60 percent of the healthcare human resources comprise professional nursing practitioners (Muller, 2002: 95). Therefore, the education and training of nurses is one of the effective methods to preventing further spread of HIV and AIDS infection in South Africa. Accordingly, nurses need to reduce both personal and occupational risk of becoming infected with HIV themselves, as well as provide education to patients and their families. Before effective and efficient in-service education guidelines on the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission can be developed, any knowledge deficit and negative attitudes of registered nurses regarding the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission should be identified. Thus, it is important to survey the knowledge and attitudes of nurses in healthcare institutions related to the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission. The main goal of the study was to explore and describe the knowledge and attitudes of registered nurses in public hospitals related to the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission. The secondary objective was to develop in-service education guidelines for registered nurses in public hospitals to optimise both personal and occupational prevention measures relating to HIV and AIDS transmission. The research was conducted using a quantitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design. The purposive sampling method was used to select the participants and a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. This data was analysed by inferential statistics and descriptive statistics and areas of deficits concerning knowledge and negative attitudes were identified. In this study there were deficits concerning the knowledge and negative attitudes regarding the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission to a greater or lesser degree in all the subgroups of the questionnaire. In general, the registered nurses with the attendance of HIV and AIDS training program, experience in caring for HIV and AIDS patients made the level of certain knowledge related to the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission different; Working experience as a registered nurses and the attendance of HIV and AIDS training programmes did not make attitudes towards the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission significantly different. The registered nurses with experience of caring for HIV and AIDS patients had more positive attitudes than those without the experience. This information was used to compile in-service education guidelines for registered nurses concerning the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission. The in-service education guidelines will be given to clinical facilitators at public hospitals. It is envisaged that this will guide them as to what to include in their in-service education programmes concerning the prevention of HIV and AIDS transmission for registered nurses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The role of language and mediation in selected aspects of contemporary culture
- Authors: Allen, Nicholas Peter Legh
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Language and languages -- Philosophy , Language and education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8413 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/468 , Language and languages -- Philosophy , Language and education
- Description: Statement of the Problem: Specifically, how suitable is a textual language in communicating “irrational concepts” and religious myths designed to explain the irrational? Furthermore, how important is the mastery of a textual language apropos of our conceptual processes and in what ways can the structure of a specific language-game impact on a person’s conceptual abilities? To undertake this enquiry, certain assumptions will have to be made. For example, it is accepted that everything we interpret and ultimately understand is mediated solely through language in the broad sense (which includes visual cognition or literacy). Here it is accepted that without language we cannot think. Indeed, even our most private thoughts are based on a language, which embodies communally sanctioned criteria. Hypothesis: It is then the premise of this dissertation that the very architecture of a person’s mother-tongue has a profound influence on the worldview and perception of a particular person. Also it is possible to consider that certain languages, by virtue of their very structure, either hinder or facilitate certain cognitive development or potential. Further, if we could but increase the linguistic proficiency of our citizens, we will be better positioned to develop a critical mass of people who are problem solvers, mathematicians and conceptualizers; and who will address the shortfall of graduates in science, engineering, technology and business in South Africa. If in any way accurate, this would tend to imply that (inter alia) the retention rate of potential graduates in the SET and business disciplines will be significantly improved if educational policy-makers embraced even the most basic tenets of the linguistic paradigm.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Allen, Nicholas Peter Legh
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Language and languages -- Philosophy , Language and education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8413 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/468 , Language and languages -- Philosophy , Language and education
- Description: Statement of the Problem: Specifically, how suitable is a textual language in communicating “irrational concepts” and religious myths designed to explain the irrational? Furthermore, how important is the mastery of a textual language apropos of our conceptual processes and in what ways can the structure of a specific language-game impact on a person’s conceptual abilities? To undertake this enquiry, certain assumptions will have to be made. For example, it is accepted that everything we interpret and ultimately understand is mediated solely through language in the broad sense (which includes visual cognition or literacy). Here it is accepted that without language we cannot think. Indeed, even our most private thoughts are based on a language, which embodies communally sanctioned criteria. Hypothesis: It is then the premise of this dissertation that the very architecture of a person’s mother-tongue has a profound influence on the worldview and perception of a particular person. Also it is possible to consider that certain languages, by virtue of their very structure, either hinder or facilitate certain cognitive development or potential. Further, if we could but increase the linguistic proficiency of our citizens, we will be better positioned to develop a critical mass of people who are problem solvers, mathematicians and conceptualizers; and who will address the shortfall of graduates in science, engineering, technology and business in South Africa. If in any way accurate, this would tend to imply that (inter alia) the retention rate of potential graduates in the SET and business disciplines will be significantly improved if educational policy-makers embraced even the most basic tenets of the linguistic paradigm.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The stimulation of innovation advantage through autonomous intrapreneurship at Federal Mogul Sealing Systems South Africa
- Authors: Morgan, Beverley Ann
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Sealing (Technology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8552 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/573 , Entrepreneurship , Sealing (Technology)
- Description: In the rapidly evolving organisational landscapes of today, the quest to grow or sustain competitive advantage demands that organisational practices become more innovative, hence innovative advantage. Globalisation and technological advances drive the necessity for innovation within organisational contexts and the resultant rapid pace of change demands that organisations adopt an intrapreneurial orientation to accommodate this need for innovation. South African organisations, in particular those within the automotive sector, are faced with both unique opportunities and threats as a result of the increased impact of globalisation and the resultant open markets in the post-apartheid era. Programs offered by governmental institutions for this industry sector, such as the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP), as well as widely promoted systems such as those engendered by continuous improvement and benchmarking to achieve excellence, are successful only in attaining uniformity and incremental improvements and one-dimensional thinking methodologies. The quest for innovation advantage requires increased creative activity to assist individuals within these organisations in adopting an intrapreneurial outlook to provide proactive solutions. The literature survey has revealed that top-down controls and centralised decision-making as provided by corporate entrepreneurship, is the antithesis of intrapreneurship. Intrapreneurship is thus an autonomous process. Federal Mogul Sealing Systems (FMSS), an automotive component manufacturer within the Eastern Cape served as the basis for this study. A detailed literature review was conducted and a questionnaire was drawn up and distributed in an attempt to assess the three prevalent elements for the creation of innovation advantage through intrapreneurship as reviewed in the literature survey. The three elements were: individual intrapreneurial traits, organisational barriers and enablers of intrapreneurship and the influence of precipitating events on intrapreneurship. The research was conducted and recommendations were made based on the objectives of this study in relation to the organisation under study, FMSS.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Morgan, Beverley Ann
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship , Sealing (Technology)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8552 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/573 , Entrepreneurship , Sealing (Technology)
- Description: In the rapidly evolving organisational landscapes of today, the quest to grow or sustain competitive advantage demands that organisational practices become more innovative, hence innovative advantage. Globalisation and technological advances drive the necessity for innovation within organisational contexts and the resultant rapid pace of change demands that organisations adopt an intrapreneurial orientation to accommodate this need for innovation. South African organisations, in particular those within the automotive sector, are faced with both unique opportunities and threats as a result of the increased impact of globalisation and the resultant open markets in the post-apartheid era. Programs offered by governmental institutions for this industry sector, such as the Motor Industry Development Programme (MIDP), as well as widely promoted systems such as those engendered by continuous improvement and benchmarking to achieve excellence, are successful only in attaining uniformity and incremental improvements and one-dimensional thinking methodologies. The quest for innovation advantage requires increased creative activity to assist individuals within these organisations in adopting an intrapreneurial outlook to provide proactive solutions. The literature survey has revealed that top-down controls and centralised decision-making as provided by corporate entrepreneurship, is the antithesis of intrapreneurship. Intrapreneurship is thus an autonomous process. Federal Mogul Sealing Systems (FMSS), an automotive component manufacturer within the Eastern Cape served as the basis for this study. A detailed literature review was conducted and a questionnaire was drawn up and distributed in an attempt to assess the three prevalent elements for the creation of innovation advantage through intrapreneurship as reviewed in the literature survey. The three elements were: individual intrapreneurial traits, organisational barriers and enablers of intrapreneurship and the influence of precipitating events on intrapreneurship. The research was conducted and recommendations were made based on the objectives of this study in relation to the organisation under study, FMSS.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The strategic implementation of continuous improvement tools within manufacturing plants of the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Spence, Mark George
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Automobile supplies industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Production management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8752 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/611 , Automobile supplies industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Production management
- Description: Continuous improvement has long been considered a key business strategy to the success of any business that needs to be competitive and survive in a world that is continually evolving, particularly with the increased focus on meeting cost and quality targets that are set by a far more knowledgeable customer. Unfortunately, many organisations invest countless hours of their key personnel's time on training without creating a clear vision and consolidated strategic plan as to how continuous improvement will be driven in the business. Marginal elements of success are obtained, but the harnessing of these skills, as well as the true synergy that could be realized, are watered down due to the silos in which many of the activities are performed. Within the context of this dissertation, a conceptual approach to the strategic implementation of continuous improvement tools within the organization will be sought in order to enhance all facets of the business and not only the traditional arenas of the manufacturing disciplines. Murray and Roberts Foundries Group is embarking on the integration of current and new continuous improvement tools that form part of its continued improvement drive. This research was conducted with other organisations and will help shed light on Murray and Roberts Foundries Group’s way forward in the implementation of these tools to ensure long-term sustainable success. The intent of this dissertation is therefore to offer a comprehensive set of recommendations for Murray and Roberts Foundries Group’s top management in terms of its strategic implementation and the successful application of Lean manufacturing tools and techniques. In addition, areas and directions for further research are identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Spence, Mark George
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Automobile supplies industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Production management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8752 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/611 , Automobile supplies industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Production management
- Description: Continuous improvement has long been considered a key business strategy to the success of any business that needs to be competitive and survive in a world that is continually evolving, particularly with the increased focus on meeting cost and quality targets that are set by a far more knowledgeable customer. Unfortunately, many organisations invest countless hours of their key personnel's time on training without creating a clear vision and consolidated strategic plan as to how continuous improvement will be driven in the business. Marginal elements of success are obtained, but the harnessing of these skills, as well as the true synergy that could be realized, are watered down due to the silos in which many of the activities are performed. Within the context of this dissertation, a conceptual approach to the strategic implementation of continuous improvement tools within the organization will be sought in order to enhance all facets of the business and not only the traditional arenas of the manufacturing disciplines. Murray and Roberts Foundries Group is embarking on the integration of current and new continuous improvement tools that form part of its continued improvement drive. This research was conducted with other organisations and will help shed light on Murray and Roberts Foundries Group’s way forward in the implementation of these tools to ensure long-term sustainable success. The intent of this dissertation is therefore to offer a comprehensive set of recommendations for Murray and Roberts Foundries Group’s top management in terms of its strategic implementation and the successful application of Lean manufacturing tools and techniques. In addition, areas and directions for further research are identified.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The tension between market and community the Eastern Cape as a case study of community newspapers
- Authors: Katz, David Anthony
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Community newspapers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8380 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/402 , Community newspapers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The following study takes a look at the tension between market and community, and investigates the Eastern Cape as a case study. The main objective of the study was to determine what phenomenon is causing the rapid expansion of the community newspaper market. After a brief introduction the first section of chapter one goes about explaining South African newspapers. This was an important process because it helps the reader to understand the South African market. This market had a unique development, the study examines this, and goes on to show the three different spheres of the South African press and takes a look at the major publishers. Section two places the South African media market in context by looking at where newspapers fit into capitalist free market society. This section first develops the notion of democracy and its close relationship to capitalism. This is followed by a look at newspapers as commercial products, and also takes a look at a section of the South African population that is relatively easy for advertisers and marketers to target. This section finally offers a solution to combat the above inadequacies in society. Section three looks at the all important rise of more recent forms of media and the effects they have had on the press. This section first looks at how newspapers have been able to adapt and survive and secondly looks to their future survival in what is becoming a digital age. Chapter two begins by developing the notion of community. It establishes that while the world was heading in the direction of a global community, there has now been a recent trend for people to revert back to local community life in order to combat the inequalities of the global community. The second section of chapter two goes on to give an in-depth description of what community newspapers entail. Chapter three forms the first section of the second half of the study. It deals with Johnnic Communications (Johncom) and takes a look at the company by looking at their history and structures as well as results. It goes on to determine Johncom’s role in the South African media market, which includes publishing interests, BEE credentials, strategic positioning and the establishing of Johncom Community Newspapers (JCN). The final chapter looks at JCN and community newspapers in the Eastern Cape. The first section of this chapter looks at how JCN developed their titles as well as the success these titles have brought. The second section takes an overview look at all the titles in an attempt to find a common denominator that can be attributed to their success. This common denominator is determined to be disposable income. The third section looks at what makes disposable income one of the key factors in the success of community newspapers and uses the appendix interview to support its findings. The final section of this chapter and the entire study looks towards the future. It is a speculation into the future of both community newspapers and Johncom’s projected community newspaper expansion. It looks at other markets in South Africa, but once these become saturated it is expected that a massive African expansion will follow.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Katz, David Anthony
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Community newspapers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8380 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/402 , Community newspapers -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The following study takes a look at the tension between market and community, and investigates the Eastern Cape as a case study. The main objective of the study was to determine what phenomenon is causing the rapid expansion of the community newspaper market. After a brief introduction the first section of chapter one goes about explaining South African newspapers. This was an important process because it helps the reader to understand the South African market. This market had a unique development, the study examines this, and goes on to show the three different spheres of the South African press and takes a look at the major publishers. Section two places the South African media market in context by looking at where newspapers fit into capitalist free market society. This section first develops the notion of democracy and its close relationship to capitalism. This is followed by a look at newspapers as commercial products, and also takes a look at a section of the South African population that is relatively easy for advertisers and marketers to target. This section finally offers a solution to combat the above inadequacies in society. Section three looks at the all important rise of more recent forms of media and the effects they have had on the press. This section first looks at how newspapers have been able to adapt and survive and secondly looks to their future survival in what is becoming a digital age. Chapter two begins by developing the notion of community. It establishes that while the world was heading in the direction of a global community, there has now been a recent trend for people to revert back to local community life in order to combat the inequalities of the global community. The second section of chapter two goes on to give an in-depth description of what community newspapers entail. Chapter three forms the first section of the second half of the study. It deals with Johnnic Communications (Johncom) and takes a look at the company by looking at their history and structures as well as results. It goes on to determine Johncom’s role in the South African media market, which includes publishing interests, BEE credentials, strategic positioning and the establishing of Johncom Community Newspapers (JCN). The final chapter looks at JCN and community newspapers in the Eastern Cape. The first section of this chapter looks at how JCN developed their titles as well as the success these titles have brought. The second section takes an overview look at all the titles in an attempt to find a common denominator that can be attributed to their success. This common denominator is determined to be disposable income. The third section looks at what makes disposable income one of the key factors in the success of community newspapers and uses the appendix interview to support its findings. The final section of this chapter and the entire study looks towards the future. It is a speculation into the future of both community newspapers and Johncom’s projected community newspaper expansion. It looks at other markets in South Africa, but once these become saturated it is expected that a massive African expansion will follow.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
The women's health initiative study: impact on the prescribing of hormone replacement therapy in a defined South African population
- Authors: Hanly, Teia
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Women -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa , Women's health services -- South Africa , Menopause -- Hormone therapy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10156 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/519 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011713 , Women -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa , Women's health services -- South Africa , Menopause -- Hormone therapy -- South Africa
- Description: Context: The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study, published in July 2002, had a significant impact on the prescribing of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The controversy surrounding the findings, however, has led to much uncertainty regarding the prescription of HRT. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine both the initial and the continued impact of the WHI study on the prescribing of HRT in a defined South African population and to determine whether HRT was appropriately individualised based on recommendations published subsequent to the WHI study. Setting: Claims data from a Managed Healthcare Organisation (MHO) that administers for a number of medical aid schemes in South Africa. Method: A retrospective drug utilisation review (DUR) was conducted to identify HRT-related prescribing patterns in the defined populations. The time-frame of the dataset included January 2002, to assess prescribing patterns prior to the publication of the WHI study, January 2003 to determine the initial impact of the WHI study, and January 2005 to assess the continued impact. An extensive, additional dataset of all the HRT users in the defined populations was utilised to conduct a sub-group analysis and determine whether HRT had been appropriately individualised. Key Findings: The percentage of patients in the dataset using HRT decreased from 30.05 percent in January 2002 to 28.30 percent in January 2003 and to 23.24 percent in January 2005, with the latter decrease reaching statistical significance. Although sex hormones and modulators (G03) of the genital system were the most frequently prescribed drug class in all three years of the study period, the prescribing frequency decreased significantly from 10.40 percent in January 2002 to 9.32 percent in January 2003 and 7.44 percent in January 2005. The most noteworthy change in the prescribing of HRT was a 3.95 percent decrease in the prescribing of conjugated equine estrogen (CEE), with a corresponding 2.53 percent increase in the prescribing of estradiol between January 2002 and January 2003. However, less pronounced changes were observed in the prescribing frequencies of other types of HRT, including medroxyprogesterone and estrogen (the HRT type investigated in the estrogen plus progestin phase of the WHI study). Patients initiating HRT post-WHI publication were generally found to be in the younger menopausal age categories (40 to 49 years). These patients were more likely to have been initiated on HRT types other than those investigated in the WHI study and were at a higher risk for disease states for which HRT use is beneficial, such as osteoporosis. Patients discontinuing HRT post-WHI publication were generally found to be in the older menopausal age categories (60 to 69 years), were more likely to have been combined HRT users (although not necessarily the type investigated in the WHI study) and were at a higher risk for disease states for which HRT use is considered harmful or has an uncertain effect, such as diseases affecting the cardiovascular system. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the WHI study did have an impact on the prescribing of HRT in the defined South African population of this study, but that the impact was considerably less than the impact reported in global studies. It was also determined that HRT was appropriately individualised according to recommendations made subsequent to publication of the WHI study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Hanly, Teia
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Women -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa , Women's health services -- South Africa , Menopause -- Hormone therapy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10156 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/519 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011713 , Women -- Health and hygiene -- South Africa , Women's health services -- South Africa , Menopause -- Hormone therapy -- South Africa
- Description: Context: The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study, published in July 2002, had a significant impact on the prescribing of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The controversy surrounding the findings, however, has led to much uncertainty regarding the prescription of HRT. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine both the initial and the continued impact of the WHI study on the prescribing of HRT in a defined South African population and to determine whether HRT was appropriately individualised based on recommendations published subsequent to the WHI study. Setting: Claims data from a Managed Healthcare Organisation (MHO) that administers for a number of medical aid schemes in South Africa. Method: A retrospective drug utilisation review (DUR) was conducted to identify HRT-related prescribing patterns in the defined populations. The time-frame of the dataset included January 2002, to assess prescribing patterns prior to the publication of the WHI study, January 2003 to determine the initial impact of the WHI study, and January 2005 to assess the continued impact. An extensive, additional dataset of all the HRT users in the defined populations was utilised to conduct a sub-group analysis and determine whether HRT had been appropriately individualised. Key Findings: The percentage of patients in the dataset using HRT decreased from 30.05 percent in January 2002 to 28.30 percent in January 2003 and to 23.24 percent in January 2005, with the latter decrease reaching statistical significance. Although sex hormones and modulators (G03) of the genital system were the most frequently prescribed drug class in all three years of the study period, the prescribing frequency decreased significantly from 10.40 percent in January 2002 to 9.32 percent in January 2003 and 7.44 percent in January 2005. The most noteworthy change in the prescribing of HRT was a 3.95 percent decrease in the prescribing of conjugated equine estrogen (CEE), with a corresponding 2.53 percent increase in the prescribing of estradiol between January 2002 and January 2003. However, less pronounced changes were observed in the prescribing frequencies of other types of HRT, including medroxyprogesterone and estrogen (the HRT type investigated in the estrogen plus progestin phase of the WHI study). Patients initiating HRT post-WHI publication were generally found to be in the younger menopausal age categories (40 to 49 years). These patients were more likely to have been initiated on HRT types other than those investigated in the WHI study and were at a higher risk for disease states for which HRT use is beneficial, such as osteoporosis. Patients discontinuing HRT post-WHI publication were generally found to be in the older menopausal age categories (60 to 69 years), were more likely to have been combined HRT users (although not necessarily the type investigated in the WHI study) and were at a higher risk for disease states for which HRT use is considered harmful or has an uncertain effect, such as diseases affecting the cardiovascular system. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the WHI study did have an impact on the prescribing of HRT in the defined South African population of this study, but that the impact was considerably less than the impact reported in global studies. It was also determined that HRT was appropriately individualised according to recommendations made subsequent to publication of the WHI study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Towards a framework for corporate information governance
- Authors: Mears, Lynette May
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Information technology -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9775 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/820 , Information technology -- Management
- Description: Information is a critical asset without which an organisation could not survive. The adequate and effective governance of this asset is an essential function and is the direct responsibility of the board and senior management. The board and senior management have a responsibility to maintain the financial and material health of their enterprise and this includes setting the proper direction and governance of the information asset. Many organisations have, over the past few years, suffered severe losses and failures due to the inadequate governance and protection of this valuable asset. The reasons for the lack of corporate information governance need to be examined. The board and senior management need to direct and control their organisations effectively, with the appropriate delegation of responsibilities, to reduce the possibility of suffering similar losses and/or failures. The contribution made by this study is illustrated in the designing of a framework and activity plans to facilitate the board in practically implementing an improved corporate information governance process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Mears, Lynette May
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Information technology -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9775 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/820 , Information technology -- Management
- Description: Information is a critical asset without which an organisation could not survive. The adequate and effective governance of this asset is an essential function and is the direct responsibility of the board and senior management. The board and senior management have a responsibility to maintain the financial and material health of their enterprise and this includes setting the proper direction and governance of the information asset. Many organisations have, over the past few years, suffered severe losses and failures due to the inadequate governance and protection of this valuable asset. The reasons for the lack of corporate information governance need to be examined. The board and senior management need to direct and control their organisations effectively, with the appropriate delegation of responsibilities, to reduce the possibility of suffering similar losses and/or failures. The contribution made by this study is illustrated in the designing of a framework and activity plans to facilitate the board in practically implementing an improved corporate information governance process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006