Key success factors for lean implementation in the Eastern Cape automotive industry
- Authors: Coetzer, Louis
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Automobile industry and trade -- Management , Manufacturing industries -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14928 , vital:27909
- Description: Lean manufacturing has become an integral part of the global automotive industry where manufacturers strive to improve quality, reduce costs while providing customers with more variety. Organisations are implementing the Lean Production System (LPS) as a process improvement methodology to deliver their products faster, better quality and at a lower cost (Laureani & Antony, 2012). This is accomplished through the elimination of waste and continuous improvement (Kaizen). Through the effective implementation of lean principles, an organisation can realise cost competitiveness, process improvement and ultimately gain a competitive advantage. Although the theory of lean manufacturing is based on the implementation of tools, techniques and operational methods, many organisations that have implemented Lean have not reaped its full benefit. Thus, the realisation that lean manufacturing must consist of more than the summation of its operational based principles, tools and techniques. It has to be approached as a philosophy, which encompasses the entire organisation (Womack & Jones, 1996). Lean is a way of thinking and not merely the implementation of thoughts (Bhasin & Burcher, 2006). Laureani & Antony (2012) added that the fundamentals behind Lean are continuous improvement, waste elimination and employee empowerment. Lean introduction is more than the redesign of processes; the most important change must be in the knowledge of the employees (Dombrowski, Mielke & Engel, 2012). The literature clearly states that the successful implementation of a lean production system depends on more than the application of lean tools and techniques. Many authors and researchers hint that another critical factor associated with its implementation is the human aspect of the organisation. Hence, this study will examine the human related Key Success Factors (KSF‟s) required for the successful implementation of a lean system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Coetzer, Louis
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Automobile industry and trade -- Management , Manufacturing industries -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14928 , vital:27909
- Description: Lean manufacturing has become an integral part of the global automotive industry where manufacturers strive to improve quality, reduce costs while providing customers with more variety. Organisations are implementing the Lean Production System (LPS) as a process improvement methodology to deliver their products faster, better quality and at a lower cost (Laureani & Antony, 2012). This is accomplished through the elimination of waste and continuous improvement (Kaizen). Through the effective implementation of lean principles, an organisation can realise cost competitiveness, process improvement and ultimately gain a competitive advantage. Although the theory of lean manufacturing is based on the implementation of tools, techniques and operational methods, many organisations that have implemented Lean have not reaped its full benefit. Thus, the realisation that lean manufacturing must consist of more than the summation of its operational based principles, tools and techniques. It has to be approached as a philosophy, which encompasses the entire organisation (Womack & Jones, 1996). Lean is a way of thinking and not merely the implementation of thoughts (Bhasin & Burcher, 2006). Laureani & Antony (2012) added that the fundamentals behind Lean are continuous improvement, waste elimination and employee empowerment. Lean introduction is more than the redesign of processes; the most important change must be in the knowledge of the employees (Dombrowski, Mielke & Engel, 2012). The literature clearly states that the successful implementation of a lean production system depends on more than the application of lean tools and techniques. Many authors and researchers hint that another critical factor associated with its implementation is the human aspect of the organisation. Hence, this study will examine the human related Key Success Factors (KSF‟s) required for the successful implementation of a lean system.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Land restitution policy in old West Bank location, East London
- Authors: Bhe, Ntomboxolo Grace
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Land tenure -- Political aspects -- South Africa -- East London Land titles -- South Africa -- East London , Land tenure -- South Africa -- East London Land titles -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14620 , vital:27804
- Description: This thesis summarises research on the implementation of land restitution policy in the old West Bank Location, in East London. Apartheid legislation dispossessed many Black people of their land. After 1994, the new democratic government implemented a land reform programme, land policy was reviewed, and people were compensated for the loss of land either financially or through restoration of their land. The original cut-off date for claims was 1998, but the window for claims was reopened in July 2014 because of difficulties in implementation. The period for the lodging of claims was extended to end June 2019 to allow people who had not yet been able to do so to participate in the process. In case of the old West Bank Location claims, compensation was in the form of land restoration, including houses which would be built for the claimants. This study documents the successes and challenges encountered in the implementation of land policy in the old West Bank Location. Triangulation of methods was used: data were collected from documents, interviews with claimants, interviews with government officials, and observation of meetings. Recommendations with regard to land policy are made on the basis of the research findings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Bhe, Ntomboxolo Grace
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Land tenure -- Political aspects -- South Africa -- East London Land titles -- South Africa -- East London , Land tenure -- South Africa -- East London Land titles -- South Africa -- East London
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14620 , vital:27804
- Description: This thesis summarises research on the implementation of land restitution policy in the old West Bank Location, in East London. Apartheid legislation dispossessed many Black people of their land. After 1994, the new democratic government implemented a land reform programme, land policy was reviewed, and people were compensated for the loss of land either financially or through restoration of their land. The original cut-off date for claims was 1998, but the window for claims was reopened in July 2014 because of difficulties in implementation. The period for the lodging of claims was extended to end June 2019 to allow people who had not yet been able to do so to participate in the process. In case of the old West Bank Location claims, compensation was in the form of land restoration, including houses which would be built for the claimants. This study documents the successes and challenges encountered in the implementation of land policy in the old West Bank Location. Triangulation of methods was used: data were collected from documents, interviews with claimants, interviews with government officials, and observation of meetings. Recommendations with regard to land policy are made on the basis of the research findings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Livelihood strategies in rural areas of Makhoaseng village
- Authors: Lehlapa, Kgotsofalang
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa Rural poor -- South Africa , Poverty -- Developing countries Sustainable development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18156 , vital:28581
- Description: Despite the establishment of local municipalities, rural villages are still under-developed. Under-development is an economic situation in which there are persistent discriminatory customary laws, high inequality, low levels of income and employment, low consumption, high dependence, weak community structures, little or no access to resources and inadequate services. Rural communities have not reached a satisfactory stage of economic development. This is due to the fact that these communities start from a low developmental base. They require assistance from government and other development agencies, such as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in order to achieve economic stability and a sense that they are living a meaningful life. The fundamental purpose of this study is to gain better understanding of rural livelihoods, and unpack efficiency of policy interventions that assist people in rural areas to pursue livelihood strategies that could help them to reduce poverty. The study mainly used documents from Statistics South Africa and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) documents from Elundini Local Municipality that made it possible to access socio-economic information about the village. The study found that, education levels, hawkership, welfare grants, Expanded Public Works Programme, livestock production and migration are strategies that determine livelihood in Makhoaseng village. The socio-economic conditions such as low levels of education, age, lack of access to basic infrastructure have effect on poverty and kind of livelihoods pursuit in different households. These conditions hinder people in the village to meet their basic needs. On the hand, the agricultural sector has a potential to boost Local Economic Development (LED) in the village. Lack of financial and social support from the government and private sector causes deficiencies in agricultural sector. Moreover, the village has weak structures with strong patriarchal norms. This confirms the need for holistic support from the government because few private sectors are willing to invest in such village. The implications are that, without community interest in education, attainment of better educational qualifications, skills and jobs will remain a challenge in the village. Other sectors of the population such as women will remain disadvantaged if community structures do not abandon patriarchal norms. Rural people are not waiting for government or development agencies to come up with interventions but they are engaging in some economic activities such as hawkership and wool production that enable them to go out of poverty. The government must partner with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to support community economic initiatives. On-farm activities ought to be intensified by venturing into mutton and beef production in the village. Government and development agencies must support women hawkers by developing them as cooperatives and explore other economic opportunities such as stone brick making and thatch for roofing. Low levels of education worsen the low living standards and create high dependency in the village. These conditions force the majority of the households in the Makhoaseng village to pursue involuntary livelihood strategies, while very few pursue deliberate livelihood strategies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Lehlapa, Kgotsofalang
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Rural development -- South Africa Rural poor -- South Africa , Poverty -- Developing countries Sustainable development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/18156 , vital:28581
- Description: Despite the establishment of local municipalities, rural villages are still under-developed. Under-development is an economic situation in which there are persistent discriminatory customary laws, high inequality, low levels of income and employment, low consumption, high dependence, weak community structures, little or no access to resources and inadequate services. Rural communities have not reached a satisfactory stage of economic development. This is due to the fact that these communities start from a low developmental base. They require assistance from government and other development agencies, such as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in order to achieve economic stability and a sense that they are living a meaningful life. The fundamental purpose of this study is to gain better understanding of rural livelihoods, and unpack efficiency of policy interventions that assist people in rural areas to pursue livelihood strategies that could help them to reduce poverty. The study mainly used documents from Statistics South Africa and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) documents from Elundini Local Municipality that made it possible to access socio-economic information about the village. The study found that, education levels, hawkership, welfare grants, Expanded Public Works Programme, livestock production and migration are strategies that determine livelihood in Makhoaseng village. The socio-economic conditions such as low levels of education, age, lack of access to basic infrastructure have effect on poverty and kind of livelihoods pursuit in different households. These conditions hinder people in the village to meet their basic needs. On the hand, the agricultural sector has a potential to boost Local Economic Development (LED) in the village. Lack of financial and social support from the government and private sector causes deficiencies in agricultural sector. Moreover, the village has weak structures with strong patriarchal norms. This confirms the need for holistic support from the government because few private sectors are willing to invest in such village. The implications are that, without community interest in education, attainment of better educational qualifications, skills and jobs will remain a challenge in the village. Other sectors of the population such as women will remain disadvantaged if community structures do not abandon patriarchal norms. Rural people are not waiting for government or development agencies to come up with interventions but they are engaging in some economic activities such as hawkership and wool production that enable them to go out of poverty. The government must partner with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to support community economic initiatives. On-farm activities ought to be intensified by venturing into mutton and beef production in the village. Government and development agencies must support women hawkers by developing them as cooperatives and explore other economic opportunities such as stone brick making and thatch for roofing. Low levels of education worsen the low living standards and create high dependency in the village. These conditions force the majority of the households in the Makhoaseng village to pursue involuntary livelihood strategies, while very few pursue deliberate livelihood strategies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Local economic development: a study of Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipalities
- Authors: Ngatiane, Mativenga
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19299 , vital:28829
- Description: Albeit in its infancy, South Africa’s LED practice is a benchmark of a large number of African countries in general and Sub-Saharan African countries in particular. The LED practice stands out, for widespread decentralisation of powers, massive and growing LED budgets, robust legal frameworks that govern its implementation and development of LED structures, amongst others. This study seeks to answer three critical questions: What theoretical LED facets (particular aspects) are available in literature? Are these facets being implemented in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM)? Besides the effort and monies invested in ingraining LED in South Africa, are the levels of LED practices of the two municipalities deeply embedded in literature? The study utilises a purpose-built tool to measure the level at which LED practice of respective municipalities is ingrained in LED literature. The thesis employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to provide scientifically adequate answers to this research. The former method was employed in identifying available LED facets while, the latter was useful in measuring the level at which LED practice in the two metros is embedded in LED theory. The research findings reveal presence of 6 LED facets, namely, enterprise development, locality development, livelihoods development, workforce development, community development and LED Governance. However, this study discovered that the aforementioned facets fail to cover other general items like the availability or unavailability of LED strategy, functional location of LED within municipal directorates and availability of a budget to drive the LED functions. In light of this, the researcher decided to group all the other key LED functions that he felt were not finding expression under the 6 facets identified in LED literature. This, then, led to the introduction of “General LED” facets. This facet, besides presenting a pre-cursor to the 6 other facets, manages to capture some key factors that are equally behind the success or failure of LED e.g. the LED strategy factor, a factor which a number of sources name “The heart” or “guiding compass” of successful LED implementation. The “General LED” facet contained other factors like: other plans that aided LED, experience of LED practitioners, budget allocation of the LED function, amongst others. The research found that all the 7 facets are being implemented in both municipalities, albeit to varying degrees. The two metropolitan municipalities’ LED practice, with respect to all the identified LED facets, provided some measure of their respective levels of embeddedness in LED theory using a purpose built tool. The embedded (ness) outcome proved that Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s LED practice was embedded in the LED theory across all the 7 facets, namely: general LED, enterprise development, locality development, community development, livelihood development, workforce development, and LED governance. The same analysis proved that Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality’s LED practice was embedded in LED theory in all the other facets bar community development. The survey results revealed that there are inadequate or limited initiatives in Buffalo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ngatiane, Mativenga
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19299 , vital:28829
- Description: Albeit in its infancy, South Africa’s LED practice is a benchmark of a large number of African countries in general and Sub-Saharan African countries in particular. The LED practice stands out, for widespread decentralisation of powers, massive and growing LED budgets, robust legal frameworks that govern its implementation and development of LED structures, amongst others. This study seeks to answer three critical questions: What theoretical LED facets (particular aspects) are available in literature? Are these facets being implemented in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM)? Besides the effort and monies invested in ingraining LED in South Africa, are the levels of LED practices of the two municipalities deeply embedded in literature? The study utilises a purpose-built tool to measure the level at which LED practice of respective municipalities is ingrained in LED literature. The thesis employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to provide scientifically adequate answers to this research. The former method was employed in identifying available LED facets while, the latter was useful in measuring the level at which LED practice in the two metros is embedded in LED theory. The research findings reveal presence of 6 LED facets, namely, enterprise development, locality development, livelihoods development, workforce development, community development and LED Governance. However, this study discovered that the aforementioned facets fail to cover other general items like the availability or unavailability of LED strategy, functional location of LED within municipal directorates and availability of a budget to drive the LED functions. In light of this, the researcher decided to group all the other key LED functions that he felt were not finding expression under the 6 facets identified in LED literature. This, then, led to the introduction of “General LED” facets. This facet, besides presenting a pre-cursor to the 6 other facets, manages to capture some key factors that are equally behind the success or failure of LED e.g. the LED strategy factor, a factor which a number of sources name “The heart” or “guiding compass” of successful LED implementation. The “General LED” facet contained other factors like: other plans that aided LED, experience of LED practitioners, budget allocation of the LED function, amongst others. The research found that all the 7 facets are being implemented in both municipalities, albeit to varying degrees. The two metropolitan municipalities’ LED practice, with respect to all the identified LED facets, provided some measure of their respective levels of embeddedness in LED theory using a purpose built tool. The embedded (ness) outcome proved that Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s LED practice was embedded in the LED theory across all the 7 facets, namely: general LED, enterprise development, locality development, community development, livelihood development, workforce development, and LED governance. The same analysis proved that Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality’s LED practice was embedded in LED theory in all the other facets bar community development. The survey results revealed that there are inadequate or limited initiatives in Buffalo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Management of official accommodation in the Department of Roads and Public Works in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Mthathi, Noxolo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Public works -- Housing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape South Africa -- Government -- Housing , Housing policy -- South Africa -- Government Occupancy (Law) -- South Africa Eviction -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19234 , vital:28802
- Description: The study investigates management of official accommodation in the Department of Roads and Public Works. Government immovable asset plays an essential role in ser-vice delivery. The official accommodation policies were not implemented as intendant and as a result, the former government employees are illegal occupants in government properties. The implementation of legislation and departmental policy for official ac-commodation are problematic when illegal occupants occupied government immova-ble assets without lease agreement. The present of illegal occupants has a negative impact to officials who qualify to occupy government properties in terms of the depart-mental policy for service delivery purposes. The study proposed to provide literature search using books, legislation, policies, and personal interviews among others. The research methodology employed in this study was described, followed by the legislative framework employed in this study. Some of the findings on a legislative framework for official accommodation in the department of Roads and Public Works in the department of Roads and Public Works include gaps at the implementation of departmental policy on Allocation of Official Housing in rela-tion to the lease of state owned properties. Recommendations as a result of descriptive literature search are presented and how the existing problem of implementation of official accommodation policies can be changed to enhance service delivery and to provide accommodation to officials who qualify to occupy government immovable assets. The recommendations will enable the Department of Roads and Public Works as custodian of immovable assets, to fulfil its Constitutional mandate to provide official accommodation to their officials and cli-ents departments who qualify in terms of the policy for service delivery purposes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Mthathi, Noxolo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Public works -- Housing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape South Africa -- Government -- Housing , Housing policy -- South Africa -- Government Occupancy (Law) -- South Africa Eviction -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19234 , vital:28802
- Description: The study investigates management of official accommodation in the Department of Roads and Public Works. Government immovable asset plays an essential role in ser-vice delivery. The official accommodation policies were not implemented as intendant and as a result, the former government employees are illegal occupants in government properties. The implementation of legislation and departmental policy for official ac-commodation are problematic when illegal occupants occupied government immova-ble assets without lease agreement. The present of illegal occupants has a negative impact to officials who qualify to occupy government properties in terms of the depart-mental policy for service delivery purposes. The study proposed to provide literature search using books, legislation, policies, and personal interviews among others. The research methodology employed in this study was described, followed by the legislative framework employed in this study. Some of the findings on a legislative framework for official accommodation in the department of Roads and Public Works in the department of Roads and Public Works include gaps at the implementation of departmental policy on Allocation of Official Housing in rela-tion to the lease of state owned properties. Recommendations as a result of descriptive literature search are presented and how the existing problem of implementation of official accommodation policies can be changed to enhance service delivery and to provide accommodation to officials who qualify to occupy government immovable assets. The recommendations will enable the Department of Roads and Public Works as custodian of immovable assets, to fulfil its Constitutional mandate to provide official accommodation to their officials and cli-ents departments who qualify in terms of the policy for service delivery purposes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Mhlontlo Municipality local economic development strategy as a driver of economic development
- Authors: Zipete, Zwelixolile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13316 , vital:27174
- Description: The main aim of the research study was to review the Mhlontlo Municipality Local Economic Development Strategy as a driver of economic development. The Mhlontlo LED Strategy was developed in 2007 to guide economic development of Mhlontlo Local Municipality. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa(Act 108 of 1996), the White Paper on Local Government (1998), Section B, the National Framework for LED in South Africa (2006), and other pieces of legislation gave direction in the development of LED Strategies in South# Africa, including the Mhlontlo LED Strategy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Zipete, Zwelixolile
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13316 , vital:27174
- Description: The main aim of the research study was to review the Mhlontlo Municipality Local Economic Development Strategy as a driver of economic development. The Mhlontlo LED Strategy was developed in 2007 to guide economic development of Mhlontlo Local Municipality. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa(Act 108 of 1996), the White Paper on Local Government (1998), Section B, the National Framework for LED in South Africa (2006), and other pieces of legislation gave direction in the development of LED Strategies in South# Africa, including the Mhlontlo LED Strategy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Monetary and fiscal policy effects on unemployment and inflation in Uganda
- Authors: Sebuliba, Nantumbwe Aminah
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Monetary policy -- Uganda Fiscal policy -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14904 , vital:27899
- Description: Over the recent past, Uganda has experienced disproportionate volatility in inflation alongside rapid growth of unemployment. Whilst inflation has been curtailed to single digit figures since the economic crisis of the 1970s, nevertheless, in the recent past, inflation volatility and unemployment have constrained Uganda’s growth outlook. Like many various developing countries, Uganda has interacted monetary and fiscal policy frameworks as macroeconomic tools to spur productive growth. Most developing countries like Uganda continue to grapple with the challenges of jobless growth which is largely attributed to unstable inflationary pressures as well as low investment which further eggravated rapid expansion in unemployment levels. Government policy efforts have recently been greatly inhibited by rising youth unemployment rates in the country, this has greatly affected Uganda’s growth dynamics. Whilst developed countries have successfully used monetary and fiscal policy frameworks in their pursuit to macroeconomic stability, due to their complex structural economic dynamics, low income countries face challenges in implementing both monetary and fiscal policy to stabilize their economies. Central banks across all countries strive for low and predictable inflation as key in fostering economic growth. The debate over the applicability between monetary and fiscal policy frameworks in the pursuit of enhanced growth continues among policy analysts. The general observation especially in low income countries pertains to the use and effective coordination of monetary and fiscal policy in efforts to stabilize these economies. Despite numerous public expenditure reforms implemented and decline in poverty levels in Uganda, unemployment continued to rise over the past decade consequently inhibiting the country’s growth prospects which has ultimately undermined the econoimy’s capacity to external shocks. Keynes and the monetarists ignited the contentious debate over the superiority between monetary and fiscal policy frameworks which has transformed macroeconomic policy application. A conducive private sector environment as well as large expansions of infrastructure are key fundamental aspects of the development strategy in developing countries, they enhance growth in per capita income. Whilst the monetary authority emphasizes price stability when formulating policies, the fiscal authority pursues its objectives accommodative of the underlying circumstances in the economy. This study aimed to establish an econometric model to predict the impact of monetary and fiscal policy on unemployment and inflation in Uganda using annual time series data for the period 1980 to 2013. The study sought to investigate the influence of monetary and fiscal policy variables on the Ugandan economy in relation to unemployment and inflation. The analysis in the study is based on a twofold oriented objective. The first objective was to investigate monetary and fiscal policy dynamics in Uganda in relation to unemployment. The second objective examined the conduct of monetary and fiscal policy framework on inflation in Uganda. The study analysis begins with a review of literature on the various monetarists and Keynesian theories in relation to the underlying monetary and fiscal policy frameworks. Considering the analysis was a twofold objective, two empirical models linked to unemployment and inflation as well as their relative determinants are specified. The Empirical literature review examined in the study is based on various monetary and fiscal policy theories as well as empirical works by Keynesians, classical economists and the Friedman views. The time series data used were obtained from published sources of the World Bank and IMF, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) statistical reports and annual statistical drafts from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Bank of Uganda (BOU). To empirically investigate the influence of monetary and fiscal policy variables on unemployment and inflation in Uganda, considering the use of two dependent variables i. e unemployment and inflation, hence, two estimation techniques were applied in the study namely; the Modified Ordinary Least Squares that comprise of FMOLS and DOLS and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The estimation analysis in the study contains two main parts which are spread over two chapters. The first part of the analysis deals with the effects of fiscal and monetary policy on unemployment. The estimation techniques applied in the study included the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) applied to a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model. The analysis regressed monetary and fiscal policy aggregates on unemployment in a twofold objective. The first sub section regressed fiscal policy aggregates on unemployment using; total government expenditure, total government revenue, tax revenue and trade openness on unemployment using both FMOLS and DOLS techniques. The second sub-section regressed monetary policy on unemployment using; interest rates, money supply, real effective exchange rates and inflation being regressed against unemployment. To test for presence of unit root among the variables of the sample period of 1980 to 2013, the study employed three approaches; i.e. the Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test, Phillips-Perron (PP) test and Kwiatkowski–Phillips–Schmidt–Shin (KPSS) test. Included in this analysis is the test for structural breaks to further determine stationarity in the data series. The results revealed the presence of structural breaks. Structural breaks tend to inhibit stationarity among the variables at levels. However, when presence of structural breaks is taken into consideration, it simplifies empirical estimation analysis under review. The Johansen Cointegration approach was further applied to establish existence of a stable long-run relationship between monetary policy and fiscal policy as well as their respective variables included in the model in relation to unemployment, this further entailed estimation of FMOLS and DOLS in the model estimation analysis. The results from the above analysys show a negative and statistically significant relationship between total government expenditure (LGOVTEXP) and unemployment (LUNEMPLOYMENT). However, tax revenue, trade openness as well structural reforms which denotes the (SB) coefficient all show a positive and significant relationship with unemployment. Additionally, total government revenue (LGOVTREV) shows a negative relationship with unemployment although statistically insignificant. The DOLS results in this analysis all show statistically insignificant results between all the variables and unemployment. The second subsection using DOLS, analysed the impact of monetary policy on unemployment, revealed a negative and significant relation between interest rates, real exchange rates and structural reforms (SB) with unemployment. Money supply indicates a negative but statistically insignificant relationship with unemployment. However, inflation has a positive and statistically significant relationship with unemployment. The normality tests conducted indicate normal distribution of the residuals. Similiraly, the AR inverse roots show stability of the models estimated whilst the multi-collinearity and Wald tests all showed unbiased estimation results. Having analysed the effects of fiscal and monetary policy on unemployment the interest was to further test the impact of fiscal and monetary policy on inflation. This part constitutes two sub-sections. The ARDL approach ws used to analyse the influence of fiscal policy on inflation. The results reveal a negative and statistically significant relationship between inflation (DLINF) and total government expenditure (DLGOVTEXP) both lagged twice. Similiraly, total government revenue (DLGOVTREV) and tax revenue (DLTAXREV) both lagged once indicate a negative and statistically significant relationship with inflation. However, unemployment lagged three times indicates a negative and statistically insignificant relationship with inflation whilst trade openness lagged three times has a positive and satatistically significant relationship with inflation. The Granger causality test results revealed among all the fiscal policy aggregates used, only inflation Granger causes total government revenue. The second part on the effects of fiscal and monetary policy on inflation used monetary variables; interest rates (DLINT), money supply (DLMS) and real exchange rates (DLREER). The ARDL results revealed all coefficients to have positive signs. Inflation and real exchange rates lagged five and four times respectively have a positive and significant relationship with the dependent variable of inflation. However, interest rate and money supply lagged five and three times respectively show a positive and statistically insignificant relationship with inflation. The estimated model showed no evidence of presence of serial correlation through numerous diagnostic tests performed. These include; heteroscedasticity, residual normality and misspecification tests as well as the Cusum stability tests. Under the analysis of monetary policy dynamics on inflation, the Granger causality test revealed that inflation Granger causes interest rates. Similiraly, real exchange rate Granger causes inflation. The ARDL results in this sub-section suggest that inflation regressed against its own lagged values is statistically significant in explaining variations on inflation. Further, interest rates, money supply and real exchange rates significantly explain variations in inflation during the period under review. The results from the above analysis suggest that firstly, the fiscal authority in Uganda should formulate dynamic as well as robust fiscal reforms that can effeficiently be coordinated with sound monetary policy reforms. This ought to stimulate meaningful economic growth in the economy which would further enhance employment growth. Secondly, policy authorities should implement macroeconomic policies which harmonise public spending whilst at the same keep inflation subdued. In this regard, inflation targeting policies should be strengthened. Thirdly, the macroeconomic policy framework in Uganda should be coordinated with strong employment targeting policies in an effort to broaden labour market dynamics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Sebuliba, Nantumbwe Aminah
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Monetary policy -- Uganda Fiscal policy -- Uganda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14904 , vital:27899
- Description: Over the recent past, Uganda has experienced disproportionate volatility in inflation alongside rapid growth of unemployment. Whilst inflation has been curtailed to single digit figures since the economic crisis of the 1970s, nevertheless, in the recent past, inflation volatility and unemployment have constrained Uganda’s growth outlook. Like many various developing countries, Uganda has interacted monetary and fiscal policy frameworks as macroeconomic tools to spur productive growth. Most developing countries like Uganda continue to grapple with the challenges of jobless growth which is largely attributed to unstable inflationary pressures as well as low investment which further eggravated rapid expansion in unemployment levels. Government policy efforts have recently been greatly inhibited by rising youth unemployment rates in the country, this has greatly affected Uganda’s growth dynamics. Whilst developed countries have successfully used monetary and fiscal policy frameworks in their pursuit to macroeconomic stability, due to their complex structural economic dynamics, low income countries face challenges in implementing both monetary and fiscal policy to stabilize their economies. Central banks across all countries strive for low and predictable inflation as key in fostering economic growth. The debate over the applicability between monetary and fiscal policy frameworks in the pursuit of enhanced growth continues among policy analysts. The general observation especially in low income countries pertains to the use and effective coordination of monetary and fiscal policy in efforts to stabilize these economies. Despite numerous public expenditure reforms implemented and decline in poverty levels in Uganda, unemployment continued to rise over the past decade consequently inhibiting the country’s growth prospects which has ultimately undermined the econoimy’s capacity to external shocks. Keynes and the monetarists ignited the contentious debate over the superiority between monetary and fiscal policy frameworks which has transformed macroeconomic policy application. A conducive private sector environment as well as large expansions of infrastructure are key fundamental aspects of the development strategy in developing countries, they enhance growth in per capita income. Whilst the monetary authority emphasizes price stability when formulating policies, the fiscal authority pursues its objectives accommodative of the underlying circumstances in the economy. This study aimed to establish an econometric model to predict the impact of monetary and fiscal policy on unemployment and inflation in Uganda using annual time series data for the period 1980 to 2013. The study sought to investigate the influence of monetary and fiscal policy variables on the Ugandan economy in relation to unemployment and inflation. The analysis in the study is based on a twofold oriented objective. The first objective was to investigate monetary and fiscal policy dynamics in Uganda in relation to unemployment. The second objective examined the conduct of monetary and fiscal policy framework on inflation in Uganda. The study analysis begins with a review of literature on the various monetarists and Keynesian theories in relation to the underlying monetary and fiscal policy frameworks. Considering the analysis was a twofold objective, two empirical models linked to unemployment and inflation as well as their relative determinants are specified. The Empirical literature review examined in the study is based on various monetary and fiscal policy theories as well as empirical works by Keynesians, classical economists and the Friedman views. The time series data used were obtained from published sources of the World Bank and IMF, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) statistical reports and annual statistical drafts from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Bank of Uganda (BOU). To empirically investigate the influence of monetary and fiscal policy variables on unemployment and inflation in Uganda, considering the use of two dependent variables i. e unemployment and inflation, hence, two estimation techniques were applied in the study namely; the Modified Ordinary Least Squares that comprise of FMOLS and DOLS and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The estimation analysis in the study contains two main parts which are spread over two chapters. The first part of the analysis deals with the effects of fiscal and monetary policy on unemployment. The estimation techniques applied in the study included the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) applied to a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model. The analysis regressed monetary and fiscal policy aggregates on unemployment in a twofold objective. The first sub section regressed fiscal policy aggregates on unemployment using; total government expenditure, total government revenue, tax revenue and trade openness on unemployment using both FMOLS and DOLS techniques. The second sub-section regressed monetary policy on unemployment using; interest rates, money supply, real effective exchange rates and inflation being regressed against unemployment. To test for presence of unit root among the variables of the sample period of 1980 to 2013, the study employed three approaches; i.e. the Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test, Phillips-Perron (PP) test and Kwiatkowski–Phillips–Schmidt–Shin (KPSS) test. Included in this analysis is the test for structural breaks to further determine stationarity in the data series. The results revealed the presence of structural breaks. Structural breaks tend to inhibit stationarity among the variables at levels. However, when presence of structural breaks is taken into consideration, it simplifies empirical estimation analysis under review. The Johansen Cointegration approach was further applied to establish existence of a stable long-run relationship between monetary policy and fiscal policy as well as their respective variables included in the model in relation to unemployment, this further entailed estimation of FMOLS and DOLS in the model estimation analysis. The results from the above analysys show a negative and statistically significant relationship between total government expenditure (LGOVTEXP) and unemployment (LUNEMPLOYMENT). However, tax revenue, trade openness as well structural reforms which denotes the (SB) coefficient all show a positive and significant relationship with unemployment. Additionally, total government revenue (LGOVTREV) shows a negative relationship with unemployment although statistically insignificant. The DOLS results in this analysis all show statistically insignificant results between all the variables and unemployment. The second subsection using DOLS, analysed the impact of monetary policy on unemployment, revealed a negative and significant relation between interest rates, real exchange rates and structural reforms (SB) with unemployment. Money supply indicates a negative but statistically insignificant relationship with unemployment. However, inflation has a positive and statistically significant relationship with unemployment. The normality tests conducted indicate normal distribution of the residuals. Similiraly, the AR inverse roots show stability of the models estimated whilst the multi-collinearity and Wald tests all showed unbiased estimation results. Having analysed the effects of fiscal and monetary policy on unemployment the interest was to further test the impact of fiscal and monetary policy on inflation. This part constitutes two sub-sections. The ARDL approach ws used to analyse the influence of fiscal policy on inflation. The results reveal a negative and statistically significant relationship between inflation (DLINF) and total government expenditure (DLGOVTEXP) both lagged twice. Similiraly, total government revenue (DLGOVTREV) and tax revenue (DLTAXREV) both lagged once indicate a negative and statistically significant relationship with inflation. However, unemployment lagged three times indicates a negative and statistically insignificant relationship with inflation whilst trade openness lagged three times has a positive and satatistically significant relationship with inflation. The Granger causality test results revealed among all the fiscal policy aggregates used, only inflation Granger causes total government revenue. The second part on the effects of fiscal and monetary policy on inflation used monetary variables; interest rates (DLINT), money supply (DLMS) and real exchange rates (DLREER). The ARDL results revealed all coefficients to have positive signs. Inflation and real exchange rates lagged five and four times respectively have a positive and significant relationship with the dependent variable of inflation. However, interest rate and money supply lagged five and three times respectively show a positive and statistically insignificant relationship with inflation. The estimated model showed no evidence of presence of serial correlation through numerous diagnostic tests performed. These include; heteroscedasticity, residual normality and misspecification tests as well as the Cusum stability tests. Under the analysis of monetary policy dynamics on inflation, the Granger causality test revealed that inflation Granger causes interest rates. Similiraly, real exchange rate Granger causes inflation. The ARDL results in this sub-section suggest that inflation regressed against its own lagged values is statistically significant in explaining variations on inflation. Further, interest rates, money supply and real exchange rates significantly explain variations in inflation during the period under review. The results from the above analysis suggest that firstly, the fiscal authority in Uganda should formulate dynamic as well as robust fiscal reforms that can effeficiently be coordinated with sound monetary policy reforms. This ought to stimulate meaningful economic growth in the economy which would further enhance employment growth. Secondly, policy authorities should implement macroeconomic policies which harmonise public spending whilst at the same keep inflation subdued. In this regard, inflation targeting policies should be strengthened. Thirdly, the macroeconomic policy framework in Uganda should be coordinated with strong employment targeting policies in an effort to broaden labour market dynamics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
NMMU business school alumni satisfaction factors with the MBA program
- Authors: Bosman, Jeremy Maurice
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Business schools -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Master of business administration degree , Students -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14686 , vital:27822
- Description: In a fast-paced dynamic world, the key to success lies in the ability to accept change and to rapidly respond to demands placed by ever increasing competitive environments. In business, the impact of products and services in meeting or exceeding customer’s expectations in such environments is measured by customer satisfaction and the importance thereof cannot be downplayed, thus providing management with a metric that guides and augments change. Subsequently, these dynamic competitive forces are pushing sectors such as Higher Education into the realm of service industries, where stakeholders such as students and alumni are viewed as customers. Correspondingly, measuring their satisfaction has become important as this provides strategic insight, whilst enhancing academic programmes and the student experience. The purpose of this research study was to identify the factors that determined satisfaction with the MBA programme as viewed by students and the alumni of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School. Furthermore, it advanced the field of stakeholder theory by identifying alumni as a key stakeholder in business schools. Consequently, the research was exploratory and consisted of quantitative and literature components where hypotheses were developed and relationships between factors analysed, in addition to the literature reviewed. The literature introduced key concepts to this study, such as alumni as stakeholder, alumni satisfaction, satisfaction with the MBA programme, measuring alumni satisfaction, MBA alumni networks and alumni communication. The factors that determined alumni satisfaction were identified by means of a statistical analysis of the data collected by the research instruments. Correspondingly, the findings indicate various factors determine satisfaction with the independent variables highlighted in this study, which are the Facilities, the MBA Programme, the Social Experience, the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter, the NMMU Business School brand and Communication. Furthermore, it was established that there is a significant link between Social Experience, the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter, the NMMU Business School Brand, Communication and Alumni Satisfaction.As services industries such as Higher Educational Institutions get exposed to competitive pressure, customer satisfaction comes to the fore and there are certain factors that need to be addressed to enhance satisfaction. Subsequently, this study highlights this pressure and satisfaction levels can certainly be improved by the institution across all the independent variables identified, especially in areas such as the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter and Communication. Consequently, the NMMU Business School, for the first time have metrics to identify the factors that determine satisfaction with the MBA programme as viewed by their alumni and resultantly can strategically benefit by taking the views of their most important stakeholder into account.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Bosman, Jeremy Maurice
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Business schools -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Master of business administration degree , Students -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth Consumer satisfaction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14686 , vital:27822
- Description: In a fast-paced dynamic world, the key to success lies in the ability to accept change and to rapidly respond to demands placed by ever increasing competitive environments. In business, the impact of products and services in meeting or exceeding customer’s expectations in such environments is measured by customer satisfaction and the importance thereof cannot be downplayed, thus providing management with a metric that guides and augments change. Subsequently, these dynamic competitive forces are pushing sectors such as Higher Education into the realm of service industries, where stakeholders such as students and alumni are viewed as customers. Correspondingly, measuring their satisfaction has become important as this provides strategic insight, whilst enhancing academic programmes and the student experience. The purpose of this research study was to identify the factors that determined satisfaction with the MBA programme as viewed by students and the alumni of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Business School. Furthermore, it advanced the field of stakeholder theory by identifying alumni as a key stakeholder in business schools. Consequently, the research was exploratory and consisted of quantitative and literature components where hypotheses were developed and relationships between factors analysed, in addition to the literature reviewed. The literature introduced key concepts to this study, such as alumni as stakeholder, alumni satisfaction, satisfaction with the MBA programme, measuring alumni satisfaction, MBA alumni networks and alumni communication. The factors that determined alumni satisfaction were identified by means of a statistical analysis of the data collected by the research instruments. Correspondingly, the findings indicate various factors determine satisfaction with the independent variables highlighted in this study, which are the Facilities, the MBA Programme, the Social Experience, the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter, the NMMU Business School brand and Communication. Furthermore, it was established that there is a significant link between Social Experience, the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter, the NMMU Business School Brand, Communication and Alumni Satisfaction.As services industries such as Higher Educational Institutions get exposed to competitive pressure, customer satisfaction comes to the fore and there are certain factors that need to be addressed to enhance satisfaction. Subsequently, this study highlights this pressure and satisfaction levels can certainly be improved by the institution across all the independent variables identified, especially in areas such as the NMMU Business School Alumni Chapter and Communication. Consequently, the NMMU Business School, for the first time have metrics to identify the factors that determine satisfaction with the MBA programme as viewed by their alumni and resultantly can strategically benefit by taking the views of their most important stakeholder into account.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Official development assistance as a means to poverty alleviation: evidence from Cameroon
- Authors: Anong, Moussa Moses
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- Cameroon , Community development -- Cameroon Cameroon -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13800 , vital:27309
- Description: Despite the increased popularity of development aid flows from rich nations to poorer ones in the form of Official Development Assistance (ODA), rampant poverty still prevails in the recipient nations. This perhaps explains the lingering debate on the effectiveness of ODA in curbing poverty. Based on Cameroon, this study aims to ascertain if ODA can be relied upon as a tool to fight poverty. The researcher seeks to determine if ODA disbursed to Cameroon has resulted in poverty alleviation among the impoverished from 1980 to 2014, be it directly or indirectly. To this effect, the first research question looks at what the possible causes of poverty in Cameroon are. The second research question dwells on the pattern of ODA to Cameroon over the study period from 1980 to 2014. The final research question seeks to determine the Cameroonian poverty levels over the same period. The definition of poverty in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI) and its three poverty determinants as utilized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is adopted as a theoretical base for this research. These determinants of poverty are life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. While the literature review is utilised to outline the on-going debate on the effects of ODA on economic growth and poverty alleviation, it equally provides possible causes of poverty in Cameroon. These include the prevalence of factors such as poor governance, the swindling of public funds without fear, the normalisation of bribes in return for public services, the lack of decentralized administrative and civil services, and the disproportionate distribution of state earnings. Meanwhile, secondary published data sourced from reputable multilateral bodies is used to determine the trend of ODA to Cameroon over the period from 1980 to 2014. This is then correlated with poverty figures over the same period as expressed by the three human development factors or poverty determinants. The research adopts a quantitative approach as correlations and regressions of obtained secondary data are made used of. The results of the correlations reveal that ODA may not be relied upon as a tool for alleviating poverty in Cameroon due to the statistically insignificant relationships it seems to display with all three poverty determinants. The regression results show on the one hand that ODA has insignificant relationships with life expectancy at birth and mean years of schooling, while on the other hand, ODA and GNI per capita display an inverse relationship that is judged to be statistically significant. High ODA figures can therefore be associated with lower GNI per capita values in Cameroon, based on this study. This means that ODA can be assumed to negatively affect the real income of Cameroonians. A reduction in real income might equally lead to a reduced potential to afford basic necessities like healthcare, schooling and housing. As these essentials are not provided for free in Cameroon, this reduced real income may further be held responsible for an overall deterioration of the quality of life. Based on the above findings, the researcher recommends that aid recipient governments put in place supportive systems and strong institutions that are void of corruption and unnecessary bureaucracy so as to better benefit from foreign aid inflows. African countries like Cameroon also need to develop their internal resources and use them to finance and promote their own growth instead of rely on donor funding with diminishing returns. Likewise, the government needs to improve its level of human development through diverting more funds towards developing and facilitating the poor’s access to the country’s education, healthcare, road network and basic amenities like water and sanitation. Finally, inflows in the form of loans rather than grants can better be utilized to promote positive economic growth. While loans are mostly diverted to productive activities, grants may promote dependency, rent-seeking behaviour and bureaucracy. This study is one of the few that relies on country-level data. Most existing studies on foreign aid and its related effects on poverty alleviation were conducted using cross-country data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Anong, Moussa Moses
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- Cameroon , Community development -- Cameroon Cameroon -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13800 , vital:27309
- Description: Despite the increased popularity of development aid flows from rich nations to poorer ones in the form of Official Development Assistance (ODA), rampant poverty still prevails in the recipient nations. This perhaps explains the lingering debate on the effectiveness of ODA in curbing poverty. Based on Cameroon, this study aims to ascertain if ODA can be relied upon as a tool to fight poverty. The researcher seeks to determine if ODA disbursed to Cameroon has resulted in poverty alleviation among the impoverished from 1980 to 2014, be it directly or indirectly. To this effect, the first research question looks at what the possible causes of poverty in Cameroon are. The second research question dwells on the pattern of ODA to Cameroon over the study period from 1980 to 2014. The final research question seeks to determine the Cameroonian poverty levels over the same period. The definition of poverty in terms of the Human Development Index (HDI) and its three poverty determinants as utilized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is adopted as a theoretical base for this research. These determinants of poverty are life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. While the literature review is utilised to outline the on-going debate on the effects of ODA on economic growth and poverty alleviation, it equally provides possible causes of poverty in Cameroon. These include the prevalence of factors such as poor governance, the swindling of public funds without fear, the normalisation of bribes in return for public services, the lack of decentralized administrative and civil services, and the disproportionate distribution of state earnings. Meanwhile, secondary published data sourced from reputable multilateral bodies is used to determine the trend of ODA to Cameroon over the period from 1980 to 2014. This is then correlated with poverty figures over the same period as expressed by the three human development factors or poverty determinants. The research adopts a quantitative approach as correlations and regressions of obtained secondary data are made used of. The results of the correlations reveal that ODA may not be relied upon as a tool for alleviating poverty in Cameroon due to the statistically insignificant relationships it seems to display with all three poverty determinants. The regression results show on the one hand that ODA has insignificant relationships with life expectancy at birth and mean years of schooling, while on the other hand, ODA and GNI per capita display an inverse relationship that is judged to be statistically significant. High ODA figures can therefore be associated with lower GNI per capita values in Cameroon, based on this study. This means that ODA can be assumed to negatively affect the real income of Cameroonians. A reduction in real income might equally lead to a reduced potential to afford basic necessities like healthcare, schooling and housing. As these essentials are not provided for free in Cameroon, this reduced real income may further be held responsible for an overall deterioration of the quality of life. Based on the above findings, the researcher recommends that aid recipient governments put in place supportive systems and strong institutions that are void of corruption and unnecessary bureaucracy so as to better benefit from foreign aid inflows. African countries like Cameroon also need to develop their internal resources and use them to finance and promote their own growth instead of rely on donor funding with diminishing returns. Likewise, the government needs to improve its level of human development through diverting more funds towards developing and facilitating the poor’s access to the country’s education, healthcare, road network and basic amenities like water and sanitation. Finally, inflows in the form of loans rather than grants can better be utilized to promote positive economic growth. While loans are mostly diverted to productive activities, grants may promote dependency, rent-seeking behaviour and bureaucracy. This study is one of the few that relies on country-level data. Most existing studies on foreign aid and its related effects on poverty alleviation were conducted using cross-country data.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Online consumers’ product purchasing behaviour, advertising and involvement in fashion consumption in South Africa
- Authors: De Vos, Tania
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Electronic commerce Retail trade -- South Africa -- Management , Purchasing Consumer behavior -- South Africa Clothing trade -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46295 , vital:39544
- Description: While store-based fashion retailing continues to be the prevailing channel for South Africans, the country’s consumers are increasingly engaging with products online. It should be noted that online fashion purchasing behaviour does not necessarily follow the traditional consumer behaviour of the brick-and-mortar retailing environment. Therefore, ecommerce organisations are required to investigate the determinants of customer online shopping engagement among their market segments. With an improved understanding of the consumer’s online purchase behaviour, pure-play fashion retailers can create useful and successful online shopping strategies to attract new and potential customers. Thus, the future market for this industry as well as factors influencing online behaviour must be investigated and improved upon. This research study aimed to present a general overview and analysis of how online fashion consumption can grow and be sustainable in South Africa. This was accomplished by identifying various key factors contributing toward online fashion consumption and purchasing behaviour, in creating an attractive online shopping environment, whilst generating more customers, building customer loyalty and increasing competitiveness. As in any retail business, customer satisfaction is the key component for online fashion success. The purpose of this study was to execute a novel assessment of online consumers’ product purchasing behaviour, as well as advertising and involvement in fashion consumption in the South African context. To achieve this purpose, an in-depth literature review and a positivistic research investigation were conducted. The selected method was the most appropriate approach to achieve the research objectives by answering the research questions as well as to test the proposed hypotheses in relation to The Perceived Success of Online Fashion Consumption (dependant variables). As mentioned, the study involved a deductive approach of the positivistic paradigm to identify online purchasing motivation and factors that can assist with indicating what the pure-play fashion interface needs to deliver to stay competitive and increase market presence. This research study is considerably valuable as data from 16087 respondents from the participating pure-play fashion retailer have been recorded and the results indicated that the proposed hypotheses were all supported, thus reporting a significant relationship and positive influence on the perceived success of online fashion consumption.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: De Vos, Tania
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Electronic commerce Retail trade -- South Africa -- Management , Purchasing Consumer behavior -- South Africa Clothing trade -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/46295 , vital:39544
- Description: While store-based fashion retailing continues to be the prevailing channel for South Africans, the country’s consumers are increasingly engaging with products online. It should be noted that online fashion purchasing behaviour does not necessarily follow the traditional consumer behaviour of the brick-and-mortar retailing environment. Therefore, ecommerce organisations are required to investigate the determinants of customer online shopping engagement among their market segments. With an improved understanding of the consumer’s online purchase behaviour, pure-play fashion retailers can create useful and successful online shopping strategies to attract new and potential customers. Thus, the future market for this industry as well as factors influencing online behaviour must be investigated and improved upon. This research study aimed to present a general overview and analysis of how online fashion consumption can grow and be sustainable in South Africa. This was accomplished by identifying various key factors contributing toward online fashion consumption and purchasing behaviour, in creating an attractive online shopping environment, whilst generating more customers, building customer loyalty and increasing competitiveness. As in any retail business, customer satisfaction is the key component for online fashion success. The purpose of this study was to execute a novel assessment of online consumers’ product purchasing behaviour, as well as advertising and involvement in fashion consumption in the South African context. To achieve this purpose, an in-depth literature review and a positivistic research investigation were conducted. The selected method was the most appropriate approach to achieve the research objectives by answering the research questions as well as to test the proposed hypotheses in relation to The Perceived Success of Online Fashion Consumption (dependant variables). As mentioned, the study involved a deductive approach of the positivistic paradigm to identify online purchasing motivation and factors that can assist with indicating what the pure-play fashion interface needs to deliver to stay competitive and increase market presence. This research study is considerably valuable as data from 16087 respondents from the participating pure-play fashion retailer have been recorded and the results indicated that the proposed hypotheses were all supported, thus reporting a significant relationship and positive influence on the perceived success of online fashion consumption.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Online mentoring as a transformative tool for female career and business development
- Authors: Oosthuizen, Nadine
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mentoring in business -- South Africa Glass ceiling (Employment discrimination) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20510 , vital:29301
- Description: The under-representation of females at management level due to the glass ceiling effect has globally received considerable attention. Research found that one of the remedies for females to progress beyond the glass ceiling, was access to a mentor in senior management. Females receiving mentoring in the workplace perform at greater levels as they gain reflected power, advise and the right to use essential resources. Yet, access to mentors was recognised as a barrier to females’ professional career success, both in the corporate field and to develop their small businesses. Fortunately, the revolution in technology has led to online mentoring which combines conventional mentoring relationship approaches with new technology and provides wider access to a pool of mentors. The increasing popularity of online mentoring can be attributed to the benefits it offers stereotyped individuals and those from marginalised groups. The purpose of this study therefore was to ascertain the enabling conditions necessary for effective online mentoring in South Africa, as well as how it can be used to develop the careers of females (both corporate employees and small business entrepreneurs). The study followed a mixed method approach with a sequential exploratory design. Background literature on conventional mentoring in addition to oniline mentoring assisted in contextualising the many issues relating to conventional mentoring which also apply to online mentoring. Primary data was collected in three phases (two qualitative and one quantitative). The data collection method for phases one and two of the enquiry was interviews with the use of a semi-structured interview schedule and for phase three, a survey via an online structured questionnaire. The biographical profiles of the participants interviewed during phases one and two were presented as case studies. Based on the content analysis of the qualitative interviews with five South African mentors, six female mentees from Africa, two South African online mentoring field specialists and one United States online mentoring field specialist, three main themes were identified viz. online mentoring processes, challenges and enabling conditions. Online mentoring processes identified for effective online mentoring related to the application-, selection-, matching- and conflict resolution procedures. Mentoring challenges related to matching preferences, technology impediments, cultural fit problems, language differences, lack of mutual trust, scheduling and frequency and duration of meetings, the impersonal nature of online mentoring and specific mentee- and mentor-related challenges. Based on the content analysis, the conditions for creating an effective online mentoring environment addressed some of the challenges alluded to and could be classified as generic, mentee-specific and mentor-specific enablers. Generic online mentoring enablers are those conditions necessary for creating an effective online mentoring environment for the mentoring pair such as the ability to establish a trusting relationship, flexible meeting schedules, training offered, the expression of emotions online, having a technology infrastructure in place, clear objectives and relationship boundaries, a desirable programme- and meeting duration with adequate meetings, using multiple contact methods and following a hybrid mentoring approach. Mentor specific issues to create an effective online mentoring environment are mentors with exceptional personal qualities that are knowledgable and experienced, while mentee specific issues relate to continuous mentee commitment and that mentees should have been previously exposed to mentoring. The constant comparative data analysis provided insight into how similar or dissimilar institutions approach online mentoring process and the challenges related to the local (South African) online mentoring environment as compared to those globally. Sixty-three respondents (South African mentors both male and female and female mentees who have undergone conventional mentoring) completed the online structured questionnaire on their perceptions of the online mentoring conditions necessary for effective online mentoring. From the exploratory factor analysis results of the online survey in phase three of the study, six valid and reliable conditions necessary for online mentoring were identified namely, infrastructure readiness, demographic matching preference, mentor characteristics, the communication process, mentoring pair perceptions and mentoring pair relationship. The multiple regression analysis performed established one statistically significant relationship. The perception that the mentoring pair hold of online mentoring influence the achievements of the mentee. This study has thus identified several conditions necessary for effective online mentoring globally, as well as for South Africa. South Africa has a pool of knowledgeable mentors involved in global online mentoring progammes and they can assist with online mentoring in the South African communities in need of assistance. However, South Africa can learn from well-established global online mentoring institutions how to implement an effective online mentoring programme, but will need the necessary financial resources to do so. This study further provided evidence on how online mentoring can be utilised for the career advancement of female corporate employees and those owning small businesses. Some guidelines were provided on how to overcome the various challenges associated with online mentoring globally, and those specific to South Africa. The use of mobile technology instead of computer-mediated technology was recommended as it provides greater access to online mentoring, especially for rural communities. It is also more user-friendly for those with limited computer technology skills.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Oosthuizen, Nadine
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mentoring in business -- South Africa Glass ceiling (Employment discrimination) -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20510 , vital:29301
- Description: The under-representation of females at management level due to the glass ceiling effect has globally received considerable attention. Research found that one of the remedies for females to progress beyond the glass ceiling, was access to a mentor in senior management. Females receiving mentoring in the workplace perform at greater levels as they gain reflected power, advise and the right to use essential resources. Yet, access to mentors was recognised as a barrier to females’ professional career success, both in the corporate field and to develop their small businesses. Fortunately, the revolution in technology has led to online mentoring which combines conventional mentoring relationship approaches with new technology and provides wider access to a pool of mentors. The increasing popularity of online mentoring can be attributed to the benefits it offers stereotyped individuals and those from marginalised groups. The purpose of this study therefore was to ascertain the enabling conditions necessary for effective online mentoring in South Africa, as well as how it can be used to develop the careers of females (both corporate employees and small business entrepreneurs). The study followed a mixed method approach with a sequential exploratory design. Background literature on conventional mentoring in addition to oniline mentoring assisted in contextualising the many issues relating to conventional mentoring which also apply to online mentoring. Primary data was collected in three phases (two qualitative and one quantitative). The data collection method for phases one and two of the enquiry was interviews with the use of a semi-structured interview schedule and for phase three, a survey via an online structured questionnaire. The biographical profiles of the participants interviewed during phases one and two were presented as case studies. Based on the content analysis of the qualitative interviews with five South African mentors, six female mentees from Africa, two South African online mentoring field specialists and one United States online mentoring field specialist, three main themes were identified viz. online mentoring processes, challenges and enabling conditions. Online mentoring processes identified for effective online mentoring related to the application-, selection-, matching- and conflict resolution procedures. Mentoring challenges related to matching preferences, technology impediments, cultural fit problems, language differences, lack of mutual trust, scheduling and frequency and duration of meetings, the impersonal nature of online mentoring and specific mentee- and mentor-related challenges. Based on the content analysis, the conditions for creating an effective online mentoring environment addressed some of the challenges alluded to and could be classified as generic, mentee-specific and mentor-specific enablers. Generic online mentoring enablers are those conditions necessary for creating an effective online mentoring environment for the mentoring pair such as the ability to establish a trusting relationship, flexible meeting schedules, training offered, the expression of emotions online, having a technology infrastructure in place, clear objectives and relationship boundaries, a desirable programme- and meeting duration with adequate meetings, using multiple contact methods and following a hybrid mentoring approach. Mentor specific issues to create an effective online mentoring environment are mentors with exceptional personal qualities that are knowledgable and experienced, while mentee specific issues relate to continuous mentee commitment and that mentees should have been previously exposed to mentoring. The constant comparative data analysis provided insight into how similar or dissimilar institutions approach online mentoring process and the challenges related to the local (South African) online mentoring environment as compared to those globally. Sixty-three respondents (South African mentors both male and female and female mentees who have undergone conventional mentoring) completed the online structured questionnaire on their perceptions of the online mentoring conditions necessary for effective online mentoring. From the exploratory factor analysis results of the online survey in phase three of the study, six valid and reliable conditions necessary for online mentoring were identified namely, infrastructure readiness, demographic matching preference, mentor characteristics, the communication process, mentoring pair perceptions and mentoring pair relationship. The multiple regression analysis performed established one statistically significant relationship. The perception that the mentoring pair hold of online mentoring influence the achievements of the mentee. This study has thus identified several conditions necessary for effective online mentoring globally, as well as for South Africa. South Africa has a pool of knowledgeable mentors involved in global online mentoring progammes and they can assist with online mentoring in the South African communities in need of assistance. However, South Africa can learn from well-established global online mentoring institutions how to implement an effective online mentoring programme, but will need the necessary financial resources to do so. This study further provided evidence on how online mentoring can be utilised for the career advancement of female corporate employees and those owning small businesses. Some guidelines were provided on how to overcome the various challenges associated with online mentoring globally, and those specific to South Africa. The use of mobile technology instead of computer-mediated technology was recommended as it provides greater access to online mentoring, especially for rural communities. It is also more user-friendly for those with limited computer technology skills.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Perceptions of social and living conditions and quality of working life: a study of border-post employees
- Authors: Geldenhuys, Linda
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Quality of work life , Work environment Work and family -- South Africa Job stress
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14289 , vital:27520
- Description: Research problem: Yadav and Khanna (2015) argue that the quality of work life defines the life at work and at home with family members. There is no existing definition of social and living conditions in the literature although it can be considered to include dimensions such as recreation, accommodation, health, education, family, religion and food (SLCB questionnaire). The social and living conditions of employees in rural towns situated close to borders is unique and, in order to offer suggestions with regard to what and how to improve the social and living conditions, their relationship with the quality of work life was investigated. Research objectives: The main objective of this study was to determine the possible relationship between the social and living conditions of employees in rural areas situated close to the South African border and the quality of work-related life. To address the research problem, research objectives and questions were formulated.Research questions: Four research questions were formulated:- What is the relationship between the overall quality of working life (WRQoL.Ovl1) and that of the social and living conditions (SLCB.Ovl1)?, -What is the relationship between the seven dimensions of social and living conditions and the seven dimensions of quality of working life? -Are there differences among the groups regarding the dimensions and overall social and living conditions? Are there differences among the groups regarding the dimensions and overall quality of working life? -Research design: This study is descriptive in nature, and used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on work-related quality of life and social and living conditions from employees from rural towns close to the border posts. Major findings: The results showed a significant correlation between social and living conditions and the quality of working life. Furthermore, they revealed that accommodation, food and health are the three dimensions of social and living conditions that have the strongest relationship with quality of working life, with accommodation bearing the most significant relation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Geldenhuys, Linda
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Quality of work life , Work environment Work and family -- South Africa Job stress
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14289 , vital:27520
- Description: Research problem: Yadav and Khanna (2015) argue that the quality of work life defines the life at work and at home with family members. There is no existing definition of social and living conditions in the literature although it can be considered to include dimensions such as recreation, accommodation, health, education, family, religion and food (SLCB questionnaire). The social and living conditions of employees in rural towns situated close to borders is unique and, in order to offer suggestions with regard to what and how to improve the social and living conditions, their relationship with the quality of work life was investigated. Research objectives: The main objective of this study was to determine the possible relationship between the social and living conditions of employees in rural areas situated close to the South African border and the quality of work-related life. To address the research problem, research objectives and questions were formulated.Research questions: Four research questions were formulated:- What is the relationship between the overall quality of working life (WRQoL.Ovl1) and that of the social and living conditions (SLCB.Ovl1)?, -What is the relationship between the seven dimensions of social and living conditions and the seven dimensions of quality of working life? -Are there differences among the groups regarding the dimensions and overall social and living conditions? Are there differences among the groups regarding the dimensions and overall quality of working life? -Research design: This study is descriptive in nature, and used a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on work-related quality of life and social and living conditions from employees from rural towns close to the border posts. Major findings: The results showed a significant correlation between social and living conditions and the quality of working life. Furthermore, they revealed that accommodation, food and health are the three dimensions of social and living conditions that have the strongest relationship with quality of working life, with accommodation bearing the most significant relation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Perceptions regarding the impact of ubuntu and servant leadership on employee engagement in the workplace
- Authors: Muller, Roger Joseph
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Leadership Management -- South Africa , Management -- Africa -- Philosophy Employees -- Attitudes Organizational effectiveness -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19409 , vital:28868
- Description: South Africa have some of the lowest employee engagement scores in the world. Leadership is a key determinant of employee engagement, but existing leadership theories and practices are often ineffective in more humanistic and collectivistic cultures like South Africa. To this end, Ubuntu and servant leadership is posited to positively influence organisational performance by increasing employee engagement. The primary objective of this study is to investigate perceptions regarding the impact of Ubuntu and servant leadership on employee engagement in private organisations of the Eastern Cape. A quantitative research design was utilised and yielded 428 usable questionnaires through nonprobability sampling. The empirical results revealed that the spirit of solidarity dimension of Ubuntu leadership influenced significantly and positively. Furthermore, it was found that survival and spirit of solidarity had a significant and positive influence on organisational performance as measured through the balanced scorecard (BSC). Servant leadership positively and significantly influenced employee engagement and organisational performance. In addition, it was found that employee engagement mediates the relationship between servant leadership and organizational performance. This study has made several significant empirical and theoretical contributions, and can be classified as one of the pioneering attempts to gather empirical evidence on how Ubuntu manifests in the workplace. The high convergent validity of the dimensions of Ubuntu leadership and comparisons to Servant leadership established in this study, provides some proof of its novel contribution towards leadership theory. A highly reliable and valid measuring instrument was developed to evaluate Ubuntu from a leadership perspective. This is a major empirical contribution as, at the time, there were no reliable scales available in South Africa to measure Ubuntu leadership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Muller, Roger Joseph
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Leadership Management -- South Africa , Management -- Africa -- Philosophy Employees -- Attitudes Organizational effectiveness -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19409 , vital:28868
- Description: South Africa have some of the lowest employee engagement scores in the world. Leadership is a key determinant of employee engagement, but existing leadership theories and practices are often ineffective in more humanistic and collectivistic cultures like South Africa. To this end, Ubuntu and servant leadership is posited to positively influence organisational performance by increasing employee engagement. The primary objective of this study is to investigate perceptions regarding the impact of Ubuntu and servant leadership on employee engagement in private organisations of the Eastern Cape. A quantitative research design was utilised and yielded 428 usable questionnaires through nonprobability sampling. The empirical results revealed that the spirit of solidarity dimension of Ubuntu leadership influenced significantly and positively. Furthermore, it was found that survival and spirit of solidarity had a significant and positive influence on organisational performance as measured through the balanced scorecard (BSC). Servant leadership positively and significantly influenced employee engagement and organisational performance. In addition, it was found that employee engagement mediates the relationship between servant leadership and organizational performance. This study has made several significant empirical and theoretical contributions, and can be classified as one of the pioneering attempts to gather empirical evidence on how Ubuntu manifests in the workplace. The high convergent validity of the dimensions of Ubuntu leadership and comparisons to Servant leadership established in this study, provides some proof of its novel contribution towards leadership theory. A highly reliable and valid measuring instrument was developed to evaluate Ubuntu from a leadership perspective. This is a major empirical contribution as, at the time, there were no reliable scales available in South Africa to measure Ubuntu leadership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Plasma gasification for converting municipal solid waste to energy
- Authors: Serage, Noah Magonagone
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Recycling (Waste, etc.) -- South Africa Refuse and refuse disposal -- South Africa , Energy conversion -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20266 , vital:29166
- Description: In South Africa most of the municipal solid waste is currently removed and taken to land fill sites for engraving. A very small percentage of this is recycled due to lack of exploration of alternative means of further processing. In 2011 approximately 108 million tonnes of waste, mostly being general waste was generated in South Africa. Ninety eight (98) million tonnes of this waste was disposed of at landfill sites (The Department of Environmental Affairs [DEA], 2012). Environmental engineers are finding municipal solid waste management to be a challenge, similarly do the city planners and local administration. The main reason being the difficulty brought about by the complexity in composition of the waste material, no availability of waste minimization technologies and the scarcity of land for landfill sites and their environmental impact (Lal & Singh, 2012). Anyaegbunam (2013) recommend that there is a disposal technique that can convert most of the landfill waste at reduced amount of money to what is being paid on other disposal techniques nowadays, regardless of its form or composition and produce an excess of clean energy, and that technique is called Plasma Gasification which carries a high capability of being economically efficient. According to Young (2010), plasma arc Gasification is a high-temperature pyrolysis process whereby the organics of waste solids (carbon-based materials) are converted into syngas. The syngas can also be sent to gas turbines or reciprocating engines to produce electricity. Few of these plants exist in the world, however there is none in South Africa due to municipal budgetary constraints and lack of evidence for return on investment. Gasification can be described as a thermo-chemical process wherein carbonaceous or carbon-rich feed stocks, for instance tree trimmings or biomass, coal, and petro-coke are transformed into a complex gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide (and smaller quantities of carbon dioxide and other trace gases) under high pressure, oxygen exhausted, strong heat and/or steam environments (SRS Energy Solutions, 2016) The problem of electricity shortages continues to increase and communities are unable to cope with the continuous rising electricity bills. It is forecast that electricity demand will grow by approximately 85% and thereby reaching 31 700TWH (terawatt hours) in the year 2035. This growth rate is anticipated at an annual rate of 2.4% of which the economic and population growth will be the driving force, while on the other hand the daily increase of waste at landfill sites poses many problems with regards to the lifespan of the landfill in case green technological disposal processes are not introduced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Serage, Noah Magonagone
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Recycling (Waste, etc.) -- South Africa Refuse and refuse disposal -- South Africa , Energy conversion -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20266 , vital:29166
- Description: In South Africa most of the municipal solid waste is currently removed and taken to land fill sites for engraving. A very small percentage of this is recycled due to lack of exploration of alternative means of further processing. In 2011 approximately 108 million tonnes of waste, mostly being general waste was generated in South Africa. Ninety eight (98) million tonnes of this waste was disposed of at landfill sites (The Department of Environmental Affairs [DEA], 2012). Environmental engineers are finding municipal solid waste management to be a challenge, similarly do the city planners and local administration. The main reason being the difficulty brought about by the complexity in composition of the waste material, no availability of waste minimization technologies and the scarcity of land for landfill sites and their environmental impact (Lal & Singh, 2012). Anyaegbunam (2013) recommend that there is a disposal technique that can convert most of the landfill waste at reduced amount of money to what is being paid on other disposal techniques nowadays, regardless of its form or composition and produce an excess of clean energy, and that technique is called Plasma Gasification which carries a high capability of being economically efficient. According to Young (2010), plasma arc Gasification is a high-temperature pyrolysis process whereby the organics of waste solids (carbon-based materials) are converted into syngas. The syngas can also be sent to gas turbines or reciprocating engines to produce electricity. Few of these plants exist in the world, however there is none in South Africa due to municipal budgetary constraints and lack of evidence for return on investment. Gasification can be described as a thermo-chemical process wherein carbonaceous or carbon-rich feed stocks, for instance tree trimmings or biomass, coal, and petro-coke are transformed into a complex gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide (and smaller quantities of carbon dioxide and other trace gases) under high pressure, oxygen exhausted, strong heat and/or steam environments (SRS Energy Solutions, 2016) The problem of electricity shortages continues to increase and communities are unable to cope with the continuous rising electricity bills. It is forecast that electricity demand will grow by approximately 85% and thereby reaching 31 700TWH (terawatt hours) in the year 2035. This growth rate is anticipated at an annual rate of 2.4% of which the economic and population growth will be the driving force, while on the other hand the daily increase of waste at landfill sites poses many problems with regards to the lifespan of the landfill in case green technological disposal processes are not introduced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Potential use of Islamic finance among Muslims in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Ismail, Badroen
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Finance -- Religious aspects Banks and banking -- Religious aspects -- Islam , Consumer behavior -- Religious aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17526 , vital:28374
- Description: The resurgence of Islam across the globe combined with the resilience that Islamic financial assets have shown against the onslaught of the current financial crisis, make Islamic finance an attractive alternative financial system. Over the past decade, the Islamic finance sector have shown double digit growth rates beyond the traditional areas of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regions of Asia as well as other parts of the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA) regions. Research suggests that the future of Islamic finance in Africa depends on business opportunities in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. The South African government, in conjunction with the national finance authorities, have made their intention clear to position the country as the Islamic finance hub for the rest of the African continent. Despite various marketing campaigns over the past decade to convince the public that Islamic banking and finance is for everyone, non-Muslims generally view Islamic banking as being for Muslims alone. Scepticism towards Islamic finance has resulted in a mere 15 per cent of the estimated 1.5 million South African Muslims currently making use of the sector’s banking and retail instruments. This lack of interest is impacting negatively on the country’s aspirations to establish itself as the gateway of Islamic finance to the rest of Africa. Generally, people’s attitudes toward utilising Islamic finance are regarded as a key obstacle to the development of the Islamic banking and finance system in Muslim minority countries. A Kuwait Finance House research report (2012) highlighted a lack of awareness and knowledge of Islamic finance products and services as key factors stifling the growth of the Islamic finance sector in South Africa. In this context, it was deemed necessary to analyse how knowledge, awareness, expectations, beliefs, perceptions and ancillary external factors impact on potential users’ attitude and decision to adopt or reject Islamic finance.By means of adapting Fishbein’s (2000; 2008) Integrative Model of Behavioural Prediction, a universally-acceptable behavioural-change model, this research explains in a holistic manner how cognitive, affective and environmental measures impact on a Port Elizabethan Muslim’s attitude and eventual decision to accept (or reject) Islamic finance. This study has found that knowledge was the most important variable influencing attitude and intention to use (or reject) Islamic finance. Consequently, this thesis proposed that Islamic institutions should focus their efforts on promoting knowledge and awareness of their products among the South African Muslim and non- Muslim population. As the global Shari’ah finance industry continues its positive growth trajectory, it is imperative that Islamic finance stakeholders in South Africa ensure that they exploit the benefits derived from online learning platforms and assist, by means of cross-border collaborations, more students to have greater access to Islamic finance courses. Furthermore, universities and training institutions are encouraged to offer courses and qualifications in Islamic finance to close the talent gap that currently exist in this particular field of study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ismail, Badroen
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Finance -- Religious aspects Banks and banking -- Religious aspects -- Islam , Consumer behavior -- Religious aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17526 , vital:28374
- Description: The resurgence of Islam across the globe combined with the resilience that Islamic financial assets have shown against the onslaught of the current financial crisis, make Islamic finance an attractive alternative financial system. Over the past decade, the Islamic finance sector have shown double digit growth rates beyond the traditional areas of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regions of Asia as well as other parts of the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA) regions. Research suggests that the future of Islamic finance in Africa depends on business opportunities in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. The South African government, in conjunction with the national finance authorities, have made their intention clear to position the country as the Islamic finance hub for the rest of the African continent. Despite various marketing campaigns over the past decade to convince the public that Islamic banking and finance is for everyone, non-Muslims generally view Islamic banking as being for Muslims alone. Scepticism towards Islamic finance has resulted in a mere 15 per cent of the estimated 1.5 million South African Muslims currently making use of the sector’s banking and retail instruments. This lack of interest is impacting negatively on the country’s aspirations to establish itself as the gateway of Islamic finance to the rest of Africa. Generally, people’s attitudes toward utilising Islamic finance are regarded as a key obstacle to the development of the Islamic banking and finance system in Muslim minority countries. A Kuwait Finance House research report (2012) highlighted a lack of awareness and knowledge of Islamic finance products and services as key factors stifling the growth of the Islamic finance sector in South Africa. In this context, it was deemed necessary to analyse how knowledge, awareness, expectations, beliefs, perceptions and ancillary external factors impact on potential users’ attitude and decision to adopt or reject Islamic finance.By means of adapting Fishbein’s (2000; 2008) Integrative Model of Behavioural Prediction, a universally-acceptable behavioural-change model, this research explains in a holistic manner how cognitive, affective and environmental measures impact on a Port Elizabethan Muslim’s attitude and eventual decision to accept (or reject) Islamic finance. This study has found that knowledge was the most important variable influencing attitude and intention to use (or reject) Islamic finance. Consequently, this thesis proposed that Islamic institutions should focus their efforts on promoting knowledge and awareness of their products among the South African Muslim and non- Muslim population. As the global Shari’ah finance industry continues its positive growth trajectory, it is imperative that Islamic finance stakeholders in South Africa ensure that they exploit the benefits derived from online learning platforms and assist, by means of cross-border collaborations, more students to have greater access to Islamic finance courses. Furthermore, universities and training institutions are encouraged to offer courses and qualifications in Islamic finance to close the talent gap that currently exist in this particular field of study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Poverty alleviation through the development of subsistence harvesters at Ngqushwa Municipality
- Authors: Sunduza, Nosipho Gloria
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Subsistence farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9228 , vital:26481
- Description: The broad objective of the study was poverty alleviation through the development of subsistence harvesters at Ngqushwa Municipality. The research objectives were to explore - ways of advancing from being subsistence level producers, opportunities available to these harvesters, if they, (subsistence harvesters), want to be commercialized and what actions do they need to take to become successful businesses. The study was conducted in the the coastal area of Ngqushwa Municipality. The researcher conducted face-to-face interviews with 2 key informants. The respondents provided information on the marine species harvested by the subsistence harvesters of the Ngqushwa Municipality and the type of tools they use for harvesting. They mentioned how subsistence harvesters could advance from subsistence level to producers, about opportunities available to these harvesters, and what actions they need to take if they want to become successful businesses. The key informants also informed the researcher that subsistence harvesters are now classified as Small Scale Fisheries and informed about villages that engage in subsistence harvesting within the Ngqushwa Municipality area. 15 subsistence harvesters were randomly sampled in Polar Park, Qolweni, Gcinisa and Wesley villages which fall under the Ngqushwa Municipality. These harvesters shared their willingness to move from subsistence to commercial fisheries. The use of storytelling interviews (4 subsistence), was also used by the researcher to get more information about their experiences and challenges. The survey was conducted over 7 days. One day in June, 2016 and 6 days in September, 2016. The total number of people interviewed was 21, made up of 2 key informants, 15 subsistence and 4 story telling interviews. The results showed that the community of subsistence harvesters is very discontented because they do not benefit from the sea and the marine resources although they live near the ocean. They also believe that in 22 years of democracy there is no way forward from the government. They are irate as they have witnessed the top down management style from the government. The current subsistence harvesters have little or no formal school education, (23% with no formal schooling at all, 23% with high school education between grades 8 - 12). Without the educational and skills programs from the government the subsistence harvesters will not be able to grow and create further employment opportunities for the rest of the community of Ngqushwa Municipality. The following recommendations have suggested that co-management must come from the community. It must not be people from parliament who do not feel the pain the communities are suffering. The top down approach should stop and a bottom up approach should be implemented, which will allow decisions to be made by the communities involved in harvesting. The government only needs to monitor. They (Government), have good policies, but are they are not monitored. The harvesters need training from the government. There is a need for the formulation of a development forum with learned people, churches, community leaders, young people, women, disabled, and the fishing community all represented. There is also need of support in terms of equipment, boats and education. The government needs to conduct training on fisheries and business management and provide financial support and assistance with business plans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Sunduza, Nosipho Gloria
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Subsistence farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9228 , vital:26481
- Description: The broad objective of the study was poverty alleviation through the development of subsistence harvesters at Ngqushwa Municipality. The research objectives were to explore - ways of advancing from being subsistence level producers, opportunities available to these harvesters, if they, (subsistence harvesters), want to be commercialized and what actions do they need to take to become successful businesses. The study was conducted in the the coastal area of Ngqushwa Municipality. The researcher conducted face-to-face interviews with 2 key informants. The respondents provided information on the marine species harvested by the subsistence harvesters of the Ngqushwa Municipality and the type of tools they use for harvesting. They mentioned how subsistence harvesters could advance from subsistence level to producers, about opportunities available to these harvesters, and what actions they need to take if they want to become successful businesses. The key informants also informed the researcher that subsistence harvesters are now classified as Small Scale Fisheries and informed about villages that engage in subsistence harvesting within the Ngqushwa Municipality area. 15 subsistence harvesters were randomly sampled in Polar Park, Qolweni, Gcinisa and Wesley villages which fall under the Ngqushwa Municipality. These harvesters shared their willingness to move from subsistence to commercial fisheries. The use of storytelling interviews (4 subsistence), was also used by the researcher to get more information about their experiences and challenges. The survey was conducted over 7 days. One day in June, 2016 and 6 days in September, 2016. The total number of people interviewed was 21, made up of 2 key informants, 15 subsistence and 4 story telling interviews. The results showed that the community of subsistence harvesters is very discontented because they do not benefit from the sea and the marine resources although they live near the ocean. They also believe that in 22 years of democracy there is no way forward from the government. They are irate as they have witnessed the top down management style from the government. The current subsistence harvesters have little or no formal school education, (23% with no formal schooling at all, 23% with high school education between grades 8 - 12). Without the educational and skills programs from the government the subsistence harvesters will not be able to grow and create further employment opportunities for the rest of the community of Ngqushwa Municipality. The following recommendations have suggested that co-management must come from the community. It must not be people from parliament who do not feel the pain the communities are suffering. The top down approach should stop and a bottom up approach should be implemented, which will allow decisions to be made by the communities involved in harvesting. The government only needs to monitor. They (Government), have good policies, but are they are not monitored. The harvesters need training from the government. There is a need for the formulation of a development forum with learned people, churches, community leaders, young people, women, disabled, and the fishing community all represented. There is also need of support in terms of equipment, boats and education. The government needs to conduct training on fisheries and business management and provide financial support and assistance with business plans.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Recreational resource management in Nelson Mandela Bay: a choice experiment application
- Authors: Ntshangase, Sindiswa
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Beaches -- Recreational use -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Recreational surveys -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Recreation areas -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19608 , vital:28904
- Description: This dissertation represents one of the limited South African studies that attempts to estimate the recreational value of the identified set of bathing beaches within the local municipal area of the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB). More formally, this research presents the findings of selected stated preference study used for the monetary measurement of the benefits of the improvements to the NMB bathing coastlines. Using the choice experiment method, this dissertation examines the beach users’ preferences for beach management at various beaches in NMB. The choice experiment analysis was designed to elicit individuals’ willingness to pay for the selected changes. The results are used to assess the relative importance of each beach characteristic identified. The survey is implemented on the users of beaches in NMB. The beach characteristics or attributes by focus group discussions were namely (1) bathing water quality (2) public safety by means of visible policing (3) the presence of dog mess on beaches and (4) availability of lifeguards on duty. The monetary attribute selected by focus groups as most appropriate was an additional environmental water charge. The five attributes had varying levels, one corresponding to the current scenario (status quo) and the other levels to the marginal change. These attributes and their levels were combined to generate different management options, each associated with a 'monetary price'. Respondents were asked to choose their preferred alternative within the choice sets, each consisting of three management options where one alternative was the status quo. The estimation strategy consisted of estimating a conditional logit model. Results revealed that people are willing to pay to (1) keep the water quality at the excellent current level (2) for improvements in public safety through visible policing (3) the continued of the presence of dogs on beaches and (4) for an increase in the number of lifesavers on the bathing beaches. The findings of the analysis are used to inform the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBM) on the improvements most preferred by beach users in the context of beach management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ntshangase, Sindiswa
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Beaches -- Recreational use -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Recreational surveys -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Recreation areas -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/19608 , vital:28904
- Description: This dissertation represents one of the limited South African studies that attempts to estimate the recreational value of the identified set of bathing beaches within the local municipal area of the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB). More formally, this research presents the findings of selected stated preference study used for the monetary measurement of the benefits of the improvements to the NMB bathing coastlines. Using the choice experiment method, this dissertation examines the beach users’ preferences for beach management at various beaches in NMB. The choice experiment analysis was designed to elicit individuals’ willingness to pay for the selected changes. The results are used to assess the relative importance of each beach characteristic identified. The survey is implemented on the users of beaches in NMB. The beach characteristics or attributes by focus group discussions were namely (1) bathing water quality (2) public safety by means of visible policing (3) the presence of dog mess on beaches and (4) availability of lifeguards on duty. The monetary attribute selected by focus groups as most appropriate was an additional environmental water charge. The five attributes had varying levels, one corresponding to the current scenario (status quo) and the other levels to the marginal change. These attributes and their levels were combined to generate different management options, each associated with a 'monetary price'. Respondents were asked to choose their preferred alternative within the choice sets, each consisting of three management options where one alternative was the status quo. The estimation strategy consisted of estimating a conditional logit model. Results revealed that people are willing to pay to (1) keep the water quality at the excellent current level (2) for improvements in public safety through visible policing (3) the continued of the presence of dogs on beaches and (4) for an increase in the number of lifesavers on the bathing beaches. The findings of the analysis are used to inform the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBM) on the improvements most preferred by beach users in the context of beach management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Revenue, trade and welfare effects of the COMESA FTA on the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Authors: Ndungo, Lusenge Patrick
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Revenue -- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Econometric models , Welfare economics Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14256 , vital:27493
- Description: The present research attempts to assess the likely revenue, trade and welfare implications of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The study adopts a partial equilibrium model based on the World Integrated Trade Solution 2010 database and the Software for Market Analysis and Restrictions on Trade (WITS-SMART) as the methodological approach. The findings of the research reveal that the COMESA FTA will be beneficial to the DRC in terms of an increase in exports of US$371.57 million and consumer welfare gain amounting to US$28.49 million. Moreover, The WITS-SMART simulation results indicate that around US$322.10 million of trade will be created in the DRC as a result of the COMESA FTA. Notwithstanding the fact that trade creation will have a positive effect on welfare, as the Congolese consumers would benefit from lower prices, some local industries in the DRC may be threaten of closure due to the lack of competitiveness. In addition, the simultation results show that the country will experience a huge fiscal revenue loss amounting to US$107.01 million due to the implementation of zero per cent tarrif rate on imports duty from the COMESA trading partners. Finally, the simultation results indicate that an equivalent value of US$49.47 million of trade will be diverted from more efficient and low cost non-member states to high cost suppliers from the COMESA region. In light of these results, the research recommends that the DRC’s government needs to come up with a strategic plan in order to protect the national industry that would be negatively affected by the trade-creation effect. In order to mitigate the expected revenue loss, the implementation of the COMESA FTA in the DRC should be accompanied by fiscal reforms to improve the tax-collection system from sales or value-added taxes (VAT) and domestic excise. Regarding the trade-diversion effect, the inefficient producers from the COMESA region could be displaced through building new capacities in short, medium and long term based on comparative advantage in order to address supply constraints in these sectors affected by trade diversion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ndungo, Lusenge Patrick
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Revenue -- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Econometric models , Welfare economics Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14256 , vital:27493
- Description: The present research attempts to assess the likely revenue, trade and welfare implications of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The study adopts a partial equilibrium model based on the World Integrated Trade Solution 2010 database and the Software for Market Analysis and Restrictions on Trade (WITS-SMART) as the methodological approach. The findings of the research reveal that the COMESA FTA will be beneficial to the DRC in terms of an increase in exports of US$371.57 million and consumer welfare gain amounting to US$28.49 million. Moreover, The WITS-SMART simulation results indicate that around US$322.10 million of trade will be created in the DRC as a result of the COMESA FTA. Notwithstanding the fact that trade creation will have a positive effect on welfare, as the Congolese consumers would benefit from lower prices, some local industries in the DRC may be threaten of closure due to the lack of competitiveness. In addition, the simultation results show that the country will experience a huge fiscal revenue loss amounting to US$107.01 million due to the implementation of zero per cent tarrif rate on imports duty from the COMESA trading partners. Finally, the simultation results indicate that an equivalent value of US$49.47 million of trade will be diverted from more efficient and low cost non-member states to high cost suppliers from the COMESA region. In light of these results, the research recommends that the DRC’s government needs to come up with a strategic plan in order to protect the national industry that would be negatively affected by the trade-creation effect. In order to mitigate the expected revenue loss, the implementation of the COMESA FTA in the DRC should be accompanied by fiscal reforms to improve the tax-collection system from sales or value-added taxes (VAT) and domestic excise. Regarding the trade-diversion effect, the inefficient producers from the COMESA region could be displaced through building new capacities in short, medium and long term based on comparative advantage in order to address supply constraints in these sectors affected by trade diversion.
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- Date Issued: 2017
Revitalisation of the informal township economy in Mdantsane
- Authors: Dyantyi, Unathi Sisikelelwe
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Informal sector (Economics) -- South Africa -- Mdantsane Economic development -- South Africa -- Mdantsane
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15611 , vital:28276
- Description: The main focus of this study was to perform an assessment of viable and sustainable means of creating a vibrant and sustainable economy in the Mdantsane Township. In order to perform the assessment objectives were formulated which aimed at assessing whether the informal small business sector of Mdantsane was generating wealth and livelihoods for the people running them. The study also looked at whether the informal business sector is a preferred option by most South Africans or people in the townships would rather seek employment. A number of data collection methods were used in completing this study such as literature reviews and a semi-structured questionnaire. The study revealed that Local Economic development can be implemented in the townships in order to assist in stimulating a vibrant local township economy. The study also revealed that the central focus of Local Economic Development is to support the development, growth and retention of private or co-operative enterprises. The survey conducted in the study further revealed that most businesses in the township are driven by necessity in order for them to start their businesses mainly due to unemployment. These businesses all agreed on the significant role that Local Economic Development can play in assisting township entrepreneurs and communities to grow and prosper.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Dyantyi, Unathi Sisikelelwe
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Informal sector (Economics) -- South Africa -- Mdantsane Economic development -- South Africa -- Mdantsane
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15611 , vital:28276
- Description: The main focus of this study was to perform an assessment of viable and sustainable means of creating a vibrant and sustainable economy in the Mdantsane Township. In order to perform the assessment objectives were formulated which aimed at assessing whether the informal small business sector of Mdantsane was generating wealth and livelihoods for the people running them. The study also looked at whether the informal business sector is a preferred option by most South Africans or people in the townships would rather seek employment. A number of data collection methods were used in completing this study such as literature reviews and a semi-structured questionnaire. The study revealed that Local Economic development can be implemented in the townships in order to assist in stimulating a vibrant local township economy. The study also revealed that the central focus of Local Economic Development is to support the development, growth and retention of private or co-operative enterprises. The survey conducted in the study further revealed that most businesses in the township are driven by necessity in order for them to start their businesses mainly due to unemployment. These businesses all agreed on the significant role that Local Economic Development can play in assisting township entrepreneurs and communities to grow and prosper.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Role of disaster management in urban sustainability: case study of Red House
- Authors: Banda, Cisomo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Emergency management -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Natural disasters -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17448 , vital:28340
- Description: Disasters are inevitable events that impact negatively on humanity in South Africa and globally. Though disasters are global the most at risk populations are predominantly from developing countries and particularly poor communities experience multi-layered threats from floods, droughts, poor energy supply, inter alia. However, the urban communities have not been spared the effects of these disasters and have cause of concern. Millions of people have suffered and passed on because of disasters. These disasters cannot be prevented in certain environments but mechanisms can be put in place by the relevant officials such as government institutions or relevant stakeholders to help mitigate and reduce the effects of these disasters and further contribute to sustainable development. The Disaster Management Act in South Africa provides clear mandates, through policy and guidelines, on how to identify and reduce risk to disasters and how to prepare and respond to emergencies and disasters, structures and mechanisms, as well as the necessary systems. The local authorities such as the Disaster Management Department‘s roles and responsibility have been clearly stipulated and emphasised. It is therefore the mandate of the department to ensure that each and every community receives the adequate services that are entitled to them to help reduce the effects of the natural disasters and in turn contribute to the promotion of sustainable development. The overall aim of the Case Study in Redhouse was to investigate the effectiveness of the NMBM Disaster Management Department in urban sustainability. The research made use of the qualitative research methodology and followed the inductive approach. This was supported by a survey which was administered to willing participants chosen at random whose extensive experience is relevant to this research topic. Interviews involved direct personal contact with participants who were asked to respond to questions relating to the research study. The research sample consisted of a total number of eight participants. The Disaster Management Official was represented by two participants: the Redhouse community, which was represented by five participants, and the local NGO, which was represented by 1 participant. Current knowledge on the topic has been analysed and new knowledge with recommendations, has been generated through findings from this study.
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- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Banda, Cisomo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Emergency management -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Natural disasters -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17448 , vital:28340
- Description: Disasters are inevitable events that impact negatively on humanity in South Africa and globally. Though disasters are global the most at risk populations are predominantly from developing countries and particularly poor communities experience multi-layered threats from floods, droughts, poor energy supply, inter alia. However, the urban communities have not been spared the effects of these disasters and have cause of concern. Millions of people have suffered and passed on because of disasters. These disasters cannot be prevented in certain environments but mechanisms can be put in place by the relevant officials such as government institutions or relevant stakeholders to help mitigate and reduce the effects of these disasters and further contribute to sustainable development. The Disaster Management Act in South Africa provides clear mandates, through policy and guidelines, on how to identify and reduce risk to disasters and how to prepare and respond to emergencies and disasters, structures and mechanisms, as well as the necessary systems. The local authorities such as the Disaster Management Department‘s roles and responsibility have been clearly stipulated and emphasised. It is therefore the mandate of the department to ensure that each and every community receives the adequate services that are entitled to them to help reduce the effects of the natural disasters and in turn contribute to the promotion of sustainable development. The overall aim of the Case Study in Redhouse was to investigate the effectiveness of the NMBM Disaster Management Department in urban sustainability. The research made use of the qualitative research methodology and followed the inductive approach. This was supported by a survey which was administered to willing participants chosen at random whose extensive experience is relevant to this research topic. Interviews involved direct personal contact with participants who were asked to respond to questions relating to the research study. The research sample consisted of a total number of eight participants. The Disaster Management Official was represented by two participants: the Redhouse community, which was represented by five participants, and the local NGO, which was represented by 1 participant. Current knowledge on the topic has been analysed and new knowledge with recommendations, has been generated through findings from this study.
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- Date Issued: 2017