An assessment of the implementation of performance management and development system: Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa
- Authors: Zinganto, Nobulali
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Performance -- Management Local officials and employees -- South Africa , Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa Public administration --South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45826 , vital:39220
- Description: Performance management and development in the South African Public Service is a critical aspect that engenders officials and management to be committed to the provision of efficient and effective service delivery. The Public Service Regulations (2001) as amended requires all spheres of government to develop and implement policy parameters that address measurable service delivery aligned to their strategic functions. The imperatives of these policy parameters allow employees’ performance with notch increments. The National Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) developed a performance management system that links Employee Performance Management and Development System (EPMDS) at salary levels 5 – 12 to notch increments and Human Resource Development programmes. This system aims to achieve consideration of the desired outputs; meaning the delivery of work required, which is emphasised in the setting of objectives and looking at the necessary inputs; meaning the knowledge, skills, training and resources needed, which are considered in the appraisal and reviewing of the progress that was made. The performance of Sport and Recreation South Africa has not been commensurate with the aims and objectives of the EPMDS system, as the results are not yielding the best outcome on this system. This study sought to investigate whether the EPMDS contributes to improve performance of the employees and that of the entire organisation in SRSA. It would examine whether the employees do get feedback on their performance after the performance assessment period. The study would establish whether those employees who under-performed do get remedial interventions like training, coaching, mentoring and development on the competencies they lack; so that their performance is improved. The study also sought to determined the perception of the employees regarding the effectiveness of the Performance Management and Development System in SRSA Knowledge of employees' perceptions of the performance management system will assist management to implement such a system more effectively. The findings of this study indicate that managers use performance management as a tool to control and discipline subordinates, whilst subordinates use performance management as a means of getting extra money through performance bonuses. This could be the reason that performance assessment period is viewed as a period of high tension between supervisors and subordinates. The main recommendation on the basis of this finding is that there should be a regular and thorough training of officials at all levels within SRSA about the EPMDS and how it influences productivity. Other additional recommendations include, inter alia, that the identification of gaps on unsatisfactory performance should be made immediately after each performance period. Remedial interventions to address those gaps like training, retraining, coaching and counselling should be formulated, agreed upon and implemented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Zinganto, Nobulali
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Performance -- Management Local officials and employees -- South Africa , Employees -- Rating of -- South Africa Public administration --South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45826 , vital:39220
- Description: Performance management and development in the South African Public Service is a critical aspect that engenders officials and management to be committed to the provision of efficient and effective service delivery. The Public Service Regulations (2001) as amended requires all spheres of government to develop and implement policy parameters that address measurable service delivery aligned to their strategic functions. The imperatives of these policy parameters allow employees’ performance with notch increments. The National Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) developed a performance management system that links Employee Performance Management and Development System (EPMDS) at salary levels 5 – 12 to notch increments and Human Resource Development programmes. This system aims to achieve consideration of the desired outputs; meaning the delivery of work required, which is emphasised in the setting of objectives and looking at the necessary inputs; meaning the knowledge, skills, training and resources needed, which are considered in the appraisal and reviewing of the progress that was made. The performance of Sport and Recreation South Africa has not been commensurate with the aims and objectives of the EPMDS system, as the results are not yielding the best outcome on this system. This study sought to investigate whether the EPMDS contributes to improve performance of the employees and that of the entire organisation in SRSA. It would examine whether the employees do get feedback on their performance after the performance assessment period. The study would establish whether those employees who under-performed do get remedial interventions like training, coaching, mentoring and development on the competencies they lack; so that their performance is improved. The study also sought to determined the perception of the employees regarding the effectiveness of the Performance Management and Development System in SRSA Knowledge of employees' perceptions of the performance management system will assist management to implement such a system more effectively. The findings of this study indicate that managers use performance management as a tool to control and discipline subordinates, whilst subordinates use performance management as a means of getting extra money through performance bonuses. This could be the reason that performance assessment period is viewed as a period of high tension between supervisors and subordinates. The main recommendation on the basis of this finding is that there should be a regular and thorough training of officials at all levels within SRSA about the EPMDS and how it influences productivity. Other additional recommendations include, inter alia, that the identification of gaps on unsatisfactory performance should be made immediately after each performance period. Remedial interventions to address those gaps like training, retraining, coaching and counselling should be formulated, agreed upon and implemented.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The impact of a ward pharmacist in a surgical ward of a private hospital in the Eastern Cape
- Stone, Leanne Nicole, Burton, S F
- Authors: Stone, Leanne Nicole , Burton, S F
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Hospital pharmacies , Pharmaceutical services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pharmacists -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5916 , vital:21012
- Description: Medication errors are becoming problematic in both hospital and outpatient settings worldwide. Inappropriate use of medication can cause harm to the patient and maintaining high levels of quality patient care is essential to protect all patients. Clinical pharmacy practice contributes to improved patient care by optimising medication therapy; and promoting health, wellness and disease prevention. The involvement of a pharmacist at a ward level has been shown to improve patient care; reduce mortality and morbidity rates; decrease healthcare costs; minimise medication errors; and improve outcomes of drug therapy. However, clinical pharmacy is a fairly new practice in South Africa and there are limited studies available. This study aimed to evaluate the perceived benefits of a ward-based pharmacist on the provision of pharmaceutical care to patients in a hospital setting and to consequently implement a ward-based pharmacy service. The objectives of the study were: (1) to assess, via a questionnaire, the perceptions and attitudes of medical practitioners and nurses to ward-based pharmacy prior to and after implementation of a ward-based pharmacy service, (2) to implement a ward-based pharmacy service in a selected hospital ward; (3) to document and analyse the nature of the work and activities that a ward pharmacist undertakes, and (4) to document and analyse the frequency and nature of ward pharmacist interventions. The study was conducted in a surgical ward of a private hospital in the Eastern Cape. The study design was an intervention study, using a mixed-methods design, with a convergent approach. A convenience sample of 106 patients was obtained over the eight week study period. Participation was voluntary and confidentiality was maintained at all times. Four data collection tools were used during the study and a pilot study was conducted to ensure their validity and reliability. The quantitative data was analysed statistically while the qualitative questions were analysed through coding the various responses. The results of the study showed that medical practitioners and nurses of a surgical ward had a positive attitude towards ward pharmacy both prior to and after the implementation of a ward pharmacy service. There were ward pharmacist interventions made in 50% (n=106) of the patients who participated in the study. A large percentage (57%; 50; n=87) of the ward pharmacist interventions were pharmacist-initiated interventions to optimise patient care while prescribing errors (51%; 19; n=37) were the most commonly occurring medication error. The majority of the medication items involved in the interventions (34%; 34; n=101) were related to the anti-microbial medication class. Overall, there was a 73% (36; n=49) acceptance rate of the ward pharmacist interventions that were made to both the medical practitioners and nurses. There were a number of factors that had a significant relationship with a ward pharmacist intervention being required which included: (1) number of medication items (p=0.001; Chi² test; p<0.0005 Student’s t-test), (2) length of hospital stay (p<0.0005; Chi² test), (3) presence of one or more chronic disease states (p=0.003; Chi² test) and (4) presence of one or more allergies (p=0.028; Chi² test). The ward pharmacist interventions were shown to be of clinical significance and to have a positive impact on the patients concerned. It can be concluded that the ward pharmacy service was beneficial to the patients, medical practitioners and nursing staff.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Stone, Leanne Nicole , Burton, S F
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Hospital pharmacies , Pharmaceutical services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Pharmacists -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5916 , vital:21012
- Description: Medication errors are becoming problematic in both hospital and outpatient settings worldwide. Inappropriate use of medication can cause harm to the patient and maintaining high levels of quality patient care is essential to protect all patients. Clinical pharmacy practice contributes to improved patient care by optimising medication therapy; and promoting health, wellness and disease prevention. The involvement of a pharmacist at a ward level has been shown to improve patient care; reduce mortality and morbidity rates; decrease healthcare costs; minimise medication errors; and improve outcomes of drug therapy. However, clinical pharmacy is a fairly new practice in South Africa and there are limited studies available. This study aimed to evaluate the perceived benefits of a ward-based pharmacist on the provision of pharmaceutical care to patients in a hospital setting and to consequently implement a ward-based pharmacy service. The objectives of the study were: (1) to assess, via a questionnaire, the perceptions and attitudes of medical practitioners and nurses to ward-based pharmacy prior to and after implementation of a ward-based pharmacy service, (2) to implement a ward-based pharmacy service in a selected hospital ward; (3) to document and analyse the nature of the work and activities that a ward pharmacist undertakes, and (4) to document and analyse the frequency and nature of ward pharmacist interventions. The study was conducted in a surgical ward of a private hospital in the Eastern Cape. The study design was an intervention study, using a mixed-methods design, with a convergent approach. A convenience sample of 106 patients was obtained over the eight week study period. Participation was voluntary and confidentiality was maintained at all times. Four data collection tools were used during the study and a pilot study was conducted to ensure their validity and reliability. The quantitative data was analysed statistically while the qualitative questions were analysed through coding the various responses. The results of the study showed that medical practitioners and nurses of a surgical ward had a positive attitude towards ward pharmacy both prior to and after the implementation of a ward pharmacy service. There were ward pharmacist interventions made in 50% (n=106) of the patients who participated in the study. A large percentage (57%; 50; n=87) of the ward pharmacist interventions were pharmacist-initiated interventions to optimise patient care while prescribing errors (51%; 19; n=37) were the most commonly occurring medication error. The majority of the medication items involved in the interventions (34%; 34; n=101) were related to the anti-microbial medication class. Overall, there was a 73% (36; n=49) acceptance rate of the ward pharmacist interventions that were made to both the medical practitioners and nurses. There were a number of factors that had a significant relationship with a ward pharmacist intervention being required which included: (1) number of medication items (p=0.001; Chi² test; p<0.0005 Student’s t-test), (2) length of hospital stay (p<0.0005; Chi² test), (3) presence of one or more chronic disease states (p=0.003; Chi² test) and (4) presence of one or more allergies (p=0.028; Chi² test). The ward pharmacist interventions were shown to be of clinical significance and to have a positive impact on the patients concerned. It can be concluded that the ward pharmacy service was beneficial to the patients, medical practitioners and nursing staff.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The development and evaluation of procedures for the synthesis of phenolic ethers by Baeyer-Villiger oxidation
- Authors: Hoffmann, Petra
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Ethers , Phenols
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:10955 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51 , Ethers , Phenols
- Description: A novel preparative method has been discovered in our laboratories which produces hydroxy-substituted phenolic ethers in a simple one-pot process. Initially it was found that 4-hydroxyacetophenone, when oxidized in the presence of ammonium peroxydisulfate and concentrated sulfuric acid in methanol, resulted in 4- methoxyphenol as product in high yield. Being novel, no information about the method was available in the literature, and hence it was our task to study the reaction more extensively. The scope of the reaction was investigated in that different reagents and substrates, as well as alternative oxidants, catalysts and alcohols (or reagents which may be envisaged to behave similarly to alcohols) were used. The studies showed that 4- hydroxy-substituted benzaldehyde and acetophenone, vanillin, fuchsones and stilbenequinones as substrates all successfully afforded the phenolic ether. Other oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate etc. also afforded the phenolic ether but were less effective. The use of other acids than sulfuric acid resulted in comparable or lower yields of the desired phenolic ether. When the use of alcohols or similar reagents was varied, it was found that methanol, ethanol, benzyl alcohol, allyl alcohol, but-3-en-1-ol, hex-5-en-1-ol and undec-10-en-1-ol all afforded the desired ethers in significant yields. In an investigation to determine how this method may be useful for industrial applications, it was observed that compounds such as 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxysubstituted alkenyloxy phenols, having potential application as antioxidant precursors in the polymer industry, may be prepared. Results showed that the reaction became less efficient when the alkenyl chain length was increased. The use of different acids and oxidants, the change of the oxidant:substrate ratio and the addition of a potential lanthanide catalyst did not improve the yield of the desired ether. A mechanism for the reaction was proposed which involved an initial Baeyer-Villiger oxygen insertion step to afford an ester which was hydrolysed in situ to hydroquinone. The remaining oxidant was then involved in oxidizing some of the soformed hydroquinone to benzoquinone. It was then proposed that these two compounds, i.e., hydroquinone and benzoquinone, interacted with each other in solution, forming a charge-transfer complex. According to our proposal, the carbonyl group of the benzoquinone, when complexed with hydroquinone in solution, was then attacked by nucleophilic reagents such as alcohols. Etherification hence resulted as a consequence of this attack. A statistical experimental evaluation and optimization study was then performed which led to a system that produced the phenolic ether, 4-methoxyphenol, in an 86% yield. An analysis of the effects of the reaction parameters on the reaction showed that the reaction temperature and the oxidant:substrate ratio played a major role in deciding the effectiveness of the reaction, while the amount of substrate and acidic catalyst had a much smaller influence on the ether yields.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
- Authors: Hoffmann, Petra
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Ethers , Phenols
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech (Chemistry)
- Identifier: vital:10955 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51 , Ethers , Phenols
- Description: A novel preparative method has been discovered in our laboratories which produces hydroxy-substituted phenolic ethers in a simple one-pot process. Initially it was found that 4-hydroxyacetophenone, when oxidized in the presence of ammonium peroxydisulfate and concentrated sulfuric acid in methanol, resulted in 4- methoxyphenol as product in high yield. Being novel, no information about the method was available in the literature, and hence it was our task to study the reaction more extensively. The scope of the reaction was investigated in that different reagents and substrates, as well as alternative oxidants, catalysts and alcohols (or reagents which may be envisaged to behave similarly to alcohols) were used. The studies showed that 4- hydroxy-substituted benzaldehyde and acetophenone, vanillin, fuchsones and stilbenequinones as substrates all successfully afforded the phenolic ether. Other oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate etc. also afforded the phenolic ether but were less effective. The use of other acids than sulfuric acid resulted in comparable or lower yields of the desired phenolic ether. When the use of alcohols or similar reagents was varied, it was found that methanol, ethanol, benzyl alcohol, allyl alcohol, but-3-en-1-ol, hex-5-en-1-ol and undec-10-en-1-ol all afforded the desired ethers in significant yields. In an investigation to determine how this method may be useful for industrial applications, it was observed that compounds such as 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxysubstituted alkenyloxy phenols, having potential application as antioxidant precursors in the polymer industry, may be prepared. Results showed that the reaction became less efficient when the alkenyl chain length was increased. The use of different acids and oxidants, the change of the oxidant:substrate ratio and the addition of a potential lanthanide catalyst did not improve the yield of the desired ether. A mechanism for the reaction was proposed which involved an initial Baeyer-Villiger oxygen insertion step to afford an ester which was hydrolysed in situ to hydroquinone. The remaining oxidant was then involved in oxidizing some of the soformed hydroquinone to benzoquinone. It was then proposed that these two compounds, i.e., hydroquinone and benzoquinone, interacted with each other in solution, forming a charge-transfer complex. According to our proposal, the carbonyl group of the benzoquinone, when complexed with hydroquinone in solution, was then attacked by nucleophilic reagents such as alcohols. Etherification hence resulted as a consequence of this attack. A statistical experimental evaluation and optimization study was then performed which led to a system that produced the phenolic ether, 4-methoxyphenol, in an 86% yield. An analysis of the effects of the reaction parameters on the reaction showed that the reaction temperature and the oxidant:substrate ratio played a major role in deciding the effectiveness of the reaction, while the amount of substrate and acidic catalyst had a much smaller influence on the ether yields.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
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