Strategies to improve employee financial intelligence
- Authors: Botha, Perine
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Financial literacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47486 , vital:40118
- Description: South African employees are largely indebted, with the majority of their disposable income used to service debt. The potential causes of this problem include the levels of education of individuals, how investors perceive the political climate in the country, levels of disposable income and the spending habits of individuals. This study aims to assist organisations to improve employee financial intelligence by investigating what influences financial intelligence. To ascertain these influences, the respondents’ level of financial literacy is to be determined as well. Financial literacy is assessed by determining a respondents’ knowledge of numeracy, risk diversification, compound interest and inflation. Additional factors such as debt management, saving culture and access to digital information too have an impact on financial literacy. An empirical study, consisting of a questionnaire was conducted among employees of a state-owned enterprise (SOE) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. These employees represent both the management and junior employee profiles. The study found that 75% of the respondents were not financially literate. Financial literacy rates globally are at 51%, however, in a major emerging economy such as South Africa, the rate is between 48% and 51%. The results of the study however indicate that it is much lower than the global average as well as for that of similar developing countries. The results of the study indicate that age, gender, job grade, level of education, access to digital information, a savings culture, budgeting and debt management do not significantly influence financial literacy in the context of SouthAfrica.The research indicates that the respondents are, however, willing to learn and be educated to increase their financial knowledge and awareness. Possible strategies which could assist in improving levels of financial intelligence are:•Financial literacy courses offered by employers;•Research undertaken by employees themselves could increase their financial literacy; Employee wellness programmes, such as debt counselling, could improve the financial literacy of employees;•Completion of online courses would improve the employees’ level of financial literacy;•Budgeting and money management courses;•Financial advisors to be appointed by employers;•Debt counselling of employees.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Botha, Perine
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Financial literacy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/47486 , vital:40118
- Description: South African employees are largely indebted, with the majority of their disposable income used to service debt. The potential causes of this problem include the levels of education of individuals, how investors perceive the political climate in the country, levels of disposable income and the spending habits of individuals. This study aims to assist organisations to improve employee financial intelligence by investigating what influences financial intelligence. To ascertain these influences, the respondents’ level of financial literacy is to be determined as well. Financial literacy is assessed by determining a respondents’ knowledge of numeracy, risk diversification, compound interest and inflation. Additional factors such as debt management, saving culture and access to digital information too have an impact on financial literacy. An empirical study, consisting of a questionnaire was conducted among employees of a state-owned enterprise (SOE) in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. These employees represent both the management and junior employee profiles. The study found that 75% of the respondents were not financially literate. Financial literacy rates globally are at 51%, however, in a major emerging economy such as South Africa, the rate is between 48% and 51%. The results of the study however indicate that it is much lower than the global average as well as for that of similar developing countries. The results of the study indicate that age, gender, job grade, level of education, access to digital information, a savings culture, budgeting and debt management do not significantly influence financial literacy in the context of SouthAfrica.The research indicates that the respondents are, however, willing to learn and be educated to increase their financial knowledge and awareness. Possible strategies which could assist in improving levels of financial intelligence are:•Financial literacy courses offered by employers;•Research undertaken by employees themselves could increase their financial literacy; Employee wellness programmes, such as debt counselling, could improve the financial literacy of employees;•Completion of online courses would improve the employees’ level of financial literacy;•Budgeting and money management courses;•Financial advisors to be appointed by employers;•Debt counselling of employees.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Energy maximisation strategies of different African herbivores in a fire dominated and nutrient poor grassland ecosystem
- Authors: Brooke, Christopher
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Grassland ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animals -- Food -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Herbivores -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fire ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21961 , vital:29807
- Description: Fire and herbivory are both major drivers in grassland ecosystems throughout the world. Although these two driving forces act independently from one another the relationship between fire and herbivory may be more significant than either acting on their own. Heterogeneity within the landscape as a result of fire results in herbivores having to adapt their behaviour in space and time. My research focussed on 1) characterising the fire regime on Mkambati Nature Reserve (hereafter Mkambati) and 2) determining the foraging choices and energy maximisation principles displayed by herbivores in relation to the biomass of vegetation and post fire vegetation age. Fire regimes were characterised between 2007-2016 in the low nutrient coastal grasslands of Mkambati in terms of fire season, seasonality of fire-prone weather conditions, fire return interval (FRI) and influence of poaching-related ignitions. Based on these results I then assessed foraging choices in terms of energy maximisation of four large herbivore species. I explored what energy maximisation strategy was employed, i.e. maximisation of daily digestible energy (DDE) (recently burnt low biomass vegetation) or instantaneous digestible energy (IDE) (older high biomass vegetation), by herbivore species with different morpho-physiological traits. Common reedbuck (Redunca arundinum), red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus subsp. caama), zebra (Equus quagga) and eland (Tragelaphus oryx subsp. oryx) were fitted with GPS satellite tracking collars, and hourly GPS locations (observed) were taken between 2008 and 2016. Using mixed effects models, I compared observed and an associated set of random locations to determine the energy maximisation strategy employed by each species. Our results indicated that fires were concentrated in winter when monthly fire danger weather (FDI) was highest. The mean FRI at Mkambati was <3 years, but varied according to vegetation type, and whether censoring (for open ended FRIs) was applied to estimate mean FRIs. Poachers, with the intention of attracting ungulates, are an important source of ignition at Mkambati. Accordingly FRIs were shorter (approximately 2 years) in areas within 3 km of likely poacher entry points. Although all fires recorded at Mkambati during the study period were of anthropogenic origin, mean FRI still fell within the natural range reported for interior grasslands in South Africa. Based on these findings, underpinned by the fire regime information, I showed that red hartebeest and zebra maximised DDE inside and outside of fire seasons and frequently foraged in low biomass recently burnt grasslands. Eland generally favoured areas where they could maximise IDE outside of the fire season, however during the fire season they switched strategy to maximise DDE. Reedbuck did not maximise IDE or DDE at the same scale (patch scale) as the other species, but at a landscape (broader) scale they maximised both IDE and DDE. Through this research I have shown how regular fire affects the foraging and energy maximisation behaviour of large African herbivores and how morpho-physiological traits affect these decisions. In response to these results I recommend that the management of Mkambati implement a focused monitoring program comparing the frequently and less frequently burnt areas of the reserve in order to understand the complex effects of anthropogenic fire and its subsequent effects on the biota of Mkambati.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Brooke, Christopher
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Grassland ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Animals -- Food -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Herbivores -- Ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Fire ecology -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21961 , vital:29807
- Description: Fire and herbivory are both major drivers in grassland ecosystems throughout the world. Although these two driving forces act independently from one another the relationship between fire and herbivory may be more significant than either acting on their own. Heterogeneity within the landscape as a result of fire results in herbivores having to adapt their behaviour in space and time. My research focussed on 1) characterising the fire regime on Mkambati Nature Reserve (hereafter Mkambati) and 2) determining the foraging choices and energy maximisation principles displayed by herbivores in relation to the biomass of vegetation and post fire vegetation age. Fire regimes were characterised between 2007-2016 in the low nutrient coastal grasslands of Mkambati in terms of fire season, seasonality of fire-prone weather conditions, fire return interval (FRI) and influence of poaching-related ignitions. Based on these results I then assessed foraging choices in terms of energy maximisation of four large herbivore species. I explored what energy maximisation strategy was employed, i.e. maximisation of daily digestible energy (DDE) (recently burnt low biomass vegetation) or instantaneous digestible energy (IDE) (older high biomass vegetation), by herbivore species with different morpho-physiological traits. Common reedbuck (Redunca arundinum), red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus subsp. caama), zebra (Equus quagga) and eland (Tragelaphus oryx subsp. oryx) were fitted with GPS satellite tracking collars, and hourly GPS locations (observed) were taken between 2008 and 2016. Using mixed effects models, I compared observed and an associated set of random locations to determine the energy maximisation strategy employed by each species. Our results indicated that fires were concentrated in winter when monthly fire danger weather (FDI) was highest. The mean FRI at Mkambati was <3 years, but varied according to vegetation type, and whether censoring (for open ended FRIs) was applied to estimate mean FRIs. Poachers, with the intention of attracting ungulates, are an important source of ignition at Mkambati. Accordingly FRIs were shorter (approximately 2 years) in areas within 3 km of likely poacher entry points. Although all fires recorded at Mkambati during the study period were of anthropogenic origin, mean FRI still fell within the natural range reported for interior grasslands in South Africa. Based on these findings, underpinned by the fire regime information, I showed that red hartebeest and zebra maximised DDE inside and outside of fire seasons and frequently foraged in low biomass recently burnt grasslands. Eland generally favoured areas where they could maximise IDE outside of the fire season, however during the fire season they switched strategy to maximise DDE. Reedbuck did not maximise IDE or DDE at the same scale (patch scale) as the other species, but at a landscape (broader) scale they maximised both IDE and DDE. Through this research I have shown how regular fire affects the foraging and energy maximisation behaviour of large African herbivores and how morpho-physiological traits affect these decisions. In response to these results I recommend that the management of Mkambati implement a focused monitoring program comparing the frequently and less frequently burnt areas of the reserve in order to understand the complex effects of anthropogenic fire and its subsequent effects on the biota of Mkambati.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Devulcanization of model compounds by a variety of diphenyldisulfides
- Authors: Boyce, Annemè
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rubber -- Recycling Rubber, Reclaimed , Rubber -- Standards -- South Africa Rubber -- Research Chromatographic analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14730 , vital:27834
- Description: Improvements to the properties of recycled rubber, by developing a more selective breakdown process, is an important issue and a global challenge. Devulcanization is the most promising way to achieve this. It is a process which aims to totally or partially cleave monosulfidic (C-S-C), disulfidic (C-S-S-C) and polysulfidic (C-Sx-C) crosslinks of vulcanized rubber. In this study, the devulcanization of sulfur-vulcanized natural rubber with a variety of diphenyldisulfides has been studied using 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene and squalene as model compounds, vulcanized by sulfur and 2-bisbenzothiazole-2,2’-disulfide. 2-aminodiphenyldisulfide; 4-amino-diphenyldisulfide; bis(2-benzamido-)diphenyldisulfide and 2,2’-bithiosalicylic acid were used as aromatic disulfides devulcanization agents. Thermal analysis was used to investigate interactions between various combinations of curatives in the vulcanization systems in the absence of model compounds. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to detect mass changes during vulcanization and whether the samples decompose/evaporate so as not to contaminate differential scanning calorimetry instrumentation. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate reactions occurring between curatives. Comparison of reversing and non-reversing signals in modulated experiments are suggestive of reactions between devulcanization agents and sulfur, and accelerators Vulcanization of the model compounds were performed in 10m evacuated sealed glass ampoules placed in an oil bath at 160 °C and agitated for the duration of vulcanization. After 60 min the ampoules were removed and quenched. These were then devulcanized by exposure to a devulcanization agent in a sealed ampoule at 180 for 60 min. Crosslinked 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene species were isolated and analysed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Particular attention was paid to changes in the number of sulfur atoms in the crosslinks. Results indicate that of the devulcanization agents tested 4-amino-diphenyldisulfide was the most effective. No detrimental effect on devulcanization efficiency was caused by the substitution of a basic amino group with an acidic carboxylic acid group Gel permeation chromatography was performed on devulcanized squalene crosslinks using a tetrahydrofuran eluent. GPC investigations with squalene were less effective than HPLC experiments with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene at evaluating the relative efficiency of individual devulcanization agents. Results were, however, consistent with 4-amino-diphenyldisulfide again being the most efficient devulcanization agent.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Boyce, Annemè
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rubber -- Recycling Rubber, Reclaimed , Rubber -- Standards -- South Africa Rubber -- Research Chromatographic analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14730 , vital:27834
- Description: Improvements to the properties of recycled rubber, by developing a more selective breakdown process, is an important issue and a global challenge. Devulcanization is the most promising way to achieve this. It is a process which aims to totally or partially cleave monosulfidic (C-S-C), disulfidic (C-S-S-C) and polysulfidic (C-Sx-C) crosslinks of vulcanized rubber. In this study, the devulcanization of sulfur-vulcanized natural rubber with a variety of diphenyldisulfides has been studied using 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene and squalene as model compounds, vulcanized by sulfur and 2-bisbenzothiazole-2,2’-disulfide. 2-aminodiphenyldisulfide; 4-amino-diphenyldisulfide; bis(2-benzamido-)diphenyldisulfide and 2,2’-bithiosalicylic acid were used as aromatic disulfides devulcanization agents. Thermal analysis was used to investigate interactions between various combinations of curatives in the vulcanization systems in the absence of model compounds. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to detect mass changes during vulcanization and whether the samples decompose/evaporate so as not to contaminate differential scanning calorimetry instrumentation. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate reactions occurring between curatives. Comparison of reversing and non-reversing signals in modulated experiments are suggestive of reactions between devulcanization agents and sulfur, and accelerators Vulcanization of the model compounds were performed in 10m evacuated sealed glass ampoules placed in an oil bath at 160 °C and agitated for the duration of vulcanization. After 60 min the ampoules were removed and quenched. These were then devulcanized by exposure to a devulcanization agent in a sealed ampoule at 180 for 60 min. Crosslinked 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene species were isolated and analysed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Particular attention was paid to changes in the number of sulfur atoms in the crosslinks. Results indicate that of the devulcanization agents tested 4-amino-diphenyldisulfide was the most effective. No detrimental effect on devulcanization efficiency was caused by the substitution of a basic amino group with an acidic carboxylic acid group Gel permeation chromatography was performed on devulcanized squalene crosslinks using a tetrahydrofuran eluent. GPC investigations with squalene were less effective than HPLC experiments with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene at evaluating the relative efficiency of individual devulcanization agents. Results were, however, consistent with 4-amino-diphenyldisulfide again being the most efficient devulcanization agent.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
A study towards the implementation of a fire service operational structure in the Eden District Municipality area
- Authors: Van Rooyen, Zanda
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Fire departments -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Eden District Municipality (Western Cape, South Africa) , Fire prevention -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Fire stations -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8597 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/408 , Fire departments -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Eden District Municipality (Western Cape, South Africa) , Fire prevention -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Fire stations -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Description: The Eden District Municipality (EDM) is a local authority whose area of responsibility covers the Garden Route and also includes the Klein Karoo. The boundaries are from Storms River in the east, to Swellendam in the west and the Swartberg Mountains in the north. The EDM covers a very big area with seven big municipalities to consider and work with. Five of the municipalities, Langeberg, Mossel Bay, Knysna, George and Oudtshoorn have their own fire fighting services. The EDM fire fighting serves mainly the rural area. This is very costly due to the large distance required to travel to a fire, whereas the local municipalities are operating in their own towns. The new municipal boundaries include the rural areas, but the municipalities cannot service the rural areas because they do not as yet charge rates in the rural areas and therefore there is no revenue for the fire fighting service. They operate on the basis of verbal working agreements that make coordination of fire fighting very difficult. The fire fighting functions of the EDM as a category C municipality and the local municipalities as category B municipalities have been specified in the Municipal Structure Act. The allocation (division) of functions and powers relating to fire fighting service between the district municipality and local municipalities as determined by the Municipal Structure Act (Act 117 of 1998) has not been done. Due to the lack of invested capital, the resources are in a bad state. Some of the services have no capacity to attend to chemical fires or hazardous substance emergencies. Internationally, private fire fighting services can be contracted by government departments. These private fire fighting services are very large and the areas that they serve are extensive. These services have their own personnel structures functioning in an organisational structure that serves them well. These private services are very cost-effective and can therefore offer reasonable rates. Based on an investigation of various fire fighting services and different structures, the proposed structure for fire fighting in the EDM area will be a combination of structures. The diverse nature of the area will make the location of a sectoral structure and extension of its capacity difficult, and several factors that will impact on an new structure must be kept in mind. If all works well it will be relatively easy to achieve the five operations performance objectives envisaged for restructuring namely quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
- Authors: Van Rooyen, Zanda
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Fire departments -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Eden District Municipality (Western Cape, South Africa) , Fire prevention -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Fire stations -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8597 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/408 , Fire departments -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Eden District Municipality (Western Cape, South Africa) , Fire prevention -- South Africa -- Western Cape , Fire stations -- South Africa -- Western Cape
- Description: The Eden District Municipality (EDM) is a local authority whose area of responsibility covers the Garden Route and also includes the Klein Karoo. The boundaries are from Storms River in the east, to Swellendam in the west and the Swartberg Mountains in the north. The EDM covers a very big area with seven big municipalities to consider and work with. Five of the municipalities, Langeberg, Mossel Bay, Knysna, George and Oudtshoorn have their own fire fighting services. The EDM fire fighting serves mainly the rural area. This is very costly due to the large distance required to travel to a fire, whereas the local municipalities are operating in their own towns. The new municipal boundaries include the rural areas, but the municipalities cannot service the rural areas because they do not as yet charge rates in the rural areas and therefore there is no revenue for the fire fighting service. They operate on the basis of verbal working agreements that make coordination of fire fighting very difficult. The fire fighting functions of the EDM as a category C municipality and the local municipalities as category B municipalities have been specified in the Municipal Structure Act. The allocation (division) of functions and powers relating to fire fighting service between the district municipality and local municipalities as determined by the Municipal Structure Act (Act 117 of 1998) has not been done. Due to the lack of invested capital, the resources are in a bad state. Some of the services have no capacity to attend to chemical fires or hazardous substance emergencies. Internationally, private fire fighting services can be contracted by government departments. These private fire fighting services are very large and the areas that they serve are extensive. These services have their own personnel structures functioning in an organisational structure that serves them well. These private services are very cost-effective and can therefore offer reasonable rates. Based on an investigation of various fire fighting services and different structures, the proposed structure for fire fighting in the EDM area will be a combination of structures. The diverse nature of the area will make the location of a sectoral structure and extension of its capacity difficult, and several factors that will impact on an new structure must be kept in mind. If all works well it will be relatively easy to achieve the five operations performance objectives envisaged for restructuring namely quality, speed, dependability, flexibility and cost.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
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