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An assesssment of skills development programmes for selected employees: the case of Amathole District Municipality

  • Authors: Gaqazele, Constance Yandisa
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Amathole District Municipality , Career development -- South Africa -- Amathole District Municipality , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Amathole District Municipality
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
  • Identifier: vital:8349 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020827
  • Description: Municipalities play an important role in accelerating service delivery to all communities. This study is an assessment of skills development programmes for selected employees at the Amathole District Municipality (ADM). The ADM is known as a predominantly rural district. The study revealed that the municipality is faced with a lack of proper skills to accelerate service delivery. This has resulted in the institution neglecting to invest in the development of those competencies needed to function in a constantly changing educational, training and development environment. The success of any organisation depends on its human resources, who are the most important asset. Therefore effective and efficient human resources management and training and development management play a critical role in the well-being of employees. Human resources training and development policies, practices and activities guide the institution with implementation of services and should take on a more strategic role to achieve their objectives. The researcher employed the quantitative research methodology for purposes of the empirical survey and also reviewed official documents and reports. A suitably constructed questionnaire was developed and distributed to the selected sample group from the ADM. The researcher also consulted legislation, official documents, articles, journals, policy documents, reports and books in an effort to obtain as much relevant information as possible. Based on the information gathered from the respondents and literature review the researcher proposes certain recommendations in the final chapter of the treatise.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An economic analysis of an intensive sheep production system on cultivated pastures in South Africa, incorporating creep feeding- and accelerated breeding practices

  • Authors: Terblanche, Stefan
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Pastures -- Irrigation -- South Africa , Sheep -- Productivity -- South Africa , Sheep -- Feeding and feeds
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
  • Identifier: vital:10737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020939
  • Description: The South African sheep industry has experienced an increase in the price of meat and wool over the past several years. This has led to an interest in intensification of sheep production off planted pastures. Due to this phenomenon an economic viability study was done on the intensification of sheep production on cultivated pastures under irrigation. When intensifying sheep production, certain management practices need to be incorporated in order to enhance the output obtained per hectare and to overcome the higher input cost of production. Management practices that could be included are creep feeding, accelerated breeding and feedlotting of lambs after weaning. In order to determine the economic viability of such a system, certain production parameters need to be obtained for producing sheep intensively from cultivated pastures. Three studies were conducted to obtain the required production parameters; these were then followed by an economic evaluation incorporating the parameters obtained from the studies. All the studies were conducted at Kromme Rhee and Langgewens, two research farms of the Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An economic analysis of concentrator photovoltaic technology use in South Africa: a case study

  • Authors: Beukes, Justin
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Renewable energy resources , Power resources -- Economic aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:9017 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018636
  • Description: South Africa relies heavily on fossil fuels, particularly coal, to generate electricity and it is a well known fact that the use of fossil fuels contributes to climate change, as it produces greenhouse gases (GHGs). In fact, internationally South Africa is the 17th highest emitter of GHGs (Congressional Research Service (CRS), 2008). Coupled with the environmental consequences of fossil fuel use, South Africa has a further responsibility of addressing the inherited backlog of electricity provision to the rural, and previously disadvantaged communities. In an attempt to address these two problems, the government issued the White Paper on Renewable Energy. In this paper, renewable energy alternatives are proposed to replace a portion of traditional electricity generating methods. Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) energy generation is one such renewable option available to government. CPV uses optic elements (such as lenses) to concentrate sunlight onto solar cells. Owing to the light being concentrated, the cells in CPV use less semiconductor material, which makes them more efficient in comparison to conventional photovoltaic (PV) cells. CPV is a technology that operates well in regions with high solar radiation. As such, South Africa is particularly well suited for this technology, with average solar radiation levels ranging from 4.5 to 6.5 05 ℎ/. CPV is also well suited for off-grid application, which addresses electricity demand in remote rural areas. This study is an economic project analysis of the installation, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of CPV technology in a rural area in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study area chosen for this purpose is the Tyefu settlement in the Eastern Cape. Tyefu was deemed ideal for this type of analysis due to four characteristics. Firstly, Tyefu is a remote rural settlement at the end of the national grid. Secondly, the community is very poor and previously disadvantaged. Thirdly, many households are without Eskom generated electricity. Lastly, the study area is located in an area with ideal irradiance levels for CPV. Two methods of economic project analysis are applied to this case study, namely a costbenefit analysis (CBA) and a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). Additionally, two types of CBA are performed, namely a private CBA and a social CBA. The private CBA evaluates the Tyefu electrification project from a private investor's perspective and the social CBA evaluates the project from society's point of view. The CEAs carried out compare the costeffectiveness of the traditional PV technology to that of CPV in terms of private and social costs. The private costs and benefits of the CPV project were identified and valued in terms of market prices. Then, this cost benefit profile was used to calculate net benefits which in turn were discounted to present values using a private discount rate of 6.42 percent. Three decision making criteria were generated, namely the net present value (NPV), the internal rate of return (IRR) and the benefit cost ratio (BCR). Sensitivity analysis was carried out by varying the private discount rate and the bidding price. The social costs and benefits of the CPV project were identified and valued in terms of shadow prices. This cost benefit profile was used to calculate net benefits. The net benefits were discounted to present values using a composite social discount rate equal to 5.97 percent. The same decision making criteria used in the private CBA were used in the social CBA and a sensitivity analysis was completed by varying the social discount rate. In terms of the private CEA, the costs were identified and valued in terms of market prices. All costs were brought to present values using the private discount rate of 6.42 percent. In terms of the social CEA, the costs were identified and valued in terms of shadow prices. All costs were brought to present values using the social discount rate of 5.97 percent. The cost-effectiveness (CE) ratios calculated have identical denominators since the annual output for both technologies are identical - both CPV and PV systems deliver 30 300 kWh per annum. This output is based on the demand of the given case study. The private CBA showed unfavourable results. The private CBA has a NPV of R2 046 629.01, the IRR is undefined (this is due to no sign change being present in the cost benefit profile), and has a BCR of 0.365. However, the social CBA yielded positive results, with a NPV of R125 616.64, an IRR of 8 percent (which exceeds the social discount rate of 5.97 percent), and a BCR of 1.045. The CEA showed that the CPV is more cost-effective than the traditional PV both in terms of private and social costs. The private CE ratio of CPV is R4.23/kWh compared to PV's CE ratio of R4.39/kWh. Similarly, the social CE ratio of CPV is R3.51/kWh compared to PV's CE ratio of R3.69/kWh. CPV rollout appears to be socially efficient on a small scale according to the social CBA. Consequently, the CPV project is not seen as desirable in terms of the private CBA as the benefit (income received per kWh) in the private analysis is too small to outweigh the costs of implementing and running a CPV plant in Tyefu. On the other hand, a redeeming factor is that CPV may be feasible privately, for large scale applications. A major reason for the CPV project not being appealing to private investors is that the maximum bidding price of R2.85/kWh (as at August 2011) is not high enough for private investors to undertake the CPV project. The sensitivity analysis of the bidding price showed that the bidding price of R2.85/kWh needs to be increased in the range of 250 percent (R7.13/kWh) and 300 percent (R8.55/kWh) for a great enough incentive to exist for private investors. It is thus recommended that policymakers take this into consideration when formulating policy. In terms of the social CBA, it is recommended that government undertake CPV projects of this kind, as it will be a socially desirable allocation of resources. If government were to pursue these types of projects, it is recommended that CPV be implemented as it is more cost effective than PV.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An empirical analysis of financial stress within South Africa and its apparent co-movement with financial stress emanating from advanced and emerging economies

  • Authors: Graham, Brydone
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Financial crises -- South Africa Financial crises -- Developing countries Globalization -- Economic aspects -- South Africa International economic relations South Africa -- Economic conditions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:1053 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006795
  • Description: The identification of financial stress, and an understanding of financial contagion on a global scale, is of critical importance to a South African economy that is becoming increasingly integrated into the global economy. The last decade has been characterised by periods of high economic growth, but also periods of significant financial instability culminating in global economic crises. This study examines the extent to which the South African financial system is exposed to distress abroad by identifying and measuring the co-movement of financial stress originating from within and outside South Africa. The study can be separated into two sections: the identification of financial stress and the measurement of financial contagion. Using monthly data for the period 2000 to 2012, three indices were constructed for the emerging markets, advanced economies and South Africa using varianceequal weighting. The indices were tested for contagion using the Johansen and Jesulius (1990) multivariate cointegration approach supplemented with basic OLS architecture and Impulse Response analysis. The results indicate the three constructed indices were highly accurate at identifying the intensity and timing of financial stress over the three regions respectively. It was found that the South African financial sector is highly susceptible to financial stress originating from advanced economies. The results obtained for financial stress emanating from emerging markets were not as conclusive and found to be insignificant. Overall, it is clear that the methods employed to identify financial stress are highly accurate and that South Africa is highly susceptible to financial stress originating from abroad. It is clear that advanced economies have a greater ability to affect financial stress in South Africa via contagion. It must be noted that this does not conclude that South Africa is not affected by emerging market crises, but that these crises tend to affect South Africa through advanced economy channels as defined within this thesis.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An empirical application of the Tobin’s Q theory in housing investments in South Africa

  • Authors: Sitima, Innocent
  • Date: 2013
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com
  • Identifier: vital:11474 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1013581
  • Description: This study examines the patterns in the housing investments in South Africa in an attempt to understand if the possibility of the Tobin Q can be used to interpret the patterns and trends in the South African residential investments. The study, in its quest to explore and expose this intermporal relationship, it makes use of the South African annual time series data from 1960- 2010. The data was computed in different economic and econometric analysis software for better and reliable output, depending on the different level econometric technique that is required and need to be captured by the study. The dynamic investment equation is estimated using general- to- specific ARDL approach to magnify this connection and trends. The study established that combined asset prices and the levels of residential investment affect the long run investment performance rather than the Tobin Q. In the short run the lagged values of the Q, Business investment and residential investments seemed to be influential driving forces of private investment in South Africa. Even if the capital reserves in South Africa seem to be healthy, there is always a dire call for policy to be geared in the direction of the accessibility of credit to guarantee a supplementary conducive investment climate.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An empirical investigation into task aversion

  • Authors: Sunshine, Megan
  • Date: 2013 , 2013-07-25
  • Subjects: Work aversion , Mental fatigue , Labor productivity , Employees -- Workload , Industrial hygiene
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:5138 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006085 , Work aversion , Mental fatigue , Labor productivity , Employees -- Workload , Industrial hygiene
  • Description: Aversion is a complex phenomenon that arises over time through performance of cognitively demanding tasks and has been associated with the mechanisms of mental fatigue and compensatory control. However, little is known about this sensation to dissociate from the task at hand and the causation thereof. It is apparent that aversion is a negative state for the operator and could result in decreased performance and productivity. Through identification of factors that contribute to aversion when performing cognitively demanding tasks, recommendations to reduce design deficits may be employed to promote worker wellbeing and further advance performance and productivity. The current study examined possible factors that may influence aversion experienced through execution of cognitive tasks. A subsequent aim of this study was to assess a possible cause of aversion. The cause of aversion was hypothesized to be related to efficiency, namely the perception of efficiency when performing tasks and actual efficiency calculated through performance of tasks in relation to the expenditure of effort. Four investigations were undertaken with a non-repeated design between investigations and a repeated design within investigations. The first investigation was an analysis of the effect that stimulus cycling had on the aversion experienced. This consisted of a proof reading task with two conditions varying in the repetitiveness of the text, therefore, allowing an analysis as to how aversion is altered by the provision of a new stimulus to the participants. Investigation two investigated the effect that task difficulty imposed on aversion experienced. This comprised of two conditions with varied difficulty that were implemented through a driving simulator tracking task with difficulty altered by the width of the driving lane. The effect of performance feedback on the aversion experienced towards a task was the focus of the third investigation. The effect on aversion experienced was assessed through a driving simulator tracking task with a condition providing feedback of performance to participants and a condition with no knowledge of performance. The final experiment evaluated the effect of task alternations on aversion. This experiment was conducted through alternations between a driving simulator tracking task and a choice reaction task. The choice reaction tasks required participants to identify critical and non-critical stimulus. Four conditions were required for this experiment and were made up of two conditions where there was provision of alternation that varied in frequencies between the two tasks (medium alternation condition and fast alternation condition) and two conditions where no alternations were instated (driving simulator task condition and choice reaction task condition). Separations between all testing conditions were three or more days apart with sixty participants distributed between the investigations. Test duration of each condition was 30 minutes. Subjective data was recorded throughout investigations for all conditions in the form of aversion, subjectively perceived efficiency and rate of perceived exertion. Objective data was collected in the form of physiological responses and performance of tasks for the analysis of objective efficiency. For factors influencing aversion analysis, no differences in aversion experienced were found for the task difficulty and performance feedback investigations. Aversion was found to be less for the changes imposed through the task cycles and task alternation investigations. This concludes that aversion is aggravated through monotonous tasks and by a change of the stimulus or the structure of the cognitive tasks provided to operators; aversion can be alleviated. The results for the cause of aversion analysis found no difference in objective efficiency over time, with a subsequent decrease in perceived efficiency associated with the increasing aversion. Inference from these findings suggest that aversion cannot be attributed to objective inefficiency of task performance, however it can further be assumed that perception of actual efficiency is inaccurate. Perception of efficiency however had a large influence on the sensation of aversion. Aversion is seen to be more of a product of time on task, however whether this is mechanism of fatigue or compensatory control is still to be determined.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An enquiry into the formative and summative assessment procedures, and perceptions thereof, of grade 10 mathematics teachers : a Namibian case study

  • Authors: Marongwe, Anesu Desmond
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1385 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001513
  • Description: The purpose of this study was to gain insight into observed discrepancies between continuous assessment and final examination average marks in Grade 10 Mathematics in the Oshikoto region of Namibia. The study is framed as a case study and is grounded within the interpretive paradigm. A mixed methods approach was applied, eliciting both quantitative as well as qualitative data. The study took place in two phases. In Phase 1, continuous assessment and Grade 10 final examination average marks for 62 Junior Secondary Schools for the period 2008-2010 were gathered and analyzed. Schools were characterized in terms of the relationship between their continuous assessment and final examination average marks for each of the three years. Phase 2, which was informed by Phase 1, took the form of structured interviews with a sample of three Mathematics teachers and three principals along with a focus-group interview of twelve teachers in order to investigate more deeply the perceptions of teachers and principals toward assessment policy and practice. The study shows that Grade 10 assessment practice in Namibian schools is far from ideal. Many teachers are not fully conversant with the various continuous assessment components as outlined by policy, and teachers are not confident about setting appropriate continuous assessment tasks. There is a strong perception that continuous assessment marks can easily be inflated and those teachers who gave high continuous assessment marks to their learners were generally perceived as being either incompetent or dishonest. While continuous assessment was seen as an important component of teaching and learning, it is evident that teachers and principals would welcome greater clarity, along with standardization and moderation, with respect to continuous assessment practice.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An enterprise architecture for environmental information management and reporting

  • Authors: Van der Hoogen, Anthea
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Business enterprises -- Information technology -- Management , Sustainable development reporting , Environmental reporting
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:10499 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021040
  • Description: Organisations globally are communicating their environmental sustainability impact to stakeholders by means of the widely used sustainability report. A key benefit of environmental sustainability reporting is that organisations can gain a positive reputation when these reports are presented to stakeholders. Organisations in South Africa are faced with many challenges regarding managing sustainability information and producing an environmental sustainability report. Two of the primary challenges are the many diverse standards for sustainability reporting and data quality issues. Information Technology (IT) can be used to support and improve the process of sustainability reporting but it is important to align the environmental sustainability strategies with the strategies of business and also with the IT strategy to avoid silos of information and reporting. Enterprise Architecture (EA) can be used to solve alignment problems since it supports business-IT alignment. EA is defined by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) as “The fundamental concepts or properties of a system in its environment embodied in its elements, relationships, and in the principles of its design and evolution”. It can be argued, therefore, that EA can be used to support environmental sustainability information management and the reporting process by means of its support of improved business-IT alignment and ultimately integrated systems. The main objective of this study is to investigate how EA can be used to support environmental information management (EIM) and reporting. A survey study of thirty one prominent South African organisations was undertaken in order to investigate the status of their EA adoption and environmental reporting and EIM processes. An EA for EIM Toolkit and a set of guidelines are proposed which can provide support for EIM through the use of EA. These guidelines were proposed based on best-practice for each of the three process levels of an organisation, namely, the strategic level, the operational level and the technological level. The toolkit and guidelines were derived from theory and the results of the industry survey were then validated by an in-depth analysis of a case study consisting of multiple cases with key employees of seven South African organisations which have proved to be successful at EA and EIM and reporting. The results of the case study show that the EA for EIM Toolkit and related guidelines can assist organisations to align their environmental sustainability strategies with their organisational and IT strategies.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An evaluation of the performance management and development system of the Eastern Cape Department of Health

  • Authors: Javu, Mncedi Gladman
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Eastern Cape (South Africa) -- Department of Health -- Management Performance -- Management Personnel management -- South Africa , Eastern Cape Health Department
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:717 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001871
  • Description: This study used a quantitative approach to evaluate the application of the performance management and development system in the Eastern Cape Department of Health, from the perspective of employees. The evaluation report has three sections that are designed as interrelated but stand-alone documents. Section One is written as a report directed to the Eastern Cape Department of Health. Section Two is a review of the relevant literature that was conducted to review the existing literature related to the application of performance management and development systems, and underpinned the construction of the questionnaire. Section Three provides a description and justification of the design of the research, as well as describing the research procedure followed. Pertinent components of Sections Two and Three are extracted from these sections and included in the report in Section One. The literature review focused on the following areas: the purpose of performance management, components of the performance management process, challenges/ criticism of performance management systems, integration of performance management with other systems and the effectiveness of performance management system. The results revealed that about 74% of employees disagree that management is committed towards the successful application of the performance management system. This finding concurs with the literature. For example, De Waal and Counet (2009:367) argue that one of the problems in the application of performance management system is that the management lacks commitment to the implementation of a performance management system. Systematic sampling (Leedy and Ormrod, 2010) was used to select 120 participants in three Departmental programmes or clusters from grade levels six to 15. The researcher distributed the questionnaires to every fifth person of the population electronically using SurveyBob, which is an on line survey tool. The collected data was then analyzed using Excel software. The findings indicated that although overall employees are not satisfied with the application of the PMDS system in the Eastern Cape Department of Health, there were some successes. Nevertheless, the challenges outweighed successes of the system. The challenges that resulted in the failure of the system include poor communication, a lack of understanding of the system by the employees and a lack of knowledge with regards to the integration of PMDS with other initiatives and plans already in place. Page 4 There were positive views with enabling factors and these were work plans that are mutually agreed upon between the employee and their supervisors and are aligned to departmental strategic priorities. Constraining factors included the low levels of commitment of the management to the application of the PMDS processes, review meetings not being undertaken on a quarterly basis, and a lack of written outcome reviews. The majority of the study participants believe that the PMDS lacks fairness in its implementation. Recommendations were made on the basis of the gaps that were identified so as to improve the application of the performance management system in the Eastern Cape Department of Health. It is therefore recommended that the Department should ensure that training and development of employees on the PMDS takes place to enhance manager’s understanding of the policy. This will enable managers to understand the important role played by performance management in their day to day activities. A performance management and development system needs to be integrated with all other processes to be effective. On-going communication of the PMDS policy should be considered. Accountability of managers to the Accounting Officer and submission of quarterly reports are imperative to ensure their compliance. In conclusion, dissatisfaction outweighs satisfaction of the employees with regards to the implementation of the PMDS system.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An evaluation of the use of testamentary and Inter vivos trusts as estate-planning vehicles and the development of holistic estate-planning models involving the use of these trusts

  • Authors: Naidoo, Loganathan
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Commission of Inquiry into Certain Aspects of the Tax Structure of South Africa Income tax -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Taxation -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Trusts and trustees -- South Africa Trusts and trustees -- Taxations -- South Africa Estate planning -- South Africa Estates (Law) -- South Africa Administration of estates -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
  • Identifier: vital:904 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008100
  • Description: Trusts are subject to multiple forms of legislative regulation dealing with taxation and governance. Trusts were widely used by planners as tax avoidance shelters. Tax legislation was amended to subject trusts, other than special trusts as defined, to the highest income tax rate of forty percent, in terms of section 5(2) of the Income Tax Act, 58 of 1962. The inter vivos trust is also subject to a wide range of anti-avoidance measures, including those contained in sub-sections (3) to (8) of section 7 of the Income Tax Act and Part X of the Eighth Schedule to the Act, as well as the general anti -avoidance measures in section 103. These measures impact negatively on the use of trusts for estate-planning purposes. The research objective was to evaluate the use of testamentary and inter vivos trusts for estate-planning purposes and to develop a holistic estate-planning model incorporating these planning instruments. Both the testamentary trust and the inter vivos trust were evaluated against broad principles of effective estate planning and the taxes and duties applicable to them. The research also reviewed the writings of financial planners on various techniques and models used for estate planning, as wells as case studies documented in the literature. The research developed and evaluated holistic estate-planning models incorporating testamentary trusts and inter vivos trusts, respectively. By neutralizing the effects of various taxes and duties, it was demonstrated that it is possible to develop an estate plan that satisfies most of the requirements of effective estate planning.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An experimental and theoretical investigation of unstable Fischer chromium carbene complexes

  • Authors: Makanjee, Che Azad
  • Date: 2013 , 2013-03-27
  • Subjects: Chromium , Organolithium compounds , Carbenes (Methylene compounds) , Organometallic chemistry , Organometallic compounds , Organochromium compounds
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4284 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002953 , Chromium , Organolithium compounds , Carbenes (Methylene compounds) , Organometallic chemistry , Organometallic compounds , Organochromium compounds
  • Description: This organometallic study involves the use organostannanes and organolithiums as precursors to chromium Fischer carbene complexes. Fischer carbenes are typically electrophilic and are stabilized by a single π-donor substituent, and contain low oxidation state metals (often but not always from Group 6). They are highly reactive and can give access to a range of biologically active compounds through cyclopropanations, insertions, coupling and photochemical reactions. Synthesis and characterization of three MOM-protected α-alkoxy organostannanes was successfully carried out via a nucleophilic addition of tributylstannyllithium to suitable aldehydes, and immediate protection of the alcohol with MOM. Two N-BOC protected α-amino organostannanes were successfully synthesized and characterized via α-lithiation and tin-lithium exchange in the presence of TMEDA. Tin-lithium transmetallation of the organostannanes allowed access to the organolithiums required for the synthesis of novel Fischer carbenes. Addition of chromium hexacarbonyl to the organolithiums formed the acylpentacarbonyl chromate salt which was alkylated with Meerwein salt, resulting in the Fischer carbene and a by-product, tetrabutyltin, which proved difficult to remove. Several Fischer carbenes were synthesized and characterized, some simple and known and some novel. In silico work explored the reaction coordinate of the [2+2] cycloaddition towards the formation of β-lactams, and the photoactivation cycle that precedes this process. Computational work also showed the effect of the ligand on the stability and reactivity of the carbene. It was found that in some cases the oxygen on the ligand could negatively influence the stability of the carbene (when compared to a simple methyl carbene). A link between bond orders and back donation in Fischer carbenes was explored in an attempt to theoretically predict the stability of a range of carbenes. , Microsoft� Office Word 2007
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An exploration of affirming family communication in families with adolescent children

  • Authors: Jordaan, Cabriere
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Communication in families , Families -- Psychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:9958 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020054
  • Description: Affirming or positive family communication is important to equip families and individuals to meet life challenges. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between affirming family communication and family functioning, as well as the relationship between family functioning and the quality of communication between the adolescent and the father and mother respectively. Following this, affirming family communication was explored qualitatively from the perspective of the adolescent. A cross-sectional, quantitative survey research design was combined with an exploratory, qualitative design. The quantitative data was collected by asking participants to complete self-report questionnaires. The qualitative component consisted of focus groups discussing the topic of affirming family communication. One hundred first-year Psychology students of Stellenbosch University in South Africa completed the questionnaires. Fourteen of these students also participated in the focus groups. The quantitative results revealed a significant positive correlation between affirming family communication and family functioning. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between family functioning and openness in communication between the adolescent and the mother and father respectively. Three core categories (with sub- categories) emerged from the content analysis of the focus group discussions. These core categories were verbal affirming communication, non-verbal affirming communication and functional affirming communication. The findings of this study highlight the importance of affirming family communication, especially in families with adolescent children, while also providing a description of affirming family communication from the adolescent’s perspective.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An exploration of conditions enabling and constraining the infusion of service-learning into the curriculum at a South African research led university

  • Authors: Hlengwa, Amanda Immaculate
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Rhodes University -- Curricula -- Evaluation Service learning -- Research -- South Africa Education, Higher -- Curricula -- South Africa -- Evaluation Curriculum planning -- Research -- South Africa Experiential learning -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:1888 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006036
  • Description: Drawing on critical realist philosophy as a meta-theoretical framework, this study explores the conditions that enable and constrain the infusion of service-learning in university curricula. In this study, four discipline-based cases are analysed within the context of an overarching case of one South African university. The study reports on case study research into four disciplines, broadly representing the disciplinary array offered at Rhodes University, a small traditional research-intensive university in South Africa – four cases are thus embedded within a larger over-arching case. Margret Archer’s analytical dualism is used as an analytical lens for the inquiry. It offers tools for examining the conditions for the emergence of service learning and the form it takes in each case. Archer’s framework requires the artificial separation of structural, cultural and agential mechanisms for analytical purposes in order to establish the dominant factors impacting on the infusion of service-learning in curricula. An analysis of the interplay between structure, culture and agency uncovers insights into the conditions that enable or constrain the adoption of service learning as a pedagogic tool in specific disciplines. Curriculum decision-making is a central consideration in this study. Basil Bernstein’s theory of cultural transmission provides an external language of description to theorise the pedagogic choices made in specific contexts. This body of theory provides analytical tools for generating nuanced explanations of the significance of knowledge and curriculum structures as enabling and constraining mechanisms when pedagogic decisions are made. The study shows that the nature of the discipline has a significant influence on the emergence of service-learning and the form it takes in each context. Key agents draw on available structural and cultural mechanisms to either maintain the status quo or they exercise their personal properties and powers to mitigate existing conditions. The first case examines the emergence of service-learning in a ‘hard pure’ discipline where structural and cultural conditions constrain the emergence of innovative pedagogic tools. In this case a key agent draws on a confluence of personal, structural and cultural emergent properties to initiate a service-learning course at the honours level. Factors that make service-learning possible in this case include the key agent’s seniority within the institution, his status as a prolific researcher, the possibilities for application of disciplinary knowledge, and a strong institutional discourse of service to society (RU in Society) and an institutional and departmental discourse privileging academic freedom. In the second case the conditions in the ‘hard applied’ discipline are largely enabling, however the emergence of service-learning is facilitated by the interplay of the following agential, structural and cultural emergent properties: corporate agency taking advantage of the outward focus of the discipline (a region in Bernsteinian terms) and drawing on what is termed the RU in Society discourse. The third case represents a ‘soft pure’ discipline, where service-learning does not emerge within the formal curriculum, but in a largely marginalised departmental outreach programme. This discipline is inward facing and although its knowledge base draws on challenges and phenomena in society, it remains at an esoteric level accessible mainly to the discipline community. Agents in this department draw on the insular structure of the discipline, in conjunction with the strong Academic Freedom discourse to develop a form of service-learning that furthers disciplinary aims, albeit within the context of limited engagement beyond the boundaries of the discipline and the institution. In the case of the ‘soft applied’ discipline the structural and cultural conditions are largely enabling. However the emergence of service-learning in this discipline relies on the advocacy of a powerful social agent in the department with an interest in socially equitable practice; she draws on the RU in Society discourse to promote direct engagement with communities beyond the university boundaries. The study is set in a research-intensive university and it is perhaps not surprising that the service-learning courses in three of the four cases are framed by research projects. This suggests that in the context of this kind of institution it may be imperative to draw on research activities as the basis of infusing service-learning in the curriculum. The findings of this study challenge the implicit assumption in policy documents that it is possible to institute service-learning in all disciplines.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An exploration of corporate social responsibility in SME liquor retail outlets in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Eastern Cape

  • Authors: Mupazi, Rutendo Getrude
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Retail trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Liquor industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Liquor laws -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com (Business Management)
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/799 , vital:26498 , Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Retail trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Liquor industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social responsibility of business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Liquor laws -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
  • Description: In the contemporary business environment, a plethora of retail literature exists which examine the influence of CSR on the business. However, literature that explores Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the liquor retail sector has been relatively sparse. This study explored CSR in Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) liquor retail outlets in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The objectives of the study were to investigate the engagement of SME liquor retailers in CSR practices, to ascertain whether a relationship exists between providing employee training on responsible retailing of alcohol and CSR practices by SME liquor retailers, to investigate whether employee involvement in decision making influences CSR practices by SME liquor retailers, to ascertain whether a relationship exists between the practical actions to reduce alcohol-related harm and CSR practices by SME liquor retailers, to investigate whether SME liquor retailers do social good as an expression of CSR as well as to determine whether SME liquor retailers are influenced by stakeholders to engage in CSR initiatives. Both primary and secondary data sources were used in this study. A quantitative research design was used in conducting this research. Convenience sampling, a non-probability sampling technique, was used to select a sample of 94 from the sample frame of 123 SME liquor retailers. The survey method, by way of a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) as statistical software was used to analyse data. The Chi-square test, Pearson correlation, and descriptive statistics were used to analyse data. The findings of this research revealed that Stakeholder influence, employee involvement in decision making and employee training in responsible retailing of alcohol have an influence on the CSR practices of SME liquor retailers. The study also identified the safety and practical measures that SME liquor retailers are practicing as a way of reducing alcohol related-harm. A recommendation to stakeholders, such as suppliers and government to find more strategies of influencing SME liquor retailers to practice CSR, was made. Lastly, recommendations were made to SME liquor owners and managers on how to improve their CSR practices.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An exploration of leadership practices: a case study in a public high school in Nigeria

  • Authors: Adediji, John Oluwole
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Educational leadership -- Nigeria -- Case studies Teacher participation in administration -- Nigeria -- Case studies School management and organization -- Nigeria -- Case studies Education, Secondary -- Nigeria
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1405 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001955
  • Description: The management of Nigeria high schools are noted for administrative practices in the management of their schools; hence the term administration is commonly used in their daily operations. This fact on ‘administration’ was emphasised by the Nigerian government in the National Policy on Education (Nigeria, 1981, p. 21). Therefor as a researcher from Nigeria, my rationale for embarking on this research study was to find out to what extent a public high school in Nigeria was still operating in a hierarchical, individualistic, authoritarian style of leadership or whether it has started embracing contemporary approaches such as distributed leadership. The main goal of this study was to explore leadership practices in the case study school with the main focus on how different people relate to each other in the various leadership practices of the school, such as staff and briefing meetings of the school. In addition, my research questions aimed at exploring the respondents’ perceptions of leadership and factors enabling or constraining the distribution of leadership in the school. The study is located within the interpretive paradigm. As a researcher in a wheelchair studying in South Africa I needed to find alternative ways of accessing the research site and gathering data. I was able to use electronic communication for the collection of my data. I used four different tools of data collection methods namely document analysis, observation, questionnaire and stimulated recall interviews. Findings from the study indicated that there was limited evidence of contemporary leadership approaches in the case study school. The school was still operating traditional leadership, while school activities were dominated by a hierarchical chain of command. What emerged from the leadership practices of the school could be termed authorised distributed leadership which was under the command of the school principal. Data also indicated that there were some forms of restricted teacher leadership in the management and administration of the school. In addition, findings revealed that the case study school was very good at the management and administrative functions. The school was very effective and efficient in the controlling and management of both human and material resources. Lastly, findings from the case study school indicated some enabling factors to the distribution of leadership in the case study school which include a culture of respect and cordial relations among the SMT and the teachers, Prominent among constraining factors to the distribution of leadership in the case study school were: cultural orientation of the people where the case school was located, exclusionary religious practices by the principal of the school and the inhibiting role played by the Ministry of Education. Finally, based on these findings, recommendations were made both for practice and for future research.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An exploration of natural science teachers' experiences and perceptions of the National Standardised Achievement Tests : a case study

  • Authors: Shaakumeni, Simson Ndadaleka
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Achievement tests -- Education (Elementary) -- Research -- Namibia Educational tests and measurements -- Research -- Namibia Educational tests and measurements -- Research -- Namibia Science -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia Science teachers -- Namibia Education, Elementary -- Standards -- Research -- Namibia
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1390 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001670
  • Description: The primary purpose of this study was to capture Natural Science teachers’ perceptions of the national standardised achievement tests (SATs), with a view to illuminating whether or not they were able to interpret and use the SATs reports to inform their practice and for improvement purposes as envisaged in the standardised tests’ objectives. It further sought to investigate how the grade 7 Natural Science teachers were teaching the subject matter, with a view to understanding the performance of learners as illustrated in the 2010 SATs results. The study mainly used qualitative methods such as observations, interviews and document analysis. These were complemented by quantitative methods through the use of the questionnaires, which were used to capture the general perceptions and experiences of Natural Science teachers. Thirty-five questionnaires were sent out and ten responses were received. Quantitative data from the questionnaires were analysed by tabulation to ascertain the frequencies of responses regarding teachers’ perceptions and experiences of SATs, as indicated in different scales per indicator. Furthermore, data generated through video-taped lessons, analysis of learners’ written notes, interviews and open-ended questions from the questionnaires were inductively analyzed. The findings of the study revealed that teachers had positive perceptions towards the ideals of SATs. However, their use of the SATs reports in their teaching was inconclusive. The study also revealed that there were no policy imperatives on SATs, in particular, to guide their use in schools. It was also found that teachers were not teaching the syllabus competencies fully and their Natural Science content knowledge was inadequate. The principal recommendation is that teachers need to acquaint themselves sufficiently with the SATs reports to enable them to use the reports for their intended purposes. Furthermore, teachers need to engage in continuous professional development programmes to improve their Natural Science content knowledge, especially with regard to making information in the textbooks accessible to learners in terms of addressing competencies in the syllabus. Finally, there is a need for policy intervention from the Ministry of Education in Namibia so that the existing tensions between policy formulation and implementation are addressed.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An exploration of strategies to enhance grade 8 learners' reading comprehension skills

  • Authors: Matakane, Euphimia Nobuzwe
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Reading (Secondary) -- Research Reading comprehension
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1834 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004330
  • Description: This thesis reports on an Action Research case study into the teaching of comprehension strategies to Grade 8 learners in a rural high school in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The learners in this study, who were studying English as an additional language, experienced difficulties in comprehending English text. A series of six lessons were designed to teach comprehension strategies to improve the learners' performance in reading comprehension. The purpose of the intervention was to equip the learners with skills that would enable them to improve their reading comprehension and evaluate their effectiveness as readers. The intervention was also intended to assess my teaching, which was challenged by the need to deal with learners' poor levels of reading comprehension. The data was collected using the following research techniques: interviews, questionnaires, non-participant observation, learners' and researcher's journals, document analysis The data analysis revealed that a lack of resources to learn English; limited English language due to lack of exposure; and learners' lack of foundational knowledge from their primary schools were barriers to the successful teaching of comprehension strategies. Despite such barriers, however, this research provides evidence that teaching comprehension strategies can be effective if it is taught systematically, and applied continuously. Personally, I learnt that I had to modify my methods of teaching due to the response of learners to the lessons taught.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An exploration of teacher leadership : a case study in a Namibian urban primary school

  • Authors: Zokka, Thomas Kayele
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Educational leadership -- Namibia -- Kavango -- Case studies Teacher participation in administration -- Namibia -- Kavango -- Case studies School management and organization -- Namibia -- Kavango -- Case studies Education, Elementary -- Namibia
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1399 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001809
  • Description: After independence in 1990, Namibian schools were required by the new government to shift from a hierarchical organisational structure with authoritarian leadership to a more democratic type of leadership that offers teachers the opportunity to participate in school leadership and in decision-making processes. This shift is suggested in a number of national policies in Namibia that highlight the sharing of leadership within the organization and, in particular, the sharing of leadership with teachers. As such, teacher leadership is a manifestation of distributed leadership which emphasizes that leadership can be located in the position of the principal but can spread over many people who work in a school at various levels. While teacher leadership is well researched in developed countries, it is under researched in Namibia. Against this backdrop, the purpose of my study was to explore the concept and practice of teacher leadership as an organizational phenomenon in a case study school in the Ncuncuni circuit of the Kavango region in Namibia. It also examined the factors that enabled and inhibited the practice of teacher leadership. My study was conducted within a qualitative interpretive paradigm and it adopted a case study approach in one school. The study used the following instruments to collect data: a closed questionnaire, document analysis, observations and individual interviews. The primary participants were the principal and three teachers, while the entire school teaching staff constituted my secondary participants. Quantitative data was analysed manually using descriptive statistics while qualitative data was analysed thematically using a model of teacher leadership (Grant, 2008). The findings of my study indicated that while the concept of teacher leadership was new to all participants, they had a common sense understanding of it. Although teachers in the study understood teacher leadership in a range of different ways, the overarching idea of the whole school was that teachers lead both in and outside the classroom. My study also found that teachers in the school practiced teacher leadership across the entire four zones. These included how teacher leadership was practiced inside the classroom and how teachers worked as leaders with colleagues and learners beyond their classroom in curricular and extra-curricular activities. It also included how teachers led outside their classroom in whole school development as well as how teachers led beyond their schools in the community. Teacher leadership was strong in the first three zones and weaker in the fourth zone, which constituted an example of 'successful teacher leadership' (Harris and Muijs, 2005). There were factors that promoted teacher leadership in the case study school such as a supportive culture and ongoing professional development. Factors that constrained the practice of teacher leadership were also evident like the SMT who used its power at times to control teachers' decisions and a lack of time also emerged as a barrier that impeded teachers from taking leadership roles because they already had full teaching programmes. Even though there were some barriers to teacher leadership, a dispersed distributed leadership context prevailed at the case study school.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An exploration of teacher leadership: a case study in a Namibian rural primary school

  • Authors: Uiseb, Gerson
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Educational leadership -- Namibia -- Otjozondjupa -- Case studies Education, Elementary -- Namibia -- Otjozondjupa -- Case studies School management and organization -- Namibia -- Otjozondjupa -- Case studies Educational change -- Namibia -- Case studies Education, Rural -- Namibia
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1394 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001715
  • Description: The Namibian education system has undergone a policy shift from a top-down leadership practice or head-centred leadership to a more shared form of leadership in schools. Existing policy documents call for teacher participation in school level decision-making structures and processes as teachers often are involved in other activities and have been through life experiences which equip them with leadership skills. These policies clearly stipulate that school principals cannot lead and manage the schools alone, but should involve teachers and other stakeholders in leadership activities. This study explored teacher leadership in a rural primary school in the Otjozondjupa region of Namibia. The study explored the understanding of the concept teacher leadership, the practice of teacher leadership and the enhancing factors as well as barriers to teacher leadership practice. A qualitative interpretative case study was conducted. Interviews, document analysis, focus group interviews, a questionnaire and observation were employed to produce data with regard to teacher leadership practices in the case study school. The data were analysed thematically using Grant’s (2008) model of teacher leadership. Findings revealed that the concept of teacher leadership was understood as teachers leading both within and beyond the classroom. Teacher leadership was practiced across the fours zones of teacher leadership (after Grant, 2008), but to varying degrees. It could be categorized as emergent teacher leadership (after Muijs and Harris, 2005) within a formal distributed leadership framework (MacBeath, 2005). Teacher leadership in the case study school was enhanced by collaboration among staff and involvement of teachers in school level decision-making. However, barriers to teacher leadership at the case study school included holding on to power by the principal, teachers’ negative attitudes towards teacher leadership, a lack of incentives, a lack of time due to a heavy work load and a lack of professional development.
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  • Date Issued: 2013

An exploration of the potential for destructive conflict between locals and foreign nationals living in Summerstrand

  • Authors: Arkilic, Baris
  • Date: 2013
  • Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Emigration and immigration , Ethnic neighborhoods -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Xenophobia -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
  • Identifier: vital:8211 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008708 , Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Emigration and immigration , Ethnic neighborhoods -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Xenophobia -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
  • Description: This treatise explores the potential for destructive conflict between locals and foreign nationals in Summerstrand. In the context of this study, foreign nationals have been defined as people who are from other African countries. This specification was made because it is this particular group that has been victim to violent attacks in South Africa. Those attacks have taken place throughout the country, especially in 2008, in areas that are regarded as ‘townships’ in the South African context. This treatise could be regarded as an unusual product, as it does not explore the dynamics of a township; instead, the focus area is a ‘suburb’. The suburb in question is called ‘Summerstrand’ and it is located in Port Elizabeth. Before the research was conducted, it was assumed that due to the differing dynamics of a suburban area, where people would be wealthier and more educated, the potential of a violent conflict taking place between the two groups (locals and foreign nationals) would be lower. In this treatise, firstly, the topic will be explained more in detail together with an overview of the background to the topic. The background will be discussed in further detail as literature relevant to the field of study will be reviewed and presented in Chapters 2 and 3. The ensuing chapters will elaborate upon how the research has been conducted, after which the findings of the study will be presented to the reader. The last chapter of the treatise offers an analysis of the findings of the study, draws conclusions from the study and offers recommendations in light of the findings of the study.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2013
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