Measuring the industry maturity of the South African export table grape industry
- Authors: De Bruyn, Corean
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Exports -- South Africa , Fruit trade -- South Africa Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39403 , vital:35243
- Description: Despite the fact that the South African export table grape industry is more than a century old, studies which focus on the development of the industry have not previously been conducted. The main aim of this study was to measure the phase of maturity of the South African export table grape industry. The industry life cycle model was a main focus point to measure the maturity of the South African export table grape industry and as such has been used to analyse the dynamics of the South African export table grape industry. An expansive literature study was conducted to identify as many variables as possible that serve as indicators of the phase of maturity. A measuring instrument, in the form of a questionnaire, was developed, based on these identified variables. A randomly selected sample of 214 export table grape producers completed the questionnaire. Five main export table grape regions are present in South Africa, namely, the Hex River Valley region, the Berg River region, the Olifants River region, the Orange River region and the Northern Province region. An exploratory factor analysis was used to disentangle and reduce the large number of variables. From the factor analysis, four distinct factors emerged, namely: Manufacturing and Distribution, Demand, Research and Development, and Buyer Segments. Cronbach’s coefficient alpha was employed to confirm the reliability and internal consistency of the measuring instrument. The mean scores and standard deviations were used to determine the strength of direction of each of the four variables, followed by a t-test to determine the differences in development between the five regions. Finally, the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlations were calculated for investigating the correlations between the variables used. The findings indicated that, among the five-export table grape regions in South Africa, Manufacturing and Distribution have evolved beyond the introductory phase, but that there is still considerable scope for growth in all the regions. Additionally, there are significant differences between the five regions, thereby indicating that the industry exhibits uneven development with some of the regions being further along the path of development. Demand delivered the second highest mean score and the smallest variation among the five regions. This indicates that export table grapes from South African producers have a loyal customer base. The mean score, however, still indicated that the industry as a whole is in the growth phase of development. Research and Development delivered the highest mean score, thereby signifying the industry’s commitment to research and development. This once again points to an industry being in the growth phase of development. The average mean score delivered by Buyer Segments indicates that the market has begun to fragment. This provides opportunities to create and exploit niche marks. This too conforms to the characteristics of the growth phase in the industry life cycle model. In essence, the current study provided useful information regarding the evolution of the South African export table grape industry. Moreover, a foundation has been laid for further research to be conducted in the industry life cycle of the South African export table grape industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: De Bruyn, Corean
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Exports -- South Africa , Fruit trade -- South Africa Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39403 , vital:35243
- Description: Despite the fact that the South African export table grape industry is more than a century old, studies which focus on the development of the industry have not previously been conducted. The main aim of this study was to measure the phase of maturity of the South African export table grape industry. The industry life cycle model was a main focus point to measure the maturity of the South African export table grape industry and as such has been used to analyse the dynamics of the South African export table grape industry. An expansive literature study was conducted to identify as many variables as possible that serve as indicators of the phase of maturity. A measuring instrument, in the form of a questionnaire, was developed, based on these identified variables. A randomly selected sample of 214 export table grape producers completed the questionnaire. Five main export table grape regions are present in South Africa, namely, the Hex River Valley region, the Berg River region, the Olifants River region, the Orange River region and the Northern Province region. An exploratory factor analysis was used to disentangle and reduce the large number of variables. From the factor analysis, four distinct factors emerged, namely: Manufacturing and Distribution, Demand, Research and Development, and Buyer Segments. Cronbach’s coefficient alpha was employed to confirm the reliability and internal consistency of the measuring instrument. The mean scores and standard deviations were used to determine the strength of direction of each of the four variables, followed by a t-test to determine the differences in development between the five regions. Finally, the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlations were calculated for investigating the correlations between the variables used. The findings indicated that, among the five-export table grape regions in South Africa, Manufacturing and Distribution have evolved beyond the introductory phase, but that there is still considerable scope for growth in all the regions. Additionally, there are significant differences between the five regions, thereby indicating that the industry exhibits uneven development with some of the regions being further along the path of development. Demand delivered the second highest mean score and the smallest variation among the five regions. This indicates that export table grapes from South African producers have a loyal customer base. The mean score, however, still indicated that the industry as a whole is in the growth phase of development. Research and Development delivered the highest mean score, thereby signifying the industry’s commitment to research and development. This once again points to an industry being in the growth phase of development. The average mean score delivered by Buyer Segments indicates that the market has begun to fragment. This provides opportunities to create and exploit niche marks. This too conforms to the characteristics of the growth phase in the industry life cycle model. In essence, the current study provided useful information regarding the evolution of the South African export table grape industry. Moreover, a foundation has been laid for further research to be conducted in the industry life cycle of the South African export table grape industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Decoding the notion of a constructed identity within an autobiographical picture narrative
- Authors: Joubert, Nina
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Narrative art , Autobiography , Semiotics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:8497 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015685
- Description: This study presents an investigation into the process of constructing an autobiographical self within the genre of the autobiographical picture narrative, and explores this process both in terms of a theoretical study of this concept as well as an interpretation of a number of photographs. The interpretation entails a reading of selected autobiographical picture narratives by the artist-photographers Maggie Taylor and Lori Nix by means of a method derived from visual social semiotics. Specifically, the semiotic reading focuses on Taylor and Nix’s photographs Twilight swim (2004) and Ice Storm (1999), respectively, after which the researcher’s own autobiographical photograph entitled Fennel and coriander is read by means of the same methodological approach. The semiotic reading is guided by five salient characteristics of the autobiographical picture narrative, namely fabrication and reality, autobiographical memory, socio-cultural relevance, commonalities in female narration and narrative function. Harrison’s (2003) visual social semiotic framework (which reflects the work of social semioticians Kress and Van Leeuwen, 2002) was augmented in light of the five salient characteristics in order to construct an appropriate methodological framework. A comparative reading of the works by Taylor, Nix and the researcher reveals that although each of the artistphotographers followed a peculiar and unique approach in constructing the autobiographical picture narrative, parallels can be established in terms of various central concepts, as is evident from the semiotic reading. In particular, the role of memory and the interpretation of autobiographical elements emerged as common denominators. The process of constructing an autobiographical memory therefore provides the narrator-photographer with the options of escaping into and not from memory, thus allowing for unique possibilities in terms of interpretation, fantasy and construction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Joubert, Nina
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Narrative art , Autobiography , Semiotics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:8497 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015685
- Description: This study presents an investigation into the process of constructing an autobiographical self within the genre of the autobiographical picture narrative, and explores this process both in terms of a theoretical study of this concept as well as an interpretation of a number of photographs. The interpretation entails a reading of selected autobiographical picture narratives by the artist-photographers Maggie Taylor and Lori Nix by means of a method derived from visual social semiotics. Specifically, the semiotic reading focuses on Taylor and Nix’s photographs Twilight swim (2004) and Ice Storm (1999), respectively, after which the researcher’s own autobiographical photograph entitled Fennel and coriander is read by means of the same methodological approach. The semiotic reading is guided by five salient characteristics of the autobiographical picture narrative, namely fabrication and reality, autobiographical memory, socio-cultural relevance, commonalities in female narration and narrative function. Harrison’s (2003) visual social semiotic framework (which reflects the work of social semioticians Kress and Van Leeuwen, 2002) was augmented in light of the five salient characteristics in order to construct an appropriate methodological framework. A comparative reading of the works by Taylor, Nix and the researcher reveals that although each of the artistphotographers followed a peculiar and unique approach in constructing the autobiographical picture narrative, parallels can be established in terms of various central concepts, as is evident from the semiotic reading. In particular, the role of memory and the interpretation of autobiographical elements emerged as common denominators. The process of constructing an autobiographical memory therefore provides the narrator-photographer with the options of escaping into and not from memory, thus allowing for unique possibilities in terms of interpretation, fantasy and construction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
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