An investigation into the contribution of human resource development to job creation in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Nketiah, Francis
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job creation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42030 , vital:36619
- Description: This study aimed at determining the contribution of Human Resource Development to job creation in the Eastern Cape Province. This investigation was done on how development in human resources in the Municipality (King William’s Town/Bhisho specifically) and the Province would help reduce the rate of unemployment in the Province of Eastern Cape in general. This research was necessitated by the fact that Eastern Cape is one of the Province with the highest level of unemployment in the country and Bhisho is the administrative capital of the Province. The study investigated the relationship between HRD and job creation in the Province. The statement of the problem, therefore, provided a foundation within which the aims of the study were explained. The significance of this research cannot be overemphasized especially against the backdrop of the intertwined society crisis of unemployment and poverty facing the Province. Although an extensive amount of research on HRD has been conducted, there is still no specific solution to how the human resource development contribute to job creation to reduce poverty and its associated social vices in the Eastern Cape Province. The objective of the study examine how human resource development can help reduce unemployment, discuss how stakeholders can help train and develop the youth especially the unemployed and to examine the relevance of human resource development to government department in King William’s Town/Bhisho. The nature of the study necessitated the use of questionnaires to elicit information from households. The researcher then presented, analyzed and discussed research findings. The nature of the study enabled the use of tables and frequency distribution to present data. In drawing conclusions, it became clear that there were problems hindering job creation and employment in the Municipality. The main problem was the lack of employable skills on the part of the job seeker and inadequate entrepreneurial skills to create new jobs or expand already existing jobs. To address the problems identified, recommendations were made to the Municipal officials, institutions of learning (FET colleges and universities) and to job seekers/students as well.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Nketiah, Francis
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Job creation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42030 , vital:36619
- Description: This study aimed at determining the contribution of Human Resource Development to job creation in the Eastern Cape Province. This investigation was done on how development in human resources in the Municipality (King William’s Town/Bhisho specifically) and the Province would help reduce the rate of unemployment in the Province of Eastern Cape in general. This research was necessitated by the fact that Eastern Cape is one of the Province with the highest level of unemployment in the country and Bhisho is the administrative capital of the Province. The study investigated the relationship between HRD and job creation in the Province. The statement of the problem, therefore, provided a foundation within which the aims of the study were explained. The significance of this research cannot be overemphasized especially against the backdrop of the intertwined society crisis of unemployment and poverty facing the Province. Although an extensive amount of research on HRD has been conducted, there is still no specific solution to how the human resource development contribute to job creation to reduce poverty and its associated social vices in the Eastern Cape Province. The objective of the study examine how human resource development can help reduce unemployment, discuss how stakeholders can help train and develop the youth especially the unemployed and to examine the relevance of human resource development to government department in King William’s Town/Bhisho. The nature of the study necessitated the use of questionnaires to elicit information from households. The researcher then presented, analyzed and discussed research findings. The nature of the study enabled the use of tables and frequency distribution to present data. In drawing conclusions, it became clear that there were problems hindering job creation and employment in the Municipality. The main problem was the lack of employable skills on the part of the job seeker and inadequate entrepreneurial skills to create new jobs or expand already existing jobs. To address the problems identified, recommendations were made to the Municipal officials, institutions of learning (FET colleges and universities) and to job seekers/students as well.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Happiness in the private physiotherapy sector of South Africa
- Authors: Elliot, Michael
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Happiness Well-being , Health behavior -- Economic aspects Economics -- Sociological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15171 , vital:28171
- Description: There is limited research pertaining to assessing the happiness levels of various disciplines within the healthcare industry. Furthermore, happiness and physiotherapy studies are two research areas that are not necessarily associated with one another on a global perspective. Hence, the happiness levels have not been adequately established for private physiotherapists. This treatise is the first attempt to evaluate the happiness levels of private physiotherapists in South Africa. A thorough literature review was conducted to determine the current climate of happiness studies pertaining to the business industry, with focus on private physiotherapy businesses in the healthcare sector. The literature review enabled the development of a hypothesised model, which was tested with quantitative techniques consisting of a questionnaire, data collection and statistical analysis. The research confirmed that influence, social relations, life balance, optimism, work and leisure are all positively associated with the happiness levels of private physiotherapists in South Africa. These variables are recommended as key focus areas for physiotherapy business owners to address, in order to positively affect happiness levels in the workplace and thereby create favourable bottom line results. In accordance with the reviewed literature and the findings of this treatise, by adequately addressing these variables the business owners of physiotherapy practices will generate a workforce that are more productive, demonstrate greater collaboration with colleagues and customers, produce happier customers, are more positively energised and are less absent and more loyal to the business. It is recommended that the proposed model is tested to provide further benefit to the industry by constructing evidence-based retention and recruitment strategies for high performing private physiotherapy staff.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Elliot, Michael
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Happiness Well-being , Health behavior -- Economic aspects Economics -- Sociological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15171 , vital:28171
- Description: There is limited research pertaining to assessing the happiness levels of various disciplines within the healthcare industry. Furthermore, happiness and physiotherapy studies are two research areas that are not necessarily associated with one another on a global perspective. Hence, the happiness levels have not been adequately established for private physiotherapists. This treatise is the first attempt to evaluate the happiness levels of private physiotherapists in South Africa. A thorough literature review was conducted to determine the current climate of happiness studies pertaining to the business industry, with focus on private physiotherapy businesses in the healthcare sector. The literature review enabled the development of a hypothesised model, which was tested with quantitative techniques consisting of a questionnaire, data collection and statistical analysis. The research confirmed that influence, social relations, life balance, optimism, work and leisure are all positively associated with the happiness levels of private physiotherapists in South Africa. These variables are recommended as key focus areas for physiotherapy business owners to address, in order to positively affect happiness levels in the workplace and thereby create favourable bottom line results. In accordance with the reviewed literature and the findings of this treatise, by adequately addressing these variables the business owners of physiotherapy practices will generate a workforce that are more productive, demonstrate greater collaboration with colleagues and customers, produce happier customers, are more positively energised and are less absent and more loyal to the business. It is recommended that the proposed model is tested to provide further benefit to the industry by constructing evidence-based retention and recruitment strategies for high performing private physiotherapy staff.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) habitat use and diet in the Bontebok National Park, South Africa
- Authors: Strauss, Taniia
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Habitat conservation -- South Africa -- Western Cape Zebras -- Habitat -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11374 , vital:26917
- Description: Cape mountain zebra habitat utilization and diet in the dystrophic fynbos habitat of the Bontebok National Park was found to be highly selective. Mountain zebra concentrated in specific sectors and habitat types in the park on a seasonal basis, preferring recently burnt habitat with a veld age younger than one year in all seasons, except during the warm, dry summer. Proteoid Fynbos with a veld age between one and five years was preferred in the cool winter, while Drainage Lines and the fringes of Inland Pans were preferred during summer. Asteraceous Fynbos was avoided, irrespective of veld age, as well as all other habitats with a veld age greater than five years. Within habitat types with a veld age greater than one year, specific sites were selected and avoided on a seasonal basis, which were found to differ in terms of habitat suitability, based on the availability of dietary plant species. The annual diet consisted of 72.6% grass, 11.8% restio, 5.9% sedge, 8.8% geophyte and less than 1% forb and shrub species. Three grass species formed the bulk of the annual diet, Themeda triandra, Cymbopogon marginatus and Eragrostis curvula, for which leaf use was greater than stem use. Themeda trianda was preferred throughout the year, but contributed to the diet in greatest proportion in the warm, dry summer, when it was available at greatest leaf height and diameter. Cymbopogon marginatus was preferred during the cool winter, when diet composition and greenness was also greater than in other seasons. Preference of Cymbopogon marginatus decreased as leaf height and diameter increased. Eragrostis curvula was preferred in the warm autumn, when it composed the largest proportion of the diet, and selection of this species at feeding sites was based on both greenness and volume. In summer mountain zebra also preferred grass stems and inflorescences of Aristida diffusa, Stipagrostis zeyheri and Briza maxima. During the cool spring the diet included stems and inflorescences of sedges and restios, primarily Ischyrolepis capensis, and in autumn, dry bulbs of the geophyte Moraea collina were utilized. Habitat utilization, as well as grass height and greenness surveys in the Recently Burnt Area, and the nutritional status of mountain zebra was found to be in line with the Summer Nutritional Stress Hypothesis. The hypothesis proposes that the harsh climatic conditions of the area during summer are linked to the low availability of C4 grass, on which grazers would depend in summer. This is supported by the avoidance of the Recently Burnt Area in summer, and the preference of species like Themeda triandra during summer despite low greenness levels. Faecal nitrogen and phosphorus for mountain zebra in Bontebok National Park and De Hoop Nature Reserve were at minimum levels during the warm seasons. Faecal nitrogen was below the threshold for dietary deficiency in all seasons except spring, and faecal phosphorus was above the threshold for deficiency during two seasons only. The findings of this study are in line with other recent work on mountain zebra in the Baviaanskloof suggesting that, due to a high required rate of forage intake, mountain zebra are limited by both poor resource quantity and quality in dystrophic fynbos ecosystems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Strauss, Taniia
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Habitat conservation -- South Africa -- Western Cape Zebras -- Habitat -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11374 , vital:26917
- Description: Cape mountain zebra habitat utilization and diet in the dystrophic fynbos habitat of the Bontebok National Park was found to be highly selective. Mountain zebra concentrated in specific sectors and habitat types in the park on a seasonal basis, preferring recently burnt habitat with a veld age younger than one year in all seasons, except during the warm, dry summer. Proteoid Fynbos with a veld age between one and five years was preferred in the cool winter, while Drainage Lines and the fringes of Inland Pans were preferred during summer. Asteraceous Fynbos was avoided, irrespective of veld age, as well as all other habitats with a veld age greater than five years. Within habitat types with a veld age greater than one year, specific sites were selected and avoided on a seasonal basis, which were found to differ in terms of habitat suitability, based on the availability of dietary plant species. The annual diet consisted of 72.6% grass, 11.8% restio, 5.9% sedge, 8.8% geophyte and less than 1% forb and shrub species. Three grass species formed the bulk of the annual diet, Themeda triandra, Cymbopogon marginatus and Eragrostis curvula, for which leaf use was greater than stem use. Themeda trianda was preferred throughout the year, but contributed to the diet in greatest proportion in the warm, dry summer, when it was available at greatest leaf height and diameter. Cymbopogon marginatus was preferred during the cool winter, when diet composition and greenness was also greater than in other seasons. Preference of Cymbopogon marginatus decreased as leaf height and diameter increased. Eragrostis curvula was preferred in the warm autumn, when it composed the largest proportion of the diet, and selection of this species at feeding sites was based on both greenness and volume. In summer mountain zebra also preferred grass stems and inflorescences of Aristida diffusa, Stipagrostis zeyheri and Briza maxima. During the cool spring the diet included stems and inflorescences of sedges and restios, primarily Ischyrolepis capensis, and in autumn, dry bulbs of the geophyte Moraea collina were utilized. Habitat utilization, as well as grass height and greenness surveys in the Recently Burnt Area, and the nutritional status of mountain zebra was found to be in line with the Summer Nutritional Stress Hypothesis. The hypothesis proposes that the harsh climatic conditions of the area during summer are linked to the low availability of C4 grass, on which grazers would depend in summer. This is supported by the avoidance of the Recently Burnt Area in summer, and the preference of species like Themeda triandra during summer despite low greenness levels. Faecal nitrogen and phosphorus for mountain zebra in Bontebok National Park and De Hoop Nature Reserve were at minimum levels during the warm seasons. Faecal nitrogen was below the threshold for dietary deficiency in all seasons except spring, and faecal phosphorus was above the threshold for deficiency during two seasons only. The findings of this study are in line with other recent work on mountain zebra in the Baviaanskloof suggesting that, due to a high required rate of forage intake, mountain zebra are limited by both poor resource quantity and quality in dystrophic fynbos ecosystems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Clarifying the influence of human-environment interaction in nature-based adventure tourism in the Tsitsikamma, South Africa
- Authors: Giddy, Julia K
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Human ecology -- South Africa -- Tsitsikammaberge , Tourism -- South Africa -- Tsitsikammaberge
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10674 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020782
- Description: Adventure tourism (AT), defined as “a broad spectrum of outdoor touristic activities,often commercialized and involving an interaction with the natural environment away from the participants’ home range and containing elements of risk,” (Hall, 1992, p. 143) is currently one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of the tourism industry (Buckley 2010). Because it has emerged relatively recently as a field of study, a number of scholars have called for ongoing research in the area, see Swarbrooke (2003), Pomfret (2006), Buckley (2010), Rogerson (2007), and Williams & Soutar (2005). Much of this research, to date, has focused on marketing, injury caused by AT participation, environmental impacts, and the broad notion of “risk” associated with AT. The problem is that little of this work has focused on the significance of the environment in adventure tourism – an important element inherent in its definition. Thus, this thesis aims to move beyond a general risk-based analysis of AT, and focus on the role of the environment. This is done through a human-environment interaction approach undertaken in Tsitsikamma Village where five adventure tourist operations are based. The first step in operationalizing this approach was to develop a conceptual framework that integrated adventure tourism into a general framework on humanenvironment interaction. The second step was to use a research instrument which enabled one to examine the influence of the environment on human motivations and adventure tourism experiences, and not only the influence of humans on the environment. The former was accomplished through questionnaires based on external, environmental elements that attract adventure tourists as well as inherent personality traits impel such tourists to participate in AT. The latter, based on interviews and participant perceptions, sought to establish the significance of impacts on the environment as well as initiatives taken by AT companies to minimize environmental damage. The findings show that although risk/thrill does play a role, AT motivations and experiences are complex and multidimensional. The environment does significantly influence both motivations and even more so AT experiences. Furthermore, there are distinct differences between the motivations and experiences of participants in different types of AT activities, indicating that generalizing the industry as whole neglects these significant differences. In terms of influences on the environment, the results show that most AT operators in the Tsitsikamma have some consideration for environmental protection and take some initiatives to minimize environmental damage, though the degree to which this occurs differs significantly. Furthermore, activity participants do not believe that the activities have a strong negative impact on the environment, though the majority acknowledge small impacts. The types of impacts observed by participants vary significantly between companies. This thesis demonstrates the manner in which the two-way relationship between humans and the environment manifests itself in the commercial AT industry. The result is a well-rounded examination of the influence of human-environment interaction on AT participants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Giddy, Julia K
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Human ecology -- South Africa -- Tsitsikammaberge , Tourism -- South Africa -- Tsitsikammaberge
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10674 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020782
- Description: Adventure tourism (AT), defined as “a broad spectrum of outdoor touristic activities,often commercialized and involving an interaction with the natural environment away from the participants’ home range and containing elements of risk,” (Hall, 1992, p. 143) is currently one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of the tourism industry (Buckley 2010). Because it has emerged relatively recently as a field of study, a number of scholars have called for ongoing research in the area, see Swarbrooke (2003), Pomfret (2006), Buckley (2010), Rogerson (2007), and Williams & Soutar (2005). Much of this research, to date, has focused on marketing, injury caused by AT participation, environmental impacts, and the broad notion of “risk” associated with AT. The problem is that little of this work has focused on the significance of the environment in adventure tourism – an important element inherent in its definition. Thus, this thesis aims to move beyond a general risk-based analysis of AT, and focus on the role of the environment. This is done through a human-environment interaction approach undertaken in Tsitsikamma Village where five adventure tourist operations are based. The first step in operationalizing this approach was to develop a conceptual framework that integrated adventure tourism into a general framework on humanenvironment interaction. The second step was to use a research instrument which enabled one to examine the influence of the environment on human motivations and adventure tourism experiences, and not only the influence of humans on the environment. The former was accomplished through questionnaires based on external, environmental elements that attract adventure tourists as well as inherent personality traits impel such tourists to participate in AT. The latter, based on interviews and participant perceptions, sought to establish the significance of impacts on the environment as well as initiatives taken by AT companies to minimize environmental damage. The findings show that although risk/thrill does play a role, AT motivations and experiences are complex and multidimensional. The environment does significantly influence both motivations and even more so AT experiences. Furthermore, there are distinct differences between the motivations and experiences of participants in different types of AT activities, indicating that generalizing the industry as whole neglects these significant differences. In terms of influences on the environment, the results show that most AT operators in the Tsitsikamma have some consideration for environmental protection and take some initiatives to minimize environmental damage, though the degree to which this occurs differs significantly. Furthermore, activity participants do not believe that the activities have a strong negative impact on the environment, though the majority acknowledge small impacts. The types of impacts observed by participants vary significantly between companies. This thesis demonstrates the manner in which the two-way relationship between humans and the environment manifests itself in the commercial AT industry. The result is a well-rounded examination of the influence of human-environment interaction on AT participants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
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