A sociological investigation on alcohol abuse among the Xhosa youth: the case of Sibangweni village in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Mancayi, Sibulele
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Alcoholism -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Alcoholics -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Youth -- Alcohol use , Youth -- Substance use
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40878 , vital:36250
- Description: The issue of alcohol abuse appears to be an area of concern across the world and South African communities seem not to be exempt to this issue. Unlike in the past, where alcohol abuse was an issue that affected elderly people in mostly urban settings, the seems to be a growing trend of this phenomenon in rural communities. Furthermore, the youth are the most affected social group by the habit of alcohol abuse. There are numerous causes of alcohol abuse and cultural influence can be identified as one of them. However, what needs to be ascertained is whether culture promotes or discourages drinking patterns that could ultimately cause alcohol abuse. With focus on the rural community of Sibangweni on the outskirts of Umtata in the Eastern Cape; qualitative research interviews were conducted with fifteen participants to investigate the nature of the relationship of the Xhosa culture and alcohol abuse among the youth in the community. Through a thematic analysis of the data that was collected through structured interviews it became clear that the is room for improvement in terms of maintaining consistency in the tenets of cultural practices. It became apparent that when practiced according to the traditional cultural framework, the Xhosa culture does not necessarily lead to alcohol abuse, even though consuming alcohol is a part of the culture. What also became clear is that culture could actually be an intervention mechanism to behavioural related issue in society.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mancayi, Sibulele
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Alcoholism -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Alcoholics -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Youth -- Alcohol use , Youth -- Substance use
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40878 , vital:36250
- Description: The issue of alcohol abuse appears to be an area of concern across the world and South African communities seem not to be exempt to this issue. Unlike in the past, where alcohol abuse was an issue that affected elderly people in mostly urban settings, the seems to be a growing trend of this phenomenon in rural communities. Furthermore, the youth are the most affected social group by the habit of alcohol abuse. There are numerous causes of alcohol abuse and cultural influence can be identified as one of them. However, what needs to be ascertained is whether culture promotes or discourages drinking patterns that could ultimately cause alcohol abuse. With focus on the rural community of Sibangweni on the outskirts of Umtata in the Eastern Cape; qualitative research interviews were conducted with fifteen participants to investigate the nature of the relationship of the Xhosa culture and alcohol abuse among the youth in the community. Through a thematic analysis of the data that was collected through structured interviews it became clear that the is room for improvement in terms of maintaining consistency in the tenets of cultural practices. It became apparent that when practiced according to the traditional cultural framework, the Xhosa culture does not necessarily lead to alcohol abuse, even though consuming alcohol is a part of the culture. What also became clear is that culture could actually be an intervention mechanism to behavioural related issue in society.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Retaining customers through customer service in the telecomminications industry
- Authors: Mtatsi, Siyabonga Chris
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Customer services -- South Africa -- Cape Town , Telecommunication -- Customer services -- South Africa -- Cape Town , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa -- Cape Town , Customer relations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8812 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018641
- Description: South African Mobile network industry has seen many developments since its inception in 1994. When mobile technology was introduced in this country, the first two mobile network operators, namely Vodacom and MTN, enjoyed vast benefits of being early entrance in this business space and they grew at rate that was much faster than they themselves had expected. As expected, in the past five years this growth rate has slowly diminished due to various economic factors; these factors included increase in Government regulations, increase in number of players in the mobile network space and ever evolving technology. The mobile network operators saw interconnect fees, which amounted to fifteen per cent of total revenue for each of these operators, being reduced by more than half, with Government foreseeing total removal of these fees. At the same time, the number of competitors grew from one to three within a period of five years forcing all operators, especially Vodacom and its Vodashops, to search for winning strategies that could ensure retention of their customers thus their revenue. Therefore, the intention of this research is to investigate various strategies that are suitable and can be implemented for one of the Vodashops in Cape Town, namely Canal Walk Vodashop, to ensure that this store manages to retain and possibly grow its existing customers. The investigation led the researcher to find that, in a situation where the affected organisation is at the maturity level of the business, as it is the case with the selected store, the most effective strategy to retain and grow customers is the customer service strategy. This strategy includes various elements which are very important to its success; these elements include providing job specific skills to employees, designing and implementing suitable processes and creating best value for customers on products and services that the company offers. The research was achieved by following the approach below: A literature study was done in order to determine the key elements of an effective customer service strategy; A survey of literature focusing specifically on employee skills development, design and implementation of processes and creation of value for the offered products and service; Insights of customers from the selected Vodashop were obtained via interviews to determine their perception on products and services offered; and Lastly, interview results were analysed to determine the areas of improvement and also what customer service strategies are suitable for highlighted problems. Through this research, various customer service strategies that must be consistently and continuously executed in order to achieve this excellent customer service were recommended. The recommended strategies include training and development of employees, design and implementation of processes that are aligned to the selected Vodashop and also to the needs and expectations of customers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Mtatsi, Siyabonga Chris
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Customer services -- South Africa -- Cape Town , Telecommunication -- Customer services -- South Africa -- Cape Town , Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa -- Cape Town , Customer relations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8812 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018641
- Description: South African Mobile network industry has seen many developments since its inception in 1994. When mobile technology was introduced in this country, the first two mobile network operators, namely Vodacom and MTN, enjoyed vast benefits of being early entrance in this business space and they grew at rate that was much faster than they themselves had expected. As expected, in the past five years this growth rate has slowly diminished due to various economic factors; these factors included increase in Government regulations, increase in number of players in the mobile network space and ever evolving technology. The mobile network operators saw interconnect fees, which amounted to fifteen per cent of total revenue for each of these operators, being reduced by more than half, with Government foreseeing total removal of these fees. At the same time, the number of competitors grew from one to three within a period of five years forcing all operators, especially Vodacom and its Vodashops, to search for winning strategies that could ensure retention of their customers thus their revenue. Therefore, the intention of this research is to investigate various strategies that are suitable and can be implemented for one of the Vodashops in Cape Town, namely Canal Walk Vodashop, to ensure that this store manages to retain and possibly grow its existing customers. The investigation led the researcher to find that, in a situation where the affected organisation is at the maturity level of the business, as it is the case with the selected store, the most effective strategy to retain and grow customers is the customer service strategy. This strategy includes various elements which are very important to its success; these elements include providing job specific skills to employees, designing and implementing suitable processes and creating best value for customers on products and services that the company offers. The research was achieved by following the approach below: A literature study was done in order to determine the key elements of an effective customer service strategy; A survey of literature focusing specifically on employee skills development, design and implementation of processes and creation of value for the offered products and service; Insights of customers from the selected Vodashop were obtained via interviews to determine their perception on products and services offered; and Lastly, interview results were analysed to determine the areas of improvement and also what customer service strategies are suitable for highlighted problems. Through this research, various customer service strategies that must be consistently and continuously executed in order to achieve this excellent customer service were recommended. The recommended strategies include training and development of employees, design and implementation of processes that are aligned to the selected Vodashop and also to the needs and expectations of customers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
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