Challenges facing the implementation of integrated development plan (IDP): the case of Motherwell township in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Mlele, Mzimkhulu Maxwell
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: City planning -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Community development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Civic improvement - South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Regional planning -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Motherwell (Port Elizabeth, South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9243 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021120
- Description: This research outlines the challenges facing the implementation of the IDP in the Motherwell Township. Firstly, it is the physical setting and background of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Secondly, it is the brief background on IDP. Thirdly, it is the legislative framework for the IDP implementation. Fourthly it will be the discussion on the importance of the study. It is followed by the objectives of the study and the research methodology. The discussion on the literature review is also covered. Lastly, It is the chapter on recommendations and a conclusion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mlele, Mzimkhulu Maxwell
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: City planning -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Community development -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Civic improvement - South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Regional planning -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Motherwell (Port Elizabeth, South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9243 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021120
- Description: This research outlines the challenges facing the implementation of the IDP in the Motherwell Township. Firstly, it is the physical setting and background of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Secondly, it is the brief background on IDP. Thirdly, it is the legislative framework for the IDP implementation. Fourthly it will be the discussion on the importance of the study. It is followed by the objectives of the study and the research methodology. The discussion on the literature review is also covered. Lastly, It is the chapter on recommendations and a conclusion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Characterisation and biotic classification of Eastern Cape mixed substrate shores
- Authors: Garner, Cornelia Johanna
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Coastal sediments -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Coastal biodiversity --- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10641 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020825
- Description: A significant proportion of the South African coastline is composed of both soft (mostly sand) and hard (mostly bedrock) substrata, i.e. “mixed”. This study described and classified macrobenthic assemblages of 20 Eastern Cape mixed substrate shores that differed in shore topography and the extent and position of intertidal rock and sand. A stratified random approach was used. Species richness, composition, abundance and environmental variables were determined. Commonly used beach indices were calculated. A total of 78 macrofaunal and 172 macroalgal species from rock substrate assemblages and 205 macrofauna species from sediment were recorded. Total species richness and richness per substratum exceeded that of sandy beaches devoid of rock and rocky shores with no sand. Rhodophyta were the most diverse and abundant algae, dominating all low-elevation rock surfaces as midlittoral and infralittoral turfs. Chlorophyta diversity was higher than at rocky shores, contributing more to cover-abundance at study sites and in microhabitats with an increased sand load. Sessile macrofauna species richness and abundance was lower than that of rocky shores. Polychaetes and crustaceans were the most diverse and abundant beach infauna. Species richness of both substrates declined from the low shore towards the high shore, but abundance trends varied substantially. The presence and extent of an intertidal biotope/subzone at either substrate depended on substrate availability.The supralittoral fringe in both substrate types was most often affected. Zonal overlap was evident on rock substrate: assemblages of raised midlittoral rock surfaces were enriched by species from lower surfaces sometimes leading to elimination of character taxa. Classification and ordination identified three potential mixed substrate shore biotic types: Biotic type A (Jania-Corallina- Polysiphonia turf) was characterised by robustly-textured algal turfs, a lowered predominance and diversity of polychaetes and an increase in crustacean abundance and diversity in sediment. Biotic type B (Polysiphonia-Tayloriella-Caulacanthus turf) had intermediately and biotic type C (Arthrocardia-Laurencia turf) the most sheltered eulittoral zones and beaches. DCCA identified the major environmental parameters affecting the macrobiota as: the level of wave energy, geological control of waves by hard substrate, sediment grain size and sediment inundation. A strong cross-shore wave attenuation results in sheltered sediments and midshore rock surfaces. Beach macrofauna were highly variable and diverse, which directly opposes previous perceptions about the sediment-bound biota of mixed substrate shores. The hierarchical cluster analysis produced a biotic classification of mixed substrate shores that was indicative of a biotic response to the total effects of leading environmental parameters. Macrobenthos of rock surfaces and sediment therefore showed potential to be used as an alternative or complementary to physical characteristics in classifying mixed substrate shores.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Garner, Cornelia Johanna
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Coastal sediments -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Coastal biodiversity --- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10641 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020825
- Description: A significant proportion of the South African coastline is composed of both soft (mostly sand) and hard (mostly bedrock) substrata, i.e. “mixed”. This study described and classified macrobenthic assemblages of 20 Eastern Cape mixed substrate shores that differed in shore topography and the extent and position of intertidal rock and sand. A stratified random approach was used. Species richness, composition, abundance and environmental variables were determined. Commonly used beach indices were calculated. A total of 78 macrofaunal and 172 macroalgal species from rock substrate assemblages and 205 macrofauna species from sediment were recorded. Total species richness and richness per substratum exceeded that of sandy beaches devoid of rock and rocky shores with no sand. Rhodophyta were the most diverse and abundant algae, dominating all low-elevation rock surfaces as midlittoral and infralittoral turfs. Chlorophyta diversity was higher than at rocky shores, contributing more to cover-abundance at study sites and in microhabitats with an increased sand load. Sessile macrofauna species richness and abundance was lower than that of rocky shores. Polychaetes and crustaceans were the most diverse and abundant beach infauna. Species richness of both substrates declined from the low shore towards the high shore, but abundance trends varied substantially. The presence and extent of an intertidal biotope/subzone at either substrate depended on substrate availability.The supralittoral fringe in both substrate types was most often affected. Zonal overlap was evident on rock substrate: assemblages of raised midlittoral rock surfaces were enriched by species from lower surfaces sometimes leading to elimination of character taxa. Classification and ordination identified three potential mixed substrate shore biotic types: Biotic type A (Jania-Corallina- Polysiphonia turf) was characterised by robustly-textured algal turfs, a lowered predominance and diversity of polychaetes and an increase in crustacean abundance and diversity in sediment. Biotic type B (Polysiphonia-Tayloriella-Caulacanthus turf) had intermediately and biotic type C (Arthrocardia-Laurencia turf) the most sheltered eulittoral zones and beaches. DCCA identified the major environmental parameters affecting the macrobiota as: the level of wave energy, geological control of waves by hard substrate, sediment grain size and sediment inundation. A strong cross-shore wave attenuation results in sheltered sediments and midshore rock surfaces. Beach macrofauna were highly variable and diverse, which directly opposes previous perceptions about the sediment-bound biota of mixed substrate shores. The hierarchical cluster analysis produced a biotic classification of mixed substrate shores that was indicative of a biotic response to the total effects of leading environmental parameters. Macrobenthos of rock surfaces and sediment therefore showed potential to be used as an alternative or complementary to physical characteristics in classifying mixed substrate shores.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Clarifying the influence of human-environment interaction in nature-based adventure tourism in the Tsitsikamma, South Africa
- Authors: Giddy, Julia K
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Human ecology -- South Africa -- Tsitsikammaberge , Tourism -- South Africa -- Tsitsikammaberge
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10674 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020782
- Description: Adventure tourism (AT), defined as “a broad spectrum of outdoor touristic activities,often commercialized and involving an interaction with the natural environment away from the participants’ home range and containing elements of risk,” (Hall, 1992, p. 143) is currently one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of the tourism industry (Buckley 2010). Because it has emerged relatively recently as a field of study, a number of scholars have called for ongoing research in the area, see Swarbrooke (2003), Pomfret (2006), Buckley (2010), Rogerson (2007), and Williams & Soutar (2005). Much of this research, to date, has focused on marketing, injury caused by AT participation, environmental impacts, and the broad notion of “risk” associated with AT. The problem is that little of this work has focused on the significance of the environment in adventure tourism – an important element inherent in its definition. Thus, this thesis aims to move beyond a general risk-based analysis of AT, and focus on the role of the environment. This is done through a human-environment interaction approach undertaken in Tsitsikamma Village where five adventure tourist operations are based. The first step in operationalizing this approach was to develop a conceptual framework that integrated adventure tourism into a general framework on humanenvironment interaction. The second step was to use a research instrument which enabled one to examine the influence of the environment on human motivations and adventure tourism experiences, and not only the influence of humans on the environment. The former was accomplished through questionnaires based on external, environmental elements that attract adventure tourists as well as inherent personality traits impel such tourists to participate in AT. The latter, based on interviews and participant perceptions, sought to establish the significance of impacts on the environment as well as initiatives taken by AT companies to minimize environmental damage. The findings show that although risk/thrill does play a role, AT motivations and experiences are complex and multidimensional. The environment does significantly influence both motivations and even more so AT experiences. Furthermore, there are distinct differences between the motivations and experiences of participants in different types of AT activities, indicating that generalizing the industry as whole neglects these significant differences. In terms of influences on the environment, the results show that most AT operators in the Tsitsikamma have some consideration for environmental protection and take some initiatives to minimize environmental damage, though the degree to which this occurs differs significantly. Furthermore, activity participants do not believe that the activities have a strong negative impact on the environment, though the majority acknowledge small impacts. The types of impacts observed by participants vary significantly between companies. This thesis demonstrates the manner in which the two-way relationship between humans and the environment manifests itself in the commercial AT industry. The result is a well-rounded examination of the influence of human-environment interaction on AT participants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Giddy, Julia K
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Human ecology -- South Africa -- Tsitsikammaberge , Tourism -- South Africa -- Tsitsikammaberge
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10674 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020782
- Description: Adventure tourism (AT), defined as “a broad spectrum of outdoor touristic activities,often commercialized and involving an interaction with the natural environment away from the participants’ home range and containing elements of risk,” (Hall, 1992, p. 143) is currently one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of the tourism industry (Buckley 2010). Because it has emerged relatively recently as a field of study, a number of scholars have called for ongoing research in the area, see Swarbrooke (2003), Pomfret (2006), Buckley (2010), Rogerson (2007), and Williams & Soutar (2005). Much of this research, to date, has focused on marketing, injury caused by AT participation, environmental impacts, and the broad notion of “risk” associated with AT. The problem is that little of this work has focused on the significance of the environment in adventure tourism – an important element inherent in its definition. Thus, this thesis aims to move beyond a general risk-based analysis of AT, and focus on the role of the environment. This is done through a human-environment interaction approach undertaken in Tsitsikamma Village where five adventure tourist operations are based. The first step in operationalizing this approach was to develop a conceptual framework that integrated adventure tourism into a general framework on humanenvironment interaction. The second step was to use a research instrument which enabled one to examine the influence of the environment on human motivations and adventure tourism experiences, and not only the influence of humans on the environment. The former was accomplished through questionnaires based on external, environmental elements that attract adventure tourists as well as inherent personality traits impel such tourists to participate in AT. The latter, based on interviews and participant perceptions, sought to establish the significance of impacts on the environment as well as initiatives taken by AT companies to minimize environmental damage. The findings show that although risk/thrill does play a role, AT motivations and experiences are complex and multidimensional. The environment does significantly influence both motivations and even more so AT experiences. Furthermore, there are distinct differences between the motivations and experiences of participants in different types of AT activities, indicating that generalizing the industry as whole neglects these significant differences. In terms of influences on the environment, the results show that most AT operators in the Tsitsikamma have some consideration for environmental protection and take some initiatives to minimize environmental damage, though the degree to which this occurs differs significantly. Furthermore, activity participants do not believe that the activities have a strong negative impact on the environment, though the majority acknowledge small impacts. The types of impacts observed by participants vary significantly between companies. This thesis demonstrates the manner in which the two-way relationship between humans and the environment manifests itself in the commercial AT industry. The result is a well-rounded examination of the influence of human-environment interaction on AT participants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Climate change mitigation strategies and its effect on economic change
- Authors: Roux, Louis Johannes
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- Economic aspects , Climate change mitigation , Global warming -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8889 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020816
- Description: Scientists started to study the relationship between changing weather patterns and the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other harmful gasses. They soon discovered compelling evidence that CO2 concentration and other gases have been increasing and it was causing temperatures to increase in certain areas on the earth, which disturb historic weather patterns. Climate change has become a very popular field of study in the modern science. Europe first introduced measures to reduce carbon emissions but it was the Kyoto in 1997 where global leaders were asked to participate in a joint protocol to reduce greenhouse gases. South Africa responded to climate change challenges in 2008 with the Long term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS). The Integrated Resource Plan for electricity to 2030 was developed from the LTMS scenarios and after some major amendments it was accepted and promulgated by Government and has recently been included in the National Development Plan to 2030 (NDP). There are concerns about the achievability of some of the objectives listed in the NDP and this study explored the IRP2010 as the proposed strategy to meet energy demand and reduce emissions. The purpose for this study was to answer this question: Is there an optimum climate change mitigation strategy for South Africa and how can the effect thereof be simulated on economic growth? Through primary and secondary research during the study it was possible to define some 32 categories of energy producing assets that are commercially active or nearly market-ready. The characteristics of the various assets and the relevant fuel are defined in mathematical equations. It was found that the three portfolios that matched the 450TWh electricity requirement would perform substantially better than the NDP portfolio in terms of cost and similar on emissions with marginally fewer employment opportunities created. The proposed electricity strategy in this study was 390TWh and 33.5 Million tonnes of oil consumption by 2030. This strategy was substantially more affordable than the 450TWh strategy. Trends in the Supply and Use tables since 1993 were studied and then forecasted to 2030 to determine consumption levels on electricity and liquid fuel into the future. It was found that electricity demand is seriously overestimated and South Africa would end up with large excess capacity in electricity infrastructures if the NDP energy strategy (IRP2010) is implemented. It is concluded that the NDP energy strategy to 2030 is based on an incorrect electricity demand forecast. It would lead to excessive investment in an electricity infrastructure. Government has confirmed that part of the new infrastructure would be nuclear. It is also found that NDP has not clearly supported nuclear as part of the strategy. Nuclear is partly the reason why the capital requirement of the NDP portfolio is so much higher than the other portfolios. It is the conclusion of this study that South Africa do not need to invest in a nuclear build programme as the electricity demand would be adequately covered by adding the new Medupi and Kusile power stations, Ingula pump storage scheme, some wind and solar renewables, electricity from cogeneration, biogas, biomass, small hydro and imported hydro from neighbour countries. To invest in electricity capacity to generate 450TWh annually by 2030 would result in excessive energy cost, GDP growth could be up to 1% lower due to underperforming capital investments in the electricity infrastructure and higher energy cost would lead to a decline in global competitiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Roux, Louis Johannes
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- Economic aspects , Climate change mitigation , Global warming -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8889 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020816
- Description: Scientists started to study the relationship between changing weather patterns and the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other harmful gasses. They soon discovered compelling evidence that CO2 concentration and other gases have been increasing and it was causing temperatures to increase in certain areas on the earth, which disturb historic weather patterns. Climate change has become a very popular field of study in the modern science. Europe first introduced measures to reduce carbon emissions but it was the Kyoto in 1997 where global leaders were asked to participate in a joint protocol to reduce greenhouse gases. South Africa responded to climate change challenges in 2008 with the Long term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS). The Integrated Resource Plan for electricity to 2030 was developed from the LTMS scenarios and after some major amendments it was accepted and promulgated by Government and has recently been included in the National Development Plan to 2030 (NDP). There are concerns about the achievability of some of the objectives listed in the NDP and this study explored the IRP2010 as the proposed strategy to meet energy demand and reduce emissions. The purpose for this study was to answer this question: Is there an optimum climate change mitigation strategy for South Africa and how can the effect thereof be simulated on economic growth? Through primary and secondary research during the study it was possible to define some 32 categories of energy producing assets that are commercially active or nearly market-ready. The characteristics of the various assets and the relevant fuel are defined in mathematical equations. It was found that the three portfolios that matched the 450TWh electricity requirement would perform substantially better than the NDP portfolio in terms of cost and similar on emissions with marginally fewer employment opportunities created. The proposed electricity strategy in this study was 390TWh and 33.5 Million tonnes of oil consumption by 2030. This strategy was substantially more affordable than the 450TWh strategy. Trends in the Supply and Use tables since 1993 were studied and then forecasted to 2030 to determine consumption levels on electricity and liquid fuel into the future. It was found that electricity demand is seriously overestimated and South Africa would end up with large excess capacity in electricity infrastructures if the NDP energy strategy (IRP2010) is implemented. It is concluded that the NDP energy strategy to 2030 is based on an incorrect electricity demand forecast. It would lead to excessive investment in an electricity infrastructure. Government has confirmed that part of the new infrastructure would be nuclear. It is also found that NDP has not clearly supported nuclear as part of the strategy. Nuclear is partly the reason why the capital requirement of the NDP portfolio is so much higher than the other portfolios. It is the conclusion of this study that South Africa do not need to invest in a nuclear build programme as the electricity demand would be adequately covered by adding the new Medupi and Kusile power stations, Ingula pump storage scheme, some wind and solar renewables, electricity from cogeneration, biogas, biomass, small hydro and imported hydro from neighbour countries. To invest in electricity capacity to generate 450TWh annually by 2030 would result in excessive energy cost, GDP growth could be up to 1% lower due to underperforming capital investments in the electricity infrastructure and higher energy cost would lead to a decline in global competitiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Commercialisation of emerging famers in the Eastern Cape province: identification of limiting factors that inhibit the progression from subsistence to commercial farming
- Authors: Khapayi, Musa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10593 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020067
- Description: The broad objective of the study was to investigate the limiting factors that prevent a breakthrough of emerging farmers to commercial agricultural farming industry. The research objectives were to describe the demographic characteristics such as age, education, farming skills and experience; determine the required support services needed; and inform the limiting factors that prevent breakthrough of emerging farmers to enter commercial agricultural industry. The study was conducted in King William’s Town area through structured questionnaires administered by the researcher. A sample of 50 emerging farmers was drawn in the area. The majority of households in the area depend on subsistence farming for household survival. Results indicated that emerging farmers are faced with poor physical infrastructure such as implements to better their production as well as low education levels which results as an inability to interpret market information to be used in production planning. It is also clear that the farmers face a lack of market infrastructure, poor roads, lack of market information, lack of transportation to markets and high transportation costs. The majority of the farmers were old and the youth was not engaged in agriculture. The findings showed that there is an insufficient role from government with regards to emerging farmer support and providing the required infrastructure to access markets or improving rural infrastructure. As a result the majority of the farmers are trapped in a cycle of poverty. The following policy recommendations are suggested: Financial services such as credit must be made available to emerging farmers at reasonable interest rates such as low interest rate subsidies to emerging farmers up until commercialisation. The requirements for emerging farmers to access loans, funding or credit should be restructured or adjusted to the ability of the farmer to repay the credit rather than the availability of title deeds or assets as collateral. Extension officers should regularly visit the localities were emerging farmers are farming have a better understanding of their farming areas, farming methods and improve their communication with the farmers. Lastly the land reform initiatives should be re-organised or developed if necessary to ensure efficient re-allocation of land. The policies should be developed to focus on both the individual farm plots and the collective rights.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Khapayi, Musa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10593 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020067
- Description: The broad objective of the study was to investigate the limiting factors that prevent a breakthrough of emerging farmers to commercial agricultural farming industry. The research objectives were to describe the demographic characteristics such as age, education, farming skills and experience; determine the required support services needed; and inform the limiting factors that prevent breakthrough of emerging farmers to enter commercial agricultural industry. The study was conducted in King William’s Town area through structured questionnaires administered by the researcher. A sample of 50 emerging farmers was drawn in the area. The majority of households in the area depend on subsistence farming for household survival. Results indicated that emerging farmers are faced with poor physical infrastructure such as implements to better their production as well as low education levels which results as an inability to interpret market information to be used in production planning. It is also clear that the farmers face a lack of market infrastructure, poor roads, lack of market information, lack of transportation to markets and high transportation costs. The majority of the farmers were old and the youth was not engaged in agriculture. The findings showed that there is an insufficient role from government with regards to emerging farmer support and providing the required infrastructure to access markets or improving rural infrastructure. As a result the majority of the farmers are trapped in a cycle of poverty. The following policy recommendations are suggested: Financial services such as credit must be made available to emerging farmers at reasonable interest rates such as low interest rate subsidies to emerging farmers up until commercialisation. The requirements for emerging farmers to access loans, funding or credit should be restructured or adjusted to the ability of the farmer to repay the credit rather than the availability of title deeds or assets as collateral. Extension officers should regularly visit the localities were emerging farmers are farming have a better understanding of their farming areas, farming methods and improve their communication with the farmers. Lastly the land reform initiatives should be re-organised or developed if necessary to ensure efficient re-allocation of land. The policies should be developed to focus on both the individual farm plots and the collective rights.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Community development projects in Ingquza Hill and its impact on poverty alleviation
- Authors: Tyali, Zukiswa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9190 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020311
- Description: The fight against poverty is one of South African government priorities and challenges. Despite the large amounts of funds donated by government to poverty alleviation in South Africa almost half of the population still continue to live below the poverty line. There have been many government interventions towards projects. These projects are established in an effort to reduce poverty. However, most of these projects have had a minimal impact on the poverty level of the country. In this study, the researcher illustrated the impact of community development projects on poverty alleviation in Lubala village in Ingquza Hill Local municipality. The research methodology for the study is descriptive, sourced from available literature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Tyali, Zukiswa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic assistance -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9190 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020311
- Description: The fight against poverty is one of South African government priorities and challenges. Despite the large amounts of funds donated by government to poverty alleviation in South Africa almost half of the population still continue to live below the poverty line. There have been many government interventions towards projects. These projects are established in an effort to reduce poverty. However, most of these projects have had a minimal impact on the poverty level of the country. In this study, the researcher illustrated the impact of community development projects on poverty alleviation in Lubala village in Ingquza Hill Local municipality. The research methodology for the study is descriptive, sourced from available literature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Competitive strategy implementation in microfinance organisations in Kenya
- Authors: Waweru, Ruth Wambui
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Microfinance -- Kenya , Financial institutions -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8888 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020815
- Description: Poverty is a major challenge in most developing countries. Key challenges of the government are to alleviate poverty and propel citizens toward wealth creation through development of enterprises across all sectors and to address the problem of unemployment. In Kenya, the SME sector comprises of about 99% of private sector enterprises and is prolific in employment and wealth creation. Despite this critical role played by SMEs in growing the economy, they remain outside the formal banking sector, especially in Africa. Although the number of MFOs since the 1980s has increased, the demand for financial services is largely unmet. However, MFOs are increasingly experiencing competition from new entrants and commercial banks that have developed financial models to target SMEs. MFOs are required to formulate and implement competitive strategies to enable them achieve sustainable growth and compete with commercial banks. However, strategy implementation is generally accepted as a challenge across organisations and it is often easier to formulate strategies than implementing it. Despite the need to address strategy implementation challenges across organisations, there is a greater focus by practitioners and researchers regarding strategy formulation than implementation. Consequently, this study aimed at assessing the level of strategy implementation in MFOs and factors that affect strategy implementation in MFOs. The ultimate objective was to develop a hypothetical model that could be used to improve strategy implementation in microfinance organisations in Kenya. This quantitative study used purposive sampling to select MFOs that are members of the Association of Microfinance Institutions (AMFI) in Kenya, completing a selfadministered structured questionnaire. In total, 135 MFOs were involved in this study and a total sample size of 300 managers was used in this study. This study considered fourteen factors to have an influence on the level of strategy implementation of MFOs in Kenya and hence fourteen null-hypotheses were formulated and tested. The content factors included stakeholder involvement in strategy development and the quality of strategies. The context factors included organisational structure and culture, strategic leadership and alignment of strategy to market conditions. The operational process factors included operational planning, monitoring and review of progress, teamwork, resources allocation, people-strategy fit, effective communication, strategic and management control systems and information resources. It is assumed that if all these critical strategy implementation factors are addressed, MFOs should be able improve their level of strategy implementation, ultimately leading to improved performance. The outcome factors considered were improved financial sustainability and outreach of MFOs. Advanced statistical analyses were used to analyse the data, such as factor analysis, regression and correlation analysis to assess the hypothesised relationship between the dependent and independent variables of this study. The empirical results revealed that the level of strategy implementation in MFOs in Kenya is moderate to high and content, context and operational factors do have an influence on the level of strategy implementation. However, operational factors have a more significant positive linear relationship with level of strategy implementation than the other two factors. There is also a positive relationship between the level of strategy implementation and financial sustainability and outreach by MFOs. This study has contributed to the existing body of knowledge by developing a hypothetical model that can be utilised by MFOs as well as other organisations to improve the level of strategy implementation resulting in better performance. The findings of the study can also inform strategy formulation and implementation of MFOs in Kenya, but also in other developing countries, to become more competitive. This study could also help MFOs and other organisations to put in place structures, systems, people and other resources required to attain a high level of strategy implementation. This study provides useful and practical guidelines in dealing with content, context and operational factors affecting strategy implementation in any organisational setting.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Waweru, Ruth Wambui
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Microfinance -- Kenya , Financial institutions -- Kenya
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: vital:8888 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020815
- Description: Poverty is a major challenge in most developing countries. Key challenges of the government are to alleviate poverty and propel citizens toward wealth creation through development of enterprises across all sectors and to address the problem of unemployment. In Kenya, the SME sector comprises of about 99% of private sector enterprises and is prolific in employment and wealth creation. Despite this critical role played by SMEs in growing the economy, they remain outside the formal banking sector, especially in Africa. Although the number of MFOs since the 1980s has increased, the demand for financial services is largely unmet. However, MFOs are increasingly experiencing competition from new entrants and commercial banks that have developed financial models to target SMEs. MFOs are required to formulate and implement competitive strategies to enable them achieve sustainable growth and compete with commercial banks. However, strategy implementation is generally accepted as a challenge across organisations and it is often easier to formulate strategies than implementing it. Despite the need to address strategy implementation challenges across organisations, there is a greater focus by practitioners and researchers regarding strategy formulation than implementation. Consequently, this study aimed at assessing the level of strategy implementation in MFOs and factors that affect strategy implementation in MFOs. The ultimate objective was to develop a hypothetical model that could be used to improve strategy implementation in microfinance organisations in Kenya. This quantitative study used purposive sampling to select MFOs that are members of the Association of Microfinance Institutions (AMFI) in Kenya, completing a selfadministered structured questionnaire. In total, 135 MFOs were involved in this study and a total sample size of 300 managers was used in this study. This study considered fourteen factors to have an influence on the level of strategy implementation of MFOs in Kenya and hence fourteen null-hypotheses were formulated and tested. The content factors included stakeholder involvement in strategy development and the quality of strategies. The context factors included organisational structure and culture, strategic leadership and alignment of strategy to market conditions. The operational process factors included operational planning, monitoring and review of progress, teamwork, resources allocation, people-strategy fit, effective communication, strategic and management control systems and information resources. It is assumed that if all these critical strategy implementation factors are addressed, MFOs should be able improve their level of strategy implementation, ultimately leading to improved performance. The outcome factors considered were improved financial sustainability and outreach of MFOs. Advanced statistical analyses were used to analyse the data, such as factor analysis, regression and correlation analysis to assess the hypothesised relationship between the dependent and independent variables of this study. The empirical results revealed that the level of strategy implementation in MFOs in Kenya is moderate to high and content, context and operational factors do have an influence on the level of strategy implementation. However, operational factors have a more significant positive linear relationship with level of strategy implementation than the other two factors. There is also a positive relationship between the level of strategy implementation and financial sustainability and outreach by MFOs. This study has contributed to the existing body of knowledge by developing a hypothetical model that can be utilised by MFOs as well as other organisations to improve the level of strategy implementation resulting in better performance. The findings of the study can also inform strategy formulation and implementation of MFOs in Kenya, but also in other developing countries, to become more competitive. This study could also help MFOs and other organisations to put in place structures, systems, people and other resources required to attain a high level of strategy implementation. This study provides useful and practical guidelines in dealing with content, context and operational factors affecting strategy implementation in any organisational setting.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Compound distribution models for athletics records
- Authors: Hanly, Erin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Athletics , Statistics -- Sports , Forecasting -- Sports
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10105 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018609
- Description: World records in athletics capture the attention of both the general public and the academic community. Athletics records provide a wealth of quantifiable data, which represent the pinnacle of human ability at the time of the record. This research discusses modelling the progression of athletics world records using a compound distribution model which is found in actuarial statistics. Compound distributions allow for the simultaneous modelling of the frequency of record breaking and of the amount by which the record is improved at each record-breaking performance. A number of assumptions accompany the use of the compound distribution model. This research evaluates the athletics data for adherence to these assumptions, before carrying out distribution-fitting and goodnessof-fit testing. Forecasts of future performance are obtained by means of a simulation method. The forecasts obtained from the compound model are compared to forecasts obtained from non-linear models which have been proposed in literature. This research focuses on short-term forecasts, however, a modification to the compound model which allows for longer-term forecasts is also illustrated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Hanly, Erin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Athletics , Statistics -- Sports , Forecasting -- Sports
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10105 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018609
- Description: World records in athletics capture the attention of both the general public and the academic community. Athletics records provide a wealth of quantifiable data, which represent the pinnacle of human ability at the time of the record. This research discusses modelling the progression of athletics world records using a compound distribution model which is found in actuarial statistics. Compound distributions allow for the simultaneous modelling of the frequency of record breaking and of the amount by which the record is improved at each record-breaking performance. A number of assumptions accompany the use of the compound distribution model. This research evaluates the athletics data for adherence to these assumptions, before carrying out distribution-fitting and goodnessof-fit testing. Forecasts of future performance are obtained by means of a simulation method. The forecasts obtained from the compound model are compared to forecasts obtained from non-linear models which have been proposed in literature. This research focuses on short-term forecasts, however, a modification to the compound model which allows for longer-term forecasts is also illustrated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Construction and integration of a battery pack and management system into a solar car
- Authors: Kloeblen, Arne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Solar cars -- Batteries , Solar cars -- Design and construction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEngineering (Mechatronics)
- Identifier: vital:9653 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018654
- Description: In today’s world, we have reached the point where conventional energy forms are inevitably running out. At the same time, the technology for alternative energy harnessing is improving with big steps, especially with society rethinking their high consumption of finite energy and material. This opens the opportunity und increases acceptance for projects and research to prove its actual implementation and to push the boundaries of current technology further.One particular area of application is the automotive sector showcasing raise of costs due to depleting fuel. Solar powered cars are raising interest as it could be a way to complete independence of any resource that has to be produced, mined or in any way transported to the place of consumption. Involvement with the view to enhance their research in this field has become interesting for universities.With solar powered cars, new problems emerge, amongst others the amount of harnessed sun power and the storage to have it available at the point of use. Due to the low energy available, energy storage as light and as efficient as possible is needed. A system is required that allows to be operated independently of its surrounding in a way it is controllable.Lithium-ion based batteries were seen as the most applicable way to execute this, as they give the highest energy density with lower losses than stable, commercially available energy storage mediums.It was decided to design, build and integrate a battery system with its safety circuit into a solar car. After material selection suppliers were searched and contacted. With the successful manufacturing of this system combining different processing methods, partially at university and partially in the industry, the project included a monitoring and management system and protective measures. It was implemented so that neither the limitations of the chemistry and the physical cells nor the vibration occurring while driving the car prevents its proper use. Besides this, communication and dimensions to operate within the car followed, allowing the driver and convoy to access information and control the system.This battery system proved to be practical in street use comparable with that of regular cars and posed as a safe and effective energy supply for an electrically driven car, meeting the given demands.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Kloeblen, Arne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Solar cars -- Batteries , Solar cars -- Design and construction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEngineering (Mechatronics)
- Identifier: vital:9653 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018654
- Description: In today’s world, we have reached the point where conventional energy forms are inevitably running out. At the same time, the technology for alternative energy harnessing is improving with big steps, especially with society rethinking their high consumption of finite energy and material. This opens the opportunity und increases acceptance for projects and research to prove its actual implementation and to push the boundaries of current technology further.One particular area of application is the automotive sector showcasing raise of costs due to depleting fuel. Solar powered cars are raising interest as it could be a way to complete independence of any resource that has to be produced, mined or in any way transported to the place of consumption. Involvement with the view to enhance their research in this field has become interesting for universities.With solar powered cars, new problems emerge, amongst others the amount of harnessed sun power and the storage to have it available at the point of use. Due to the low energy available, energy storage as light and as efficient as possible is needed. A system is required that allows to be operated independently of its surrounding in a way it is controllable.Lithium-ion based batteries were seen as the most applicable way to execute this, as they give the highest energy density with lower losses than stable, commercially available energy storage mediums.It was decided to design, build and integrate a battery system with its safety circuit into a solar car. After material selection suppliers were searched and contacted. With the successful manufacturing of this system combining different processing methods, partially at university and partially in the industry, the project included a monitoring and management system and protective measures. It was implemented so that neither the limitations of the chemistry and the physical cells nor the vibration occurring while driving the car prevents its proper use. Besides this, communication and dimensions to operate within the car followed, allowing the driver and convoy to access information and control the system.This battery system proved to be practical in street use comparable with that of regular cars and posed as a safe and effective energy supply for an electrically driven car, meeting the given demands.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Content and language integrated learning (CLIL) as a language support strategy in a grade 8 natural sciences classroom
- Authors: Thorne, Rochelle
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Language arts -- Correlation with content subjects , Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9466 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020903
- Description: Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is an innovative educational approach in which an additional language is used for the learning and teaching of both language and subject content. Content and Language Integrated Learning is not commonly used in South African classrooms, but its application internationally has been shown by empirical research to significantly improve overall language competence in the target language. Reports indicate increased learner motivation and support for the learning of the content subject. This study sought to consider whether CLIL intervention would improve both language and science skills amongst Grade 8 learners in a Natural Sciences classroom. The researcher used a concurrent embedded mixed method design, including both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to gather data. An experimental test design with English Home Language classes and Afrikaans Home Language classes was employed. Hypothesis Testing was used as a statistical analysis to compare the pre-test and post-test results in order to ascertain the impact of CLIL intervention. In addition, the poster-activity and an open-ended questionnaire was used to qualitatively ascertain the impact of CLIL on learner literacy skills. The results showed that CLIL intervention improved learner performance significantly when compared to learners who were not exposed to CLIL. In addition, CLIL lessons were perceived as effective and learners verified that the approach was beneficial to their learning process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Thorne, Rochelle
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Language arts -- Correlation with content subjects , Science -- Study and teaching (Secondary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9466 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020903
- Description: Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is an innovative educational approach in which an additional language is used for the learning and teaching of both language and subject content. Content and Language Integrated Learning is not commonly used in South African classrooms, but its application internationally has been shown by empirical research to significantly improve overall language competence in the target language. Reports indicate increased learner motivation and support for the learning of the content subject. This study sought to consider whether CLIL intervention would improve both language and science skills amongst Grade 8 learners in a Natural Sciences classroom. The researcher used a concurrent embedded mixed method design, including both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to gather data. An experimental test design with English Home Language classes and Afrikaans Home Language classes was employed. Hypothesis Testing was used as a statistical analysis to compare the pre-test and post-test results in order to ascertain the impact of CLIL intervention. In addition, the poster-activity and an open-ended questionnaire was used to qualitatively ascertain the impact of CLIL on learner literacy skills. The results showed that CLIL intervention improved learner performance significantly when compared to learners who were not exposed to CLIL. In addition, CLIL lessons were perceived as effective and learners verified that the approach was beneficial to their learning process.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Cretaceous dyke swarms and brittle deformation structures in the upper continental crust flanking the Atlantic and Indian margins of Southern Africa, and their relationship to Gondwana break-up
- Authors: Muedi, Thomas Tshifhiwa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Dikes (Geology) -- Africa, Southern , Joints (Geology) -- Africa, Southern , Gondwana (Continent)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10675 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020896
- Description: Permanent brittle deformation of rocks of the upper crust is often manifested in the growth of fractures, or sliding along fractures, which may subsequently be intruded by magma and other fluids. The brittle deformation structures described here include faults, joints and dykes. Brittle deformation structures along passive continental margins result from continental fragmentation and related uplift, as is seen around the southern African margins in response to Gondwana break-up. In many cases the fragmentation is accompanied by significant magmatic events, for example the Cretaceous mafic dyke swarms that form major components of the South Atlantic Large Igneous Province (LIP) and originated during the break-up of West Gondwana (Africa and South America). The magmatic events accompanying the break-up of Gondwana resulted in crustal extension and the formation of joint systems and dyke swarms that exhibit distinct geometric features that appear to display fractal patterns. This work analyses the relationship between the Henties Bay-Outjo Dyke Swarm (HOD) on the west coast of Namibia, and the Ponta Grossa Dyke Swarm (PG) on the coast of Brazil, both of which formed ca. ~130 Ma, to test for their co-linearity and fractal geometry before and during West Gondwana break-up. This was achieved by reconstructing Gondwana‘s plates that contained the PG and HOD swarms, using ArcGIS and Gplates software. The dyke analyses was complemented with a comparative study of joints of the Table Mountain Group quartzites (TMG, ca. 400 Ma) in the Western Cape Province and Golden Valley Sill (GVS, ca. 180 Ma) in the Eastern Cape Province, to compare their fractal patterns and possible relationship. Mapping of joints was carried out in the field with the use of a compass and GPS. The HOD trend is positioned largely NNE > NE, but a NW dyke trend is also common. The dominant joints in the TMG trend NNW > WSW and the GVS joints trend WNW > NNE and others. The GVS and HOD orientations appear strongly correlated, while TMG shows no simple orientation correlation with GVS and HOD. The lack of correlation is attributed to the TMG‘s formation in different host-rocks with variable anisotropy and/or the presence of different mechanical processes acting at a different time in geological history. All mapped dykes and joints were analysed to test for fractal geometry. The fractal dimension results of about 18605 HOD dykes from microscopic to mega scale (0.1 mm – 100 km) shows fractal patterns that range between Df = 1.1 to 1.9; and the fractal dimension of about 1716 joints in the TMG and about 1026 joints in the GVS at all scales range between ca. Df = 1.6 to 1.9. The similarity of the fractal patterns indicates that joints and dykes may have formed in response to similar tectonic stress events; and similar orientations may indicate that joints pre-dated the dyke intrusions. However, the data also indicate that dykes are not always related to pre-existing joints.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Muedi, Thomas Tshifhiwa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Dikes (Geology) -- Africa, Southern , Joints (Geology) -- Africa, Southern , Gondwana (Continent)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10675 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020896
- Description: Permanent brittle deformation of rocks of the upper crust is often manifested in the growth of fractures, or sliding along fractures, which may subsequently be intruded by magma and other fluids. The brittle deformation structures described here include faults, joints and dykes. Brittle deformation structures along passive continental margins result from continental fragmentation and related uplift, as is seen around the southern African margins in response to Gondwana break-up. In many cases the fragmentation is accompanied by significant magmatic events, for example the Cretaceous mafic dyke swarms that form major components of the South Atlantic Large Igneous Province (LIP) and originated during the break-up of West Gondwana (Africa and South America). The magmatic events accompanying the break-up of Gondwana resulted in crustal extension and the formation of joint systems and dyke swarms that exhibit distinct geometric features that appear to display fractal patterns. This work analyses the relationship between the Henties Bay-Outjo Dyke Swarm (HOD) on the west coast of Namibia, and the Ponta Grossa Dyke Swarm (PG) on the coast of Brazil, both of which formed ca. ~130 Ma, to test for their co-linearity and fractal geometry before and during West Gondwana break-up. This was achieved by reconstructing Gondwana‘s plates that contained the PG and HOD swarms, using ArcGIS and Gplates software. The dyke analyses was complemented with a comparative study of joints of the Table Mountain Group quartzites (TMG, ca. 400 Ma) in the Western Cape Province and Golden Valley Sill (GVS, ca. 180 Ma) in the Eastern Cape Province, to compare their fractal patterns and possible relationship. Mapping of joints was carried out in the field with the use of a compass and GPS. The HOD trend is positioned largely NNE > NE, but a NW dyke trend is also common. The dominant joints in the TMG trend NNW > WSW and the GVS joints trend WNW > NNE and others. The GVS and HOD orientations appear strongly correlated, while TMG shows no simple orientation correlation with GVS and HOD. The lack of correlation is attributed to the TMG‘s formation in different host-rocks with variable anisotropy and/or the presence of different mechanical processes acting at a different time in geological history. All mapped dykes and joints were analysed to test for fractal geometry. The fractal dimension results of about 18605 HOD dykes from microscopic to mega scale (0.1 mm – 100 km) shows fractal patterns that range between Df = 1.1 to 1.9; and the fractal dimension of about 1716 joints in the TMG and about 1026 joints in the GVS at all scales range between ca. Df = 1.6 to 1.9. The similarity of the fractal patterns indicates that joints and dykes may have formed in response to similar tectonic stress events; and similar orientations may indicate that joints pre-dated the dyke intrusions. However, the data also indicate that dykes are not always related to pre-existing joints.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Critical core competencies for effective strategic leadership in project management
- Authors: Jowah, Enoch Larry
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Leadership -- Psychological aspects , Project management , Core competencies , Leadership
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9305 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1017230
- Description: Project management is undeniably the fastest growing discipline as organizations move into the euphoria of projectification of their operations. Though projects have been a part of human life since time immemorial, there is a sudden realisation of the effectiveness of the methods used in project management. The enrolment of students studying for project management in tertiary institutions has shown tremendous increase. Yet the project execution process is mired by high failure rates and absence of clarity on the necessary skills required for effective project execution. The authority-gap in project management presents political and operational conflicts, and new innovative ways of authority-gap reduction need to be identified and taught in training programs. Simultaneously there is a realisation by both academics and practitioners that there is a difference between managers and leaders. Extensive studies on leadership have not allowed for a one-stop-leadership-style to be used in leadership of any form, let alone project leadership. In fact there is no standard definition of leadership as this has been heavily contextualized and thereby disallowing the creation of a universal definition. No cast-in-stone leadership styles are known and thereby leaving the research on leadership to concentrate on critical competencies required for effective leadership of projects. This study seeks to establish the core competencies needed by the project leaders and other practitioners to reduce the failure rate and maximise the benefits currently sought after by organisations. Studies have shown that the matrix structure within which the embedded projects work is a contributing factor to the failure of projects. Because projects are executed by people, it would be the proper utilisation of people’s talents and competencies that are expected to yield favourable results. Thus, whilst the matrix structure creates the authority-gap that presents a problem for effective project execution, management-by-projects still remains the best way known to add economic value to performance and productivity. The study therefore focuses on those characteristics of project leaders that will most likely make the difference in the way people perform in the workplace. The research findings emphasised the importance of empowerment of project managers and the development of their interpersonal skills of the project leader with special emphasis on extroversion, genuineness of senior management, and the responsiveness of the project leaders as important requirements for effective authority- gap reduction. These critical competencies will therefore facilitate the project execution process and enhance the empowered project leader’s ability to reduce the high project failure rate and high cost overruns. These competencies apply specifically to the human element as it relates to the role of the project leader and the interaction with the team members, this new knowledge needs to be introduced into training programs and project practitioners.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Jowah, Enoch Larry
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Leadership -- Psychological aspects , Project management , Core competencies , Leadership
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9305 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1017230
- Description: Project management is undeniably the fastest growing discipline as organizations move into the euphoria of projectification of their operations. Though projects have been a part of human life since time immemorial, there is a sudden realisation of the effectiveness of the methods used in project management. The enrolment of students studying for project management in tertiary institutions has shown tremendous increase. Yet the project execution process is mired by high failure rates and absence of clarity on the necessary skills required for effective project execution. The authority-gap in project management presents political and operational conflicts, and new innovative ways of authority-gap reduction need to be identified and taught in training programs. Simultaneously there is a realisation by both academics and practitioners that there is a difference between managers and leaders. Extensive studies on leadership have not allowed for a one-stop-leadership-style to be used in leadership of any form, let alone project leadership. In fact there is no standard definition of leadership as this has been heavily contextualized and thereby disallowing the creation of a universal definition. No cast-in-stone leadership styles are known and thereby leaving the research on leadership to concentrate on critical competencies required for effective leadership of projects. This study seeks to establish the core competencies needed by the project leaders and other practitioners to reduce the failure rate and maximise the benefits currently sought after by organisations. Studies have shown that the matrix structure within which the embedded projects work is a contributing factor to the failure of projects. Because projects are executed by people, it would be the proper utilisation of people’s talents and competencies that are expected to yield favourable results. Thus, whilst the matrix structure creates the authority-gap that presents a problem for effective project execution, management-by-projects still remains the best way known to add economic value to performance and productivity. The study therefore focuses on those characteristics of project leaders that will most likely make the difference in the way people perform in the workplace. The research findings emphasised the importance of empowerment of project managers and the development of their interpersonal skills of the project leader with special emphasis on extroversion, genuineness of senior management, and the responsiveness of the project leaders as important requirements for effective authority- gap reduction. These critical competencies will therefore facilitate the project execution process and enhance the empowered project leader’s ability to reduce the high project failure rate and high cost overruns. These competencies apply specifically to the human element as it relates to the role of the project leader and the interaction with the team members, this new knowledge needs to be introduced into training programs and project practitioners.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Critical factors for business success in co-operatives
- Authors: Mpongoshe, Lukhanyiso
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Cooperative societies -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Success in business -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020041
- Description: Many countries that have achieved economic development have a dynamic co-operative sector which contributes substantially to the development of these economies. From a global perspective, co-operatives have been proven to be flexible in meeting a wide variety of social and economic human needs such as job creation, alleviation of poverty and building of communities. With the drive to decrease poverty in South Africa, there has been an increased interest to support co-operatives with the intention to provide employment, social development and building communities/ community care. It seems, however, that South Africa has not yet reached the same momentum in the co-operatives movement as elsewhere in the world and the economy is still characterized by a high unemployment rate and a low growth rate (Van der Walt, 2002). This study is an attempt to determine the factors for business success in co-operatives by assessing the strengths and weaknesses of co-operative businesses within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape. The study includes an extensive literature review on the nature and prevalence of co-operatives in South Africa where challenges faced by South African co-operatives and particularly those in the Eastern Cape Province, are indicated. It also highlights international best practice and reveals that for co-operative success, apart for functioning by the International Seven Cooperative Principles, knowledge and expertise in business management are absolutely necessary so that co-operatives can be profitable and sustainable. With this knowledge, an adapted form of the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) Small Business Assessment Tool was used to formulate the questionnaire and to review business management literature. A survey conducted involved fifty-one co-operative members on the database of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business Unit. The opinions of the respondents were compared with the guidelines provided by the literature in the study in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of these co-operatives, which then determine the critical success factors for business success in co-operatives. The empirical results show that the co-operative members understand co-operative principles and function through them. They have a fairly general knowledge of business management. The results also show significantly positive correlations between Marketing Management, Financial Management, Operations Management, Human Resources Management and General Management, on the one hand, and the business success of co-operatives, on the other hand. This indicates that these respondents recognize the importance of these business functions in the success of their businesses. However, failures and weaknesses experienced in these areas lead to the recommendations that they need to be mentored as they cannot put this knowledge into application, and secondly, they need financial assistance and support to sustain the co-operative businesses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mpongoshe, Lukhanyiso
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Cooperative societies -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Success in business -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8842 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020041
- Description: Many countries that have achieved economic development have a dynamic co-operative sector which contributes substantially to the development of these economies. From a global perspective, co-operatives have been proven to be flexible in meeting a wide variety of social and economic human needs such as job creation, alleviation of poverty and building of communities. With the drive to decrease poverty in South Africa, there has been an increased interest to support co-operatives with the intention to provide employment, social development and building communities/ community care. It seems, however, that South Africa has not yet reached the same momentum in the co-operatives movement as elsewhere in the world and the economy is still characterized by a high unemployment rate and a low growth rate (Van der Walt, 2002). This study is an attempt to determine the factors for business success in co-operatives by assessing the strengths and weaknesses of co-operative businesses within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape. The study includes an extensive literature review on the nature and prevalence of co-operatives in South Africa where challenges faced by South African co-operatives and particularly those in the Eastern Cape Province, are indicated. It also highlights international best practice and reveals that for co-operative success, apart for functioning by the International Seven Cooperative Principles, knowledge and expertise in business management are absolutely necessary so that co-operatives can be profitable and sustainable. With this knowledge, an adapted form of the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) Small Business Assessment Tool was used to formulate the questionnaire and to review business management literature. A survey conducted involved fifty-one co-operative members on the database of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business Unit. The opinions of the respondents were compared with the guidelines provided by the literature in the study in order to identify the strengths and weaknesses of these co-operatives, which then determine the critical success factors for business success in co-operatives. The empirical results show that the co-operative members understand co-operative principles and function through them. They have a fairly general knowledge of business management. The results also show significantly positive correlations between Marketing Management, Financial Management, Operations Management, Human Resources Management and General Management, on the one hand, and the business success of co-operatives, on the other hand. This indicates that these respondents recognize the importance of these business functions in the success of their businesses. However, failures and weaknesses experienced in these areas lead to the recommendations that they need to be mentored as they cannot put this knowledge into application, and secondly, they need financial assistance and support to sustain the co-operative businesses.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Dambudzo Marechera: a psychobiographical study
- Muchena, Kudakwashe Christopher
- Authors: Muchena, Kudakwashe Christopher
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Marechera, Dambudzo, 1952-1987 , Developmental psychology , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Authors -- Biography , Authors, African -- 20th century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9964 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020777
- Description: Marechera the Zimbabwean writer, poet and novelist emerged in the late 1970s as a new voice in African literature, but his writing career lasted less than a decade. It was his iconoclastic, dense style that expressed the psychological disintegration prevalent in Africa during this period and challenged the central beliefs of both the nationalist and post-independence eras. Defying the limitations of nationality, race and culture, Marechera’s writing explores universal issues, particularly urban existence in the late twentieth century. Marechera’s life and work were closely linked. His outspoken views and unorthodox lifestyle brought him into frequent conflict with the authorities and contributed to him being perceived as a cult figure. Through his work and personality he became a major inspiration and role model for the younger generation of writers in Zimbabwe and other African countries. The present study is a psychobiographical case study with the primary aim being to explore and describe the personality development of Dambudzo Marechera (1952-1987) using Alfred Adler’s theory of Individual Psychology. It was through the use of a theory of psychological development that a better understanding of Marechera’s personality, based on his cultural and historical background was achieved and a new interpretation and explanation was reported. The findings of the study can be generalised to the theory of individual psychology through the process of analytical generalization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Muchena, Kudakwashe Christopher
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Marechera, Dambudzo, 1952-1987 , Developmental psychology , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Authors -- Biography , Authors, African -- 20th century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9964 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020777
- Description: Marechera the Zimbabwean writer, poet and novelist emerged in the late 1970s as a new voice in African literature, but his writing career lasted less than a decade. It was his iconoclastic, dense style that expressed the psychological disintegration prevalent in Africa during this period and challenged the central beliefs of both the nationalist and post-independence eras. Defying the limitations of nationality, race and culture, Marechera’s writing explores universal issues, particularly urban existence in the late twentieth century. Marechera’s life and work were closely linked. His outspoken views and unorthodox lifestyle brought him into frequent conflict with the authorities and contributed to him being perceived as a cult figure. Through his work and personality he became a major inspiration and role model for the younger generation of writers in Zimbabwe and other African countries. The present study is a psychobiographical case study with the primary aim being to explore and describe the personality development of Dambudzo Marechera (1952-1987) using Alfred Adler’s theory of Individual Psychology. It was through the use of a theory of psychological development that a better understanding of Marechera’s personality, based on his cultural and historical background was achieved and a new interpretation and explanation was reported. The findings of the study can be generalised to the theory of individual psychology through the process of analytical generalization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Designing multi-touch tabletop interaction techniques to support co-located Group Information Management
- Authors: Ditta, Mohammed Ali
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Groupware (Computer software) , Teams in the workplace -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10493 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020639
- Description: Co-located group information management (GIM) is a form of groupware with the aim of enabling users to collaboratively find, store, maintain, organise and share personal and/or group information in support of a group activity. Existing systems aimed at partially supporting GIM activities have been implemented on single user devices. These systems make use of asynchronous communication that may hinder collaboration by misinterpretation, information leaks, etc. Few systems exist, with limited functionality, that support co-located GIM. Multi-touch tabletop interaction has given rise to a new approach for supporting Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). Multi-touch tabletops allow multiple users to naturally interact with a computer device using a shared display and gesture interaction. The tabletop environment also enables users to sit in a natural environment and synchronously communicate without bulky desktops or laptops. Multi-touch tabletops provide the hardware necessary to support co-located GIM. Existing multi-touch interaction techniques were analysed and proved insufficient to support the advanced functional requirements of GIM. The goal of this research was therefore to support co-located GIM by designing new multi-touch tabletop interaction techniques. An architecture was proposed to support co-located GIM with new multi-touch interaction techniques. A software prototype was developed based on the proposed architecture to facilitate the main activities of GIM and to collaboratively compile documents. The prototype was named CollaGIM (Colla – collaborative, GIM – group information management). CollaGIM supports the main activities of GIM using natural gesture interaction on a multi-touch tabletop. An evaluation of the software was conducted by means of a user study where 15 teams of two people participated. High task success rates and user satisfaction results were achieved, which showed that CollaGIM was capable of supporting co-located GIM using the new multi-touch tabletop interaction techniques. CollaGIM also positively supported collaboration between users.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Ditta, Mohammed Ali
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Groupware (Computer software) , Teams in the workplace -- Data processing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10493 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020639
- Description: Co-located group information management (GIM) is a form of groupware with the aim of enabling users to collaboratively find, store, maintain, organise and share personal and/or group information in support of a group activity. Existing systems aimed at partially supporting GIM activities have been implemented on single user devices. These systems make use of asynchronous communication that may hinder collaboration by misinterpretation, information leaks, etc. Few systems exist, with limited functionality, that support co-located GIM. Multi-touch tabletop interaction has given rise to a new approach for supporting Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). Multi-touch tabletops allow multiple users to naturally interact with a computer device using a shared display and gesture interaction. The tabletop environment also enables users to sit in a natural environment and synchronously communicate without bulky desktops or laptops. Multi-touch tabletops provide the hardware necessary to support co-located GIM. Existing multi-touch interaction techniques were analysed and proved insufficient to support the advanced functional requirements of GIM. The goal of this research was therefore to support co-located GIM by designing new multi-touch tabletop interaction techniques. An architecture was proposed to support co-located GIM with new multi-touch interaction techniques. A software prototype was developed based on the proposed architecture to facilitate the main activities of GIM and to collaboratively compile documents. The prototype was named CollaGIM (Colla – collaborative, GIM – group information management). CollaGIM supports the main activities of GIM using natural gesture interaction on a multi-touch tabletop. An evaluation of the software was conducted by means of a user study where 15 teams of two people participated. High task success rates and user satisfaction results were achieved, which showed that CollaGIM was capable of supporting co-located GIM using the new multi-touch tabletop interaction techniques. CollaGIM also positively supported collaboration between users.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Determining the factors that influence customer service excellence in the South African retail sector
- Authors: Nzo, Yolisa Nomfundo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Retail trade -- Customer services -- South Africa -- Centurion , Relationship marketing -- South Africa -- Centurion , Employee empowerment -- South Africa -- Centurion , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa -- Centurion , Employee morale -- South Africa -- Centurion
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8776 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012956
- Description: Customer service excellence (CSE) is the common thread that binds all businesses; as without customers no trade can take place. The South African retail sector is one of the drivers of the economy and it is important that CSE is continuously monitored to ensure that standards of excellence are maintained. What remains unknown and unmeasured is the impact of the employees and the organisation on CSE. The retail sector is dependent on its customer facing employees to be the face and character of the store. Investment in advertising and other media exposure must ultimately be tested when a consumer visits a store and experiences the CSE on the ground and in real time. The investment for the retailer becomes worthwhile if the real face of the company reflects the promises made in the media; and that is in the hands of the men and women who work in the stores. This study sought to find out the impact of employees and organisations in the Centurion mall based retail stores on CSE. Literature was reviewed and quantitative and qualitative research methods was undertaken by means of questionnaires that were distributed to the staff and management of national branded stores in the malls around Centurion. The results obtained were then discussed in terms of each variable tested. The study found that organisational commitment, employee education and employee training have a strong relationship to customer service excellence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Nzo, Yolisa Nomfundo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Retail trade -- Customer services -- South Africa -- Centurion , Relationship marketing -- South Africa -- Centurion , Employee empowerment -- South Africa -- Centurion , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa -- Centurion , Employee morale -- South Africa -- Centurion
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8776 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012956
- Description: Customer service excellence (CSE) is the common thread that binds all businesses; as without customers no trade can take place. The South African retail sector is one of the drivers of the economy and it is important that CSE is continuously monitored to ensure that standards of excellence are maintained. What remains unknown and unmeasured is the impact of the employees and the organisation on CSE. The retail sector is dependent on its customer facing employees to be the face and character of the store. Investment in advertising and other media exposure must ultimately be tested when a consumer visits a store and experiences the CSE on the ground and in real time. The investment for the retailer becomes worthwhile if the real face of the company reflects the promises made in the media; and that is in the hands of the men and women who work in the stores. This study sought to find out the impact of employees and organisations in the Centurion mall based retail stores on CSE. Literature was reviewed and quantitative and qualitative research methods was undertaken by means of questionnaires that were distributed to the staff and management of national branded stores in the malls around Centurion. The results obtained were then discussed in terms of each variable tested. The study found that organisational commitment, employee education and employee training have a strong relationship to customer service excellence.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Determining the impact of leadership on the success of entrepreneurs
- Authors: Mtshibe, Nomaswazi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Leadership , Success in business , Entrepreneurship -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8920 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021108
- Description: The Eastern Cape Province has been cited as the second poorest province in South Africa. The impact of entrepreneurship on the economy, with respect to socio-economic development, has placed increased pressure on entrepreneurs to operate effectively. Moreover, entrepreneurs are required to adopt and adapt to leadership practices that lead to business success. Business success is largely dependent on the leader. The importance of this study may, thus, be attributed to the need for entrepreneurs to possess the necessary leadership attributes for the efficient running of a business. The primary objective of this study was to improve the success rate of entrepreneurs in the Eastern Cape Province. This was done by determining the impact of selected leadership attributes on the success of entrepreneurs. More specifically, this study investigated how the success of entrepreneurs is influenced by leadership attributes (the dependent variable), namely, leadership style, vision, networking, risk-taking and ethics (the independent variables). In order to achieve the research objectives, the researcher used the inferential statistical approach, specifically, hypothesis testing. The first step was to conduct a literature review on factors that influence entrepreneurs. This entailed the barriers to success, critical success factors, the impact of the SMME sector on the economy, as well as the selected leadership attributes. Secondly, the quantitative research method was used to assess the perceptions of entrepreneurs with regards to the influence of the leadership attributes on their businesses. This was done through an empirical survey, namely a self-administered questionnaire that was distributed to a sample of 100 entrepreneurs who are based in the Eastern Cape Province and have been operating for a minimum of three years. Out of the envisaged 100 respondents, 89 questionnaires were completed (89% response rate). The data obtained from the empirical survey was then analysed statistically and the descriptive statistics were presented by using graphs and tables. The results of the empirical survey revealed that although all the above-mentioned independent variables contribute towards increasing the success rate of entrepreneurs, networking and ethics exert the most significant influence. Based on the findings of the literature review and the results of the empirical survey, this study made recommendations on areas of improvement for entrepreneurs in order to increase their success rate. Suggestions were also made for possible future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mtshibe, Nomaswazi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Leadership , Success in business , Entrepreneurship -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8920 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021108
- Description: The Eastern Cape Province has been cited as the second poorest province in South Africa. The impact of entrepreneurship on the economy, with respect to socio-economic development, has placed increased pressure on entrepreneurs to operate effectively. Moreover, entrepreneurs are required to adopt and adapt to leadership practices that lead to business success. Business success is largely dependent on the leader. The importance of this study may, thus, be attributed to the need for entrepreneurs to possess the necessary leadership attributes for the efficient running of a business. The primary objective of this study was to improve the success rate of entrepreneurs in the Eastern Cape Province. This was done by determining the impact of selected leadership attributes on the success of entrepreneurs. More specifically, this study investigated how the success of entrepreneurs is influenced by leadership attributes (the dependent variable), namely, leadership style, vision, networking, risk-taking and ethics (the independent variables). In order to achieve the research objectives, the researcher used the inferential statistical approach, specifically, hypothesis testing. The first step was to conduct a literature review on factors that influence entrepreneurs. This entailed the barriers to success, critical success factors, the impact of the SMME sector on the economy, as well as the selected leadership attributes. Secondly, the quantitative research method was used to assess the perceptions of entrepreneurs with regards to the influence of the leadership attributes on their businesses. This was done through an empirical survey, namely a self-administered questionnaire that was distributed to a sample of 100 entrepreneurs who are based in the Eastern Cape Province and have been operating for a minimum of three years. Out of the envisaged 100 respondents, 89 questionnaires were completed (89% response rate). The data obtained from the empirical survey was then analysed statistically and the descriptive statistics were presented by using graphs and tables. The results of the empirical survey revealed that although all the above-mentioned independent variables contribute towards increasing the success rate of entrepreneurs, networking and ethics exert the most significant influence. Based on the findings of the literature review and the results of the empirical survey, this study made recommendations on areas of improvement for entrepreneurs in order to increase their success rate. Suggestions were also made for possible future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Determining the impact of leadership on the success of entrepreneurs
- Authors: Mtshibe, Nomaswazi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Leadership , Success in business
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8852 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020126
- Description: The Eastern Cape Province has been cited as the second poorest province in South Africa. The impact of entrepreneurship on the economy, with respect to socio-economic development, has placed increased pressure on entrepreneurs to operate effectively. Moreover, entrepreneurs are required to adopt and adapt to leadership practices that lead to business success. Business success is largely dependent on the leader. The importance of this study may, thus, be attributed to the need for entrepreneurs to possess the necessary leadership attributes for the efficient running of a business. The primary objective of this study was to improve the success rate of entrepreneurs in the Eastern Cape Province. This was done by determining the impact of selected leadership attributes on the success of entrepreneurs. More specifically, this study investigated how the success of entrepreneurs is influenced by leadership attributes (the dependent variable), namely, leadership style, vision, networking, risk-taking and ethics (the independent variables). In order to achieve the research objectives, the researcher used the inferential statistical approach, specifically, hypothesis testing. The first step was to conduct a literature review on factors that influence entrepreneurs. This entailed the barriers to success, critical success factors, the impact of the SMME sector on the economy, as well as the selected leadership attributes. Secondly, the quantitative research method was used to assess the perceptions of entrepreneurs with regards to the influence of the leadership attributes on their businesses. This was done through an empirical survey, namely a self-administered questionnaire that was distributed to a sample of 100 entrepreneurs who are based in the Eastern Cape Province and have been operating for a minimum of three years. Out of the envisaged 100 respondents, 89 questionnaires were completed (89% response rate). The data obtained from the empirical survey was then analysed statistically and the descriptive statistics were presented by using graphs and tables. The results of the empirical survey revealed that although all the above-mentioned independent variables contribute towards increasing the success rate of entrepreneurs, networking and ethics exert the most significant influence. Based on the findings of the literature review and the results of the empirical survey, this study made recommendations on areas of improvement for entrepreneurs in order to increase their success rate. Suggestions were also made for possible future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mtshibe, Nomaswazi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Leadership , Success in business
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8852 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020126
- Description: The Eastern Cape Province has been cited as the second poorest province in South Africa. The impact of entrepreneurship on the economy, with respect to socio-economic development, has placed increased pressure on entrepreneurs to operate effectively. Moreover, entrepreneurs are required to adopt and adapt to leadership practices that lead to business success. Business success is largely dependent on the leader. The importance of this study may, thus, be attributed to the need for entrepreneurs to possess the necessary leadership attributes for the efficient running of a business. The primary objective of this study was to improve the success rate of entrepreneurs in the Eastern Cape Province. This was done by determining the impact of selected leadership attributes on the success of entrepreneurs. More specifically, this study investigated how the success of entrepreneurs is influenced by leadership attributes (the dependent variable), namely, leadership style, vision, networking, risk-taking and ethics (the independent variables). In order to achieve the research objectives, the researcher used the inferential statistical approach, specifically, hypothesis testing. The first step was to conduct a literature review on factors that influence entrepreneurs. This entailed the barriers to success, critical success factors, the impact of the SMME sector on the economy, as well as the selected leadership attributes. Secondly, the quantitative research method was used to assess the perceptions of entrepreneurs with regards to the influence of the leadership attributes on their businesses. This was done through an empirical survey, namely a self-administered questionnaire that was distributed to a sample of 100 entrepreneurs who are based in the Eastern Cape Province and have been operating for a minimum of three years. Out of the envisaged 100 respondents, 89 questionnaires were completed (89% response rate). The data obtained from the empirical survey was then analysed statistically and the descriptive statistics were presented by using graphs and tables. The results of the empirical survey revealed that although all the above-mentioned independent variables contribute towards increasing the success rate of entrepreneurs, networking and ethics exert the most significant influence. Based on the findings of the literature review and the results of the empirical survey, this study made recommendations on areas of improvement for entrepreneurs in order to increase their success rate. Suggestions were also made for possible future research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Developing a business model for growth in social enterprise : a case study of a hybrid organisation
- Authors: Olivier, Grant Jerome
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Social entrepreneurship , Business planning , Free enterprise -- Social aspects , Small business -- Growth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8854 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020137
- Description: The Intshona Group of Companies operates in South Africa as a hybrid agribusiness combining entrepreneurial principles with a philosophy of social upliftment in Africa. This research views Intshona through the lens of social entrepreneurship theory, a hybrid research field with a dominant theme being the need for growth and scaling of impact, but which is seen as fragmented, containing ambiguities and lagging practice. In this research, a case study of Intshona is developed based on questionnaires and interviews with the organisation’s management, a concerned NGO, social beneficiaries as well as employees. The result is a two-way flow of knowledge integrating elements of existing social enterprise theory with Intshona’s business practices, building on a generic model of entrepreneurship and culminating in a business model for growth in a social enterprise. The research delivers strategic directives for Intshona for its future growth, presents a case study for addition to the body of knowledge on social entrepreneurship and concludes with suggestions for further research to continue developing theory.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Olivier, Grant Jerome
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Social entrepreneurship , Business planning , Free enterprise -- Social aspects , Small business -- Growth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8854 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020137
- Description: The Intshona Group of Companies operates in South Africa as a hybrid agribusiness combining entrepreneurial principles with a philosophy of social upliftment in Africa. This research views Intshona through the lens of social entrepreneurship theory, a hybrid research field with a dominant theme being the need for growth and scaling of impact, but which is seen as fragmented, containing ambiguities and lagging practice. In this research, a case study of Intshona is developed based on questionnaires and interviews with the organisation’s management, a concerned NGO, social beneficiaries as well as employees. The result is a two-way flow of knowledge integrating elements of existing social enterprise theory with Intshona’s business practices, building on a generic model of entrepreneurship and culminating in a business model for growth in a social enterprise. The research delivers strategic directives for Intshona for its future growth, presents a case study for addition to the body of knowledge on social entrepreneurship and concludes with suggestions for further research to continue developing theory.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Development and validation of in-process control test kits for biodiesel production
- Authors: Fibi, Pumza Oscarine
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Biodiesel fuels -- South Africa , Biomass energy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10416 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012645 , Biodiesel fuels -- South Africa , Biomass energy -- South Africa
- Description: The production of biodiesel from vegetable oils is not a new technology; it has been around since the 1950’s and both the research in terms of the different feedstock that can be used and the production of biodiesel has since been gaining momentum as there needs to be a new, sustainable and domestic alternative to petroleum fuels. These petroleum fuels pose enormous threats to the environment and therefore need to be replaced as they are mostly contributing to climate change and global warming not to mention the frequent price hikes which are crippling the South African economy. Biodiesel production using vegetable oils seems to be and is the future and a law has recently been passed which sanctions the production of biofuel locally.[1] South African fuel producers will instigate obligatory blending of fossil fuel with biofuel as the country moves to encourage investment in its biofuels sector. The production of biodiesel locally and the blending of biodiesel with other petroleum products will reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel. The already established petrochemical companies like BP, Sasol and Engine are therefore mandated to purchase these biofuels if and when the biofuels meet the required South African National Standard (SANS) 1935 requirements. This is then where the challenge comes as most of these growing biofuel companies cannot afford to purchase testing equipment.The growing companiesthen discover upon completion of the biofuel manufacturing process that their product does not meet the required standard specification. The failure translates to a financial loss as the final product can possibly not be reworked. The aim of the project is then to assist these companies who are manufacturing biofuel, by providing them with in-house biofuel process methods which will allow for early detection, should there be a need to redo a step in the process and not wait until the completion of the production process. These in-house process-testing methods will range from pH determination, titration tests which will determine the soap content and the percentage free fatty acid content, water determination, density and visual testing. It is not cost-effective for these biodiesel manufacturers to send their samples for outsource testing as evidently the results obtained would be out of specification hence the need to provide these biodiesel manufacturers with in-house analytical testing techniques that will aid in monitoring of the biodiesel production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Fibi, Pumza Oscarine
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Biodiesel fuels -- South Africa , Biomass energy -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10416 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012645 , Biodiesel fuels -- South Africa , Biomass energy -- South Africa
- Description: The production of biodiesel from vegetable oils is not a new technology; it has been around since the 1950’s and both the research in terms of the different feedstock that can be used and the production of biodiesel has since been gaining momentum as there needs to be a new, sustainable and domestic alternative to petroleum fuels. These petroleum fuels pose enormous threats to the environment and therefore need to be replaced as they are mostly contributing to climate change and global warming not to mention the frequent price hikes which are crippling the South African economy. Biodiesel production using vegetable oils seems to be and is the future and a law has recently been passed which sanctions the production of biofuel locally.[1] South African fuel producers will instigate obligatory blending of fossil fuel with biofuel as the country moves to encourage investment in its biofuels sector. The production of biodiesel locally and the blending of biodiesel with other petroleum products will reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel. The already established petrochemical companies like BP, Sasol and Engine are therefore mandated to purchase these biofuels if and when the biofuels meet the required South African National Standard (SANS) 1935 requirements. This is then where the challenge comes as most of these growing biofuel companies cannot afford to purchase testing equipment.The growing companiesthen discover upon completion of the biofuel manufacturing process that their product does not meet the required standard specification. The failure translates to a financial loss as the final product can possibly not be reworked. The aim of the project is then to assist these companies who are manufacturing biofuel, by providing them with in-house biofuel process methods which will allow for early detection, should there be a need to redo a step in the process and not wait until the completion of the production process. These in-house process-testing methods will range from pH determination, titration tests which will determine the soap content and the percentage free fatty acid content, water determination, density and visual testing. It is not cost-effective for these biodiesel manufacturers to send their samples for outsource testing as evidently the results obtained would be out of specification hence the need to provide these biodiesel manufacturers with in-house analytical testing techniques that will aid in monitoring of the biodiesel production.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013