A business model for medical subspecialty training in South Africa
- Dalmeyer, Johannes Paulus Franciscus
- Authors: Dalmeyer, Johannes Paulus Franciscus
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Health care teams -- Training of -- South Africa , Medical care -- Needs assessment -- South Africa , Evidence-based medicine -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3508 , vital:20437
- Description: The shortage of healthcare workers and doctors in the developing world compared to the developed world is a problem, and will continue to be so, due to the continual migration of qualified professionals and the inability of the state to remedy these shortfalls. A shortage of healthcare workers and specialist doctors will seriously hamper the Government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) plan, as well as the sustainability of the private health care sector. In addition, the duration of medical training in South Africa is exceptionally long. The three major hospital groups and other private corporates have over the last number of years taken limited initiative to fund education projects in conjunction with the academic institutions. However, these projects have been poorly focused and have been managed in an unstructured and detached manner. There is a desire from the private sector to get involved in these projects on a much larger scale through more formalised structures. Given this background, the primary objective of this research is to develop a business model for medical subspecialty training to complement the current academic subspecialty training in South Africa. A trial model for training subspecialists in reproductive medicine was developed as a first attempt to address the threatening shortages and training duration. This trial programme is the basis of this research. A two-phased process was used in collecting data. In Phase 1 data was collected from stakeholder groups. The results of this survey assisted in generating variables to include in the measuring instrument for the survey in Phase 2. In Phase 2 the perceptions and expectations of sub-specialists (reproductive subspecialists and cardiologists) regarding sub-specialty training was collected. The results of the demographic variables confirm the aging profile of subspecialist and the need to ensure succession. The results further showed that cardiologists and reproductive subspecialist expectations of the training of subspecialists are very similar except for their expectations on the training duration. Reproductive subspecialist respondents agreed more than cardiology subspecialist respondents that the training duration is too long. The biggest gap between perceptions and expectations is also with the factor training. The results showed that the expectations of subspecialists are not met for training. From these results a business model for the training of medical subspecialists is proposed. This proposed business model can play a complementary role to the existing state controlled system and form the bases of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in medical training. This proposed business model will fit a developing country were the focus is on primary healthcare, with financial and capacity constraints. The proposed model would require role players to bring about change to accommodate a larger scale Public Private Partnership (PPP) to ensure the implementation of the model. The proposed decentralised business model for training subspecialists would allow the trainee subspecialist to practise as a specialist thus maintaining an acceptable income, and enable an expedited completion and lead to a wider dissemination of medical expertise that can be delivered in a wider national foot print. It further will provide for a structured Public Private Partnership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Dalmeyer, Johannes Paulus Franciscus
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Health care teams -- Training of -- South Africa , Medical care -- Needs assessment -- South Africa , Evidence-based medicine -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3508 , vital:20437
- Description: The shortage of healthcare workers and doctors in the developing world compared to the developed world is a problem, and will continue to be so, due to the continual migration of qualified professionals and the inability of the state to remedy these shortfalls. A shortage of healthcare workers and specialist doctors will seriously hamper the Government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) plan, as well as the sustainability of the private health care sector. In addition, the duration of medical training in South Africa is exceptionally long. The three major hospital groups and other private corporates have over the last number of years taken limited initiative to fund education projects in conjunction with the academic institutions. However, these projects have been poorly focused and have been managed in an unstructured and detached manner. There is a desire from the private sector to get involved in these projects on a much larger scale through more formalised structures. Given this background, the primary objective of this research is to develop a business model for medical subspecialty training to complement the current academic subspecialty training in South Africa. A trial model for training subspecialists in reproductive medicine was developed as a first attempt to address the threatening shortages and training duration. This trial programme is the basis of this research. A two-phased process was used in collecting data. In Phase 1 data was collected from stakeholder groups. The results of this survey assisted in generating variables to include in the measuring instrument for the survey in Phase 2. In Phase 2 the perceptions and expectations of sub-specialists (reproductive subspecialists and cardiologists) regarding sub-specialty training was collected. The results of the demographic variables confirm the aging profile of subspecialist and the need to ensure succession. The results further showed that cardiologists and reproductive subspecialist expectations of the training of subspecialists are very similar except for their expectations on the training duration. Reproductive subspecialist respondents agreed more than cardiology subspecialist respondents that the training duration is too long. The biggest gap between perceptions and expectations is also with the factor training. The results showed that the expectations of subspecialists are not met for training. From these results a business model for the training of medical subspecialists is proposed. This proposed business model can play a complementary role to the existing state controlled system and form the bases of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in medical training. This proposed business model will fit a developing country were the focus is on primary healthcare, with financial and capacity constraints. The proposed model would require role players to bring about change to accommodate a larger scale Public Private Partnership (PPP) to ensure the implementation of the model. The proposed decentralised business model for training subspecialists would allow the trainee subspecialist to practise as a specialist thus maintaining an acceptable income, and enable an expedited completion and lead to a wider dissemination of medical expertise that can be delivered in a wider national foot print. It further will provide for a structured Public Private Partnership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A conscious leadership model to achieve sustainable business practices
- Sukhdeo, Beverley Amanda Faith
- Authors: Sukhdeo, Beverley Amanda Faith
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Industrial management -- Environmental aspects , Sustainable development , Social responsibility of business
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5885 , vital:21008
- Description: Business sustainability is a fundamental concern amongst business leaders and it is imperative that business defines an environmentally and socially sustainable path to financial prosperity. This focus on sustainable business practices has been caused by the perceived contribution of businesses to undesirable conditions such as environmental and social degradation including global warming and the global financial crises. This study suggests that a leadership style that differs from leadership that is currently causing business unsustainability is needed in order to achieve the goal of sustainable business practices. This study therefore proposes a new kind of leadership, called conscious leadership. The main contribution of the study is to increase the achievement of sustainable business practices by investigating the importance of conscious leadership in achieving this objective. Convenience sampling was used to select senior managers and directors from mainly JSE listed companies. This resulted in a total of 371 usable questionnaires (317 from listed companies and 54 from unlisted companies) being received. A quantitative approach was adopted to investigate whether conscious leadership would be related to increased sustainability competencies and more effective sustainability-related corporate governance and whether these in turn would increase sustainability behaviours which would generate sustainable business practices as measured by financial, social and environmental performance. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate the hypothesised relationships among these variables. Pearson correlations and descriptive statistics were also calculated. The empirical results showed that respondents in this study regarded conscious leadership, not as a separate construct, but as a way they governed their businesses. The empirical results showed that corporate governance and systems thinking competency had a strong interactive relationship and should therefore be cultivated within business firms. Corporate governance (including conscious leadership) and systems-thinking competency were positive influencers of employee relations, equal opportunities and workforce diversity. The empirical results however showed that corporate governance (including conscious leadership) had a negative influence on profitability. The present study cannot argue for the discouragement of corporate governance (including conscious leadership), as measured in this study, because reduced corporate governance would decrease healthy employee relations and the latter would decrease the achievement of equal opportunities and workforce diversity in these firms. A decrease in healthy employee relations would decrease profitability. The most important finding of this study is that senior managers and directors of big business firms, mostly JSE-listed companies, regarded conscious leadership as an important part of corporate governance. Corporate governance that includes conscious leadership must be developed to higher levels in business firms, so that the negative and not-significant relationships to profitability as viewed by lower and high conscious leaders respectively can be changed to positive relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Sukhdeo, Beverley Amanda Faith
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Industrial management -- Environmental aspects , Sustainable development , Social responsibility of business
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5885 , vital:21008
- Description: Business sustainability is a fundamental concern amongst business leaders and it is imperative that business defines an environmentally and socially sustainable path to financial prosperity. This focus on sustainable business practices has been caused by the perceived contribution of businesses to undesirable conditions such as environmental and social degradation including global warming and the global financial crises. This study suggests that a leadership style that differs from leadership that is currently causing business unsustainability is needed in order to achieve the goal of sustainable business practices. This study therefore proposes a new kind of leadership, called conscious leadership. The main contribution of the study is to increase the achievement of sustainable business practices by investigating the importance of conscious leadership in achieving this objective. Convenience sampling was used to select senior managers and directors from mainly JSE listed companies. This resulted in a total of 371 usable questionnaires (317 from listed companies and 54 from unlisted companies) being received. A quantitative approach was adopted to investigate whether conscious leadership would be related to increased sustainability competencies and more effective sustainability-related corporate governance and whether these in turn would increase sustainability behaviours which would generate sustainable business practices as measured by financial, social and environmental performance. Regression analyses were conducted to investigate the hypothesised relationships among these variables. Pearson correlations and descriptive statistics were also calculated. The empirical results showed that respondents in this study regarded conscious leadership, not as a separate construct, but as a way they governed their businesses. The empirical results showed that corporate governance and systems thinking competency had a strong interactive relationship and should therefore be cultivated within business firms. Corporate governance (including conscious leadership) and systems-thinking competency were positive influencers of employee relations, equal opportunities and workforce diversity. The empirical results however showed that corporate governance (including conscious leadership) had a negative influence on profitability. The present study cannot argue for the discouragement of corporate governance (including conscious leadership), as measured in this study, because reduced corporate governance would decrease healthy employee relations and the latter would decrease the achievement of equal opportunities and workforce diversity in these firms. A decrease in healthy employee relations would decrease profitability. The most important finding of this study is that senior managers and directors of big business firms, mostly JSE-listed companies, regarded conscious leadership as an important part of corporate governance. Corporate governance that includes conscious leadership must be developed to higher levels in business firms, so that the negative and not-significant relationships to profitability as viewed by lower and high conscious leaders respectively can be changed to positive relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A critical assessment of responsible tourism practices: a case study of Stormsriver adventures
- Authors: Van Zyl, Shireen Rosemary
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Sustainable tourism , Tourism -- Management , Economic development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4954 , vital:20770
- Description: The research problem was based on the private sector implementation of Responsible Tourism, since 1996, perceived to be slow and challenging (Frey & George, 2010: 107). The South Africa Government proposed Responsible Tourism as the guiding principle for sustainable tourism development (Goodwin, 2011: 138). The problem is compounded by shortcomings identified in the nature of the research conducted about tourism and communities and the methodologies used. Tourism-Community relationships Theory was applied as the conceptual framework of the study. This theory advocates a holistic approach when conducting research about the impacts of tourism, encompassing community perspectives, attitudes, reactions and considerations for the future development and control of tourism (Pearce, Moscardo & Ross, 1996: 2). The insights gained contributed an emic understanding of the keyinformants’ perspectives imparted in their own language. This study is located in the Interpretevist paradigm, underpinned by Constructivist philosophy. Meaning is created through the reality of key-informants, their perspectives and the interaction of individuals in a community (Cresswell, 2014: 8). The Instrumental Case Study Approach (Stake, 1995) contributed an etic perspective in terms of the researcher’s interpretations. The single, qualitative case was applied to gain deeper insights about the phenomenon of Responsible tourism. The case investigated was Stormsriver Adventures (SRA), an eco-adventure tourism business in the Tsitsikamma tourism destination in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. SRA is reputed to be business best practice in its implementation of Responsible Tourism. Data triangulation was established through multiple methods of data collection, namely in-depth interviews with key-informants, documentation sourced from them and researcher observation. Data analysis methods, namely direct interpretation, categorical aggregation, pattern seeking and naturalistic generalisations (Stake, 1995), were used. The member checking process assisted with establishing data triangulation as keyinformants corroborated or dispelled the researcher’s interpretation of data. Findings were structured according to within-case themes, namely SRA’s perspective of its Responsible Tourism practices, the community’s perspective of SRA’s Responsible Tourism practices and perspectives about the future development and control of tourism. The study contributes new theoretical insights through applying the inductive approach to selected findings. Findings indicate that the perspectives of the community are divided. SRA keyinformants conveyed positive economic, social and environmental impacts of SRA’s Responsible Tourism practices. Key-informants not directly linked to SRA raised negative economic impacts and questioned the accuracy of SRA’s marketing messages. Within-case conclusions are that it is not the responsibility of one tourism business that practices Responsible Tourism to achieve sustainability within the tourism destination. To this end it is recommended that SRA and the community find common ground and that the misunderstandings that exist, be addressed. The study concludes that in order to achieve successful Responsible Tourism- Community Relationships, a holistically and integrated approach is required. To this end the recommendations made provide an implementation framework within the context of a tourism destination. The study adds value to the field knowledge about the implementation of Responsible Tourism by the private sector in South Africa and also contributes new knowledge to the field of tourism in terms of the particular methodology used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Van Zyl, Shireen Rosemary
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Sustainable tourism , Tourism -- Management , Economic development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4954 , vital:20770
- Description: The research problem was based on the private sector implementation of Responsible Tourism, since 1996, perceived to be slow and challenging (Frey & George, 2010: 107). The South Africa Government proposed Responsible Tourism as the guiding principle for sustainable tourism development (Goodwin, 2011: 138). The problem is compounded by shortcomings identified in the nature of the research conducted about tourism and communities and the methodologies used. Tourism-Community relationships Theory was applied as the conceptual framework of the study. This theory advocates a holistic approach when conducting research about the impacts of tourism, encompassing community perspectives, attitudes, reactions and considerations for the future development and control of tourism (Pearce, Moscardo & Ross, 1996: 2). The insights gained contributed an emic understanding of the keyinformants’ perspectives imparted in their own language. This study is located in the Interpretevist paradigm, underpinned by Constructivist philosophy. Meaning is created through the reality of key-informants, their perspectives and the interaction of individuals in a community (Cresswell, 2014: 8). The Instrumental Case Study Approach (Stake, 1995) contributed an etic perspective in terms of the researcher’s interpretations. The single, qualitative case was applied to gain deeper insights about the phenomenon of Responsible tourism. The case investigated was Stormsriver Adventures (SRA), an eco-adventure tourism business in the Tsitsikamma tourism destination in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. SRA is reputed to be business best practice in its implementation of Responsible Tourism. Data triangulation was established through multiple methods of data collection, namely in-depth interviews with key-informants, documentation sourced from them and researcher observation. Data analysis methods, namely direct interpretation, categorical aggregation, pattern seeking and naturalistic generalisations (Stake, 1995), were used. The member checking process assisted with establishing data triangulation as keyinformants corroborated or dispelled the researcher’s interpretation of data. Findings were structured according to within-case themes, namely SRA’s perspective of its Responsible Tourism practices, the community’s perspective of SRA’s Responsible Tourism practices and perspectives about the future development and control of tourism. The study contributes new theoretical insights through applying the inductive approach to selected findings. Findings indicate that the perspectives of the community are divided. SRA keyinformants conveyed positive economic, social and environmental impacts of SRA’s Responsible Tourism practices. Key-informants not directly linked to SRA raised negative economic impacts and questioned the accuracy of SRA’s marketing messages. Within-case conclusions are that it is not the responsibility of one tourism business that practices Responsible Tourism to achieve sustainability within the tourism destination. To this end it is recommended that SRA and the community find common ground and that the misunderstandings that exist, be addressed. The study concludes that in order to achieve successful Responsible Tourism- Community Relationships, a holistically and integrated approach is required. To this end the recommendations made provide an implementation framework within the context of a tourism destination. The study adds value to the field knowledge about the implementation of Responsible Tourism by the private sector in South Africa and also contributes new knowledge to the field of tourism in terms of the particular methodology used.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A dynamic analysis of the influence of monetary policy on the general price level in Zimbabwe under periods of hyperinflation and dollarisation
- Authors: Kavila, William
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Monetary policy -- Zimbabwe , Inflation (Finance) -- Zimbabwe , Inflation targeting -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3889 , vital:20473
- Description: This thesis analyses the influence of monetary policy on the general price level in Zimbabwe during periods of hyperinflation and dollarisation. The first part of the analysis covers the period January 2006 to July 2008 when the country experienced high inflation and ultimately hyperinflation. The second part covers the period 2009 to 2012, when the country adopted the multi-currency system and became fully dollarised. In terms of motivation, the study firstly sought to empirically examine the factors that led to hyperinflation in Zimbabwe, paying particular attention to the influence of monetary policy. Secondly, the thesis sought to determine the major factors that influenced price formation in a dollarised Zimbabwean economy; a completely new macro-economic environment. A significant development in this new macro-economic environment was the loss of monetary policy autonomy of the central bank, which also contributed to the relevance of the study. This thesis makes two contributions. The first contribution is the finding that hyperinflation in Zimbabwe was caused by expansionary monetary policy as a result of the activities of an unrestrained and unaccountable central bank. The second contribution was the empirical finding that in the fully dollarised economy inflation is largely determined by external factors. This implies that the domestic economy has no control over domestic inflation developments and as such, Zimbabwean authorities should formulate appropriate economic policies to respond to the impact of external shocks on domestic price formation when the need arises. The role of monetary policy in Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation episode is assessed using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and the Error Correction Model (ECM) approaches with monthly data from January 2006 to July 2008. The impact of monetary policy on hyperinflation is captured by the coefficient of broad money supply and the interest rate. Results indicate that hyperinflation was caused by expansionary monetary policy, the exchange rate premium and inflation expectations for both the short and long term. Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation episode which peaked during the period 2007 to 2008 brings to the fore the importance of ensuring that the central bank is independent in executing its mandate of influencing the monetary policy process in a manner that ensures price stability. The ARDL and ECM approaches are also used to explore the dynamics of inflation in the dollarised Zimbabwean economy, with monthly data from January 2009 to December 2012. The main drivers of inflation under the multi-currency system were found to be the United States of America dollar/South African rand exchange rate, international oil prices, inflation expectations and the South African inflation rate. The findings contrast with the hyperinflationary era, where empirical studies have cited excessive money supply growth as the major driver of inflation dynamics in Zimbabwe. The results also suggest a higher exchange rate pass-through to domestic prices, consistent with empirical literature which postulates that inflation in dollarised economies is largely explained by movements in the exchange rate of major trading partners and international prices. The policy implication from the analysis is the need for policy makers to aggressively promote policies that ensure increased productivity of the economy. An improvement in productivity would influence the relative prices of tradable and non-tradable goods and ultimately the general price level in the economy. The study also quantified the independence of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) using the Mathew (2006), “new index for institutional quality” and the results showed that the RBZ is not an independent central bank. The central bank is found to have a low index of central bank independence (CBI), against a high level of inflation. While this relationship does not imply causality it can be inferred that the lack of independence of the RBZ could have influenced inflation dynamics in Zimbabwe. Only a subordinated central bank can be compelled to engage in inflationary deficit financing and also fund quasi-fiscal activities. The provisions of the RBZ Act [Chapter 22:15] in their current form make the central bank an appendage of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and this has, to a large extent, resulted in conflict between the political goals of government and the central bank’s primary objective of achieving price stability. In the event that Zimbabwe reintroduces its own currency in future, the achievement of the primary goal of price stability by the central bank will only be realised if the apex bank is given more autonomy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Kavila, William
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Monetary policy -- Zimbabwe , Inflation (Finance) -- Zimbabwe , Inflation targeting -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3889 , vital:20473
- Description: This thesis analyses the influence of monetary policy on the general price level in Zimbabwe during periods of hyperinflation and dollarisation. The first part of the analysis covers the period January 2006 to July 2008 when the country experienced high inflation and ultimately hyperinflation. The second part covers the period 2009 to 2012, when the country adopted the multi-currency system and became fully dollarised. In terms of motivation, the study firstly sought to empirically examine the factors that led to hyperinflation in Zimbabwe, paying particular attention to the influence of monetary policy. Secondly, the thesis sought to determine the major factors that influenced price formation in a dollarised Zimbabwean economy; a completely new macro-economic environment. A significant development in this new macro-economic environment was the loss of monetary policy autonomy of the central bank, which also contributed to the relevance of the study. This thesis makes two contributions. The first contribution is the finding that hyperinflation in Zimbabwe was caused by expansionary monetary policy as a result of the activities of an unrestrained and unaccountable central bank. The second contribution was the empirical finding that in the fully dollarised economy inflation is largely determined by external factors. This implies that the domestic economy has no control over domestic inflation developments and as such, Zimbabwean authorities should formulate appropriate economic policies to respond to the impact of external shocks on domestic price formation when the need arises. The role of monetary policy in Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation episode is assessed using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and the Error Correction Model (ECM) approaches with monthly data from January 2006 to July 2008. The impact of monetary policy on hyperinflation is captured by the coefficient of broad money supply and the interest rate. Results indicate that hyperinflation was caused by expansionary monetary policy, the exchange rate premium and inflation expectations for both the short and long term. Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation episode which peaked during the period 2007 to 2008 brings to the fore the importance of ensuring that the central bank is independent in executing its mandate of influencing the monetary policy process in a manner that ensures price stability. The ARDL and ECM approaches are also used to explore the dynamics of inflation in the dollarised Zimbabwean economy, with monthly data from January 2009 to December 2012. The main drivers of inflation under the multi-currency system were found to be the United States of America dollar/South African rand exchange rate, international oil prices, inflation expectations and the South African inflation rate. The findings contrast with the hyperinflationary era, where empirical studies have cited excessive money supply growth as the major driver of inflation dynamics in Zimbabwe. The results also suggest a higher exchange rate pass-through to domestic prices, consistent with empirical literature which postulates that inflation in dollarised economies is largely explained by movements in the exchange rate of major trading partners and international prices. The policy implication from the analysis is the need for policy makers to aggressively promote policies that ensure increased productivity of the economy. An improvement in productivity would influence the relative prices of tradable and non-tradable goods and ultimately the general price level in the economy. The study also quantified the independence of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) using the Mathew (2006), “new index for institutional quality” and the results showed that the RBZ is not an independent central bank. The central bank is found to have a low index of central bank independence (CBI), against a high level of inflation. While this relationship does not imply causality it can be inferred that the lack of independence of the RBZ could have influenced inflation dynamics in Zimbabwe. Only a subordinated central bank can be compelled to engage in inflationary deficit financing and also fund quasi-fiscal activities. The provisions of the RBZ Act [Chapter 22:15] in their current form make the central bank an appendage of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and this has, to a large extent, resulted in conflict between the political goals of government and the central bank’s primary objective of achieving price stability. In the event that Zimbabwe reintroduces its own currency in future, the achievement of the primary goal of price stability by the central bank will only be realised if the apex bank is given more autonomy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A framework to measure supply chain management efficacy in humanitarian supply environments
- Authors: Linford, Pierre
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Humanitarian intervention , Business logistics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8155 , vital:25131
- Description: Supply chain management in the for-profit commercial environment is a broad, far-reaching field of study, impacting on a society’s standard of living. Commercial supply chain management is the science of balancing customer service levels with least total costs. In other words, the for-profit supply chain management practitioner is concerned with customer service levels, consumer value, shareholder value, total cost optimisation and ultimately maximising long term sustainable return on investment. Commercial supply chain management differs from military supply chain management in that the latter also focuses on service delivery, but the cost is almost irrelevant. In military operations, successful results (winning the battle) far surpass the total cost parameter or the return on investment. One of the major differentiating factors between commercial supply chain management (CSCM) in the for-profit theatre and humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) in the not-for-profit supply environments hinges on strategic intent and how to measure success. In CSCM, return on investment (ROI) is key and in HSCM, the ability to create impact becomes paramount. Regarding spend, both CSCM and HSCM are concerned with optimising operational spend, optimal utilisation of capital goods and infrastructure as well as minimising the cost of goods, works and services. Commercial supply chain managers want to spend as little as possible on operational expenses similarly to their humanitarian counterparts but humanitarian supply chain managers are also concerned about underspending of donor funded programming. Humanitarian programming often happens under difficult and dangerous circumstances. This requires a special cadre of professionals who are willing to serve the most vulnerable without exploitation and are able to deliver value often with limited or even broken infrastructure, unreliable supply and under insecure conditions. Humanitarian supply chain management leadership requires a DBA thesis balanced approach between long term strategic views whilst managing the short term outcomes. Also, humanitarian leadership needs to balance decision-making between long term strategic interventions and the ability, maturity and cost structures at functional and executional levels. This conundrum is the fundamental difference between commercial supply chain management and humanitarian supply chain management. Once one understands and respects these nuances, one can measure performance and reward appropriate corrective behaviour. Zig Ziglar once said: “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time”. The question that has been asked for so long has been “how to measure supply chain management efficacy in humanitarian supply environments?” This study addresses this question of developing a framework to measure supply chain efficacy in humanitarian supply environments with the view to create an enabling environment within which service levels could enhance the impact of donor funding whilst the needs of intended beneficiaries are better served. During field research, ten key focus areas and sixty-five supply chain management elements were identified. These sixty-five elements were tested via two surveys making use of the Delphi technique. Four of the sixty-five SCM elements were eliminated following the second survey due to high disagreement between the respondents, and a further two were eliminated based on expert opinion feedback from the respondents leaving fifty-nine elements being significantly important for inclusion in the framework. Three additional elements were identified by the respondents but not empirically verified and therefore not included in the proposed frameworks but could be included in future research. Fifty-seven of the sixty-five elements can be directly controlled by the SCM function. However, four of these fifty-seven elements were eliminated during the second survey and a further two were eliminated reviewing the feedback from respondents leaving fifty-one elements under the direct control of the SCM function.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Linford, Pierre
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Humanitarian intervention , Business logistics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8155 , vital:25131
- Description: Supply chain management in the for-profit commercial environment is a broad, far-reaching field of study, impacting on a society’s standard of living. Commercial supply chain management is the science of balancing customer service levels with least total costs. In other words, the for-profit supply chain management practitioner is concerned with customer service levels, consumer value, shareholder value, total cost optimisation and ultimately maximising long term sustainable return on investment. Commercial supply chain management differs from military supply chain management in that the latter also focuses on service delivery, but the cost is almost irrelevant. In military operations, successful results (winning the battle) far surpass the total cost parameter or the return on investment. One of the major differentiating factors between commercial supply chain management (CSCM) in the for-profit theatre and humanitarian supply chain management (HSCM) in the not-for-profit supply environments hinges on strategic intent and how to measure success. In CSCM, return on investment (ROI) is key and in HSCM, the ability to create impact becomes paramount. Regarding spend, both CSCM and HSCM are concerned with optimising operational spend, optimal utilisation of capital goods and infrastructure as well as minimising the cost of goods, works and services. Commercial supply chain managers want to spend as little as possible on operational expenses similarly to their humanitarian counterparts but humanitarian supply chain managers are also concerned about underspending of donor funded programming. Humanitarian programming often happens under difficult and dangerous circumstances. This requires a special cadre of professionals who are willing to serve the most vulnerable without exploitation and are able to deliver value often with limited or even broken infrastructure, unreliable supply and under insecure conditions. Humanitarian supply chain management leadership requires a DBA thesis balanced approach between long term strategic views whilst managing the short term outcomes. Also, humanitarian leadership needs to balance decision-making between long term strategic interventions and the ability, maturity and cost structures at functional and executional levels. This conundrum is the fundamental difference between commercial supply chain management and humanitarian supply chain management. Once one understands and respects these nuances, one can measure performance and reward appropriate corrective behaviour. Zig Ziglar once said: “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time”. The question that has been asked for so long has been “how to measure supply chain management efficacy in humanitarian supply environments?” This study addresses this question of developing a framework to measure supply chain efficacy in humanitarian supply environments with the view to create an enabling environment within which service levels could enhance the impact of donor funding whilst the needs of intended beneficiaries are better served. During field research, ten key focus areas and sixty-five supply chain management elements were identified. These sixty-five elements were tested via two surveys making use of the Delphi technique. Four of the sixty-five SCM elements were eliminated following the second survey due to high disagreement between the respondents, and a further two were eliminated based on expert opinion feedback from the respondents leaving fifty-nine elements being significantly important for inclusion in the framework. Three additional elements were identified by the respondents but not empirically verified and therefore not included in the proposed frameworks but could be included in future research. Fifty-seven of the sixty-five elements can be directly controlled by the SCM function. However, four of these fifty-seven elements were eliminated during the second survey and a further two were eliminated reviewing the feedback from respondents leaving fifty-one elements under the direct control of the SCM function.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A model for mobile, context-aware in-car communication systems to reduce driver distractions
- Authors: Tchankue-Sielinou, Patrick
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Automobiles -- Safety measures , Context-aware computing , Mobile communication systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4144 , vital:20556
- Description: Driver distraction remains a matter of concern throughout the world as the number of car accidents caused by distracted driving is still unacceptably high. Industry and academia are working intensively to design new techniques that will address all types of driver distraction including visual, manual, auditory and cognitive distraction. This research focuses on an existing technology, namely in-car communication systems (ICCS). ICCS allow drivers to interact with their mobile phones without touching or looking at them. Previous research suggests that ICCS have reduced visual and manual distraction. Two problems were identified in this research: existing ICCS are still expensive and only available in limited models of car. As a result of that, only a small number of drivers can obtain a car equipped with an ICCS, especially in developing countries. The second problem is that existing ICCS are not aware of the driving context, which plays a role in distracting drivers. This research project was based on the following thesis statement: A mobile, context-aware model can be designed to reduce driver distraction caused by the use of ICCS. A mobile ICCS is portable and can be used in any car, addressing the first problem. Context-awareness will be used to detect possible situations that contribute to distracting drivers and the interaction with the mobile ICCS will be adapted so as to avert calls and text messages. This will address the second problem. As the driving context is dynamic, drivers may have to deal with critical safety-related tasks while they are using an existing ICCS. The following steps were taken in order to validate the thesis statement. An investigation was conducted into the causes and consequences of driver distraction. A review of literature was conducted on context-aware techniques that could potentially be used. The design of a model was proposed, called the Multimodal Interface for Mobile Info-communication with Context (MIMIC) and a preliminary usability evaluation was conducted in order to assess the feasibility of a speech-based, mobile ICCS. Despite some problems with the speech recognition, the results were satisfying and showed that the proposed model for mobile ICCS was feasible. Experiments were conducted in order to collect data to perform supervised learning to determine the driving context. The aim was to select the most effective machine learning techniques to determine the driving context. Decision tree and instance-based algorithms were found to be the best performing algorithms. Variables such as speed, acceleration and linear acceleration were found to be the most important variables according to an analysis of the decision tree. The initial MIMIC model was updated to include several adaptation effects and the resulting model was implemented as a prototype mobile application, called MIMIC-Prototype.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Tchankue-Sielinou, Patrick
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Automobiles -- Safety measures , Context-aware computing , Mobile communication systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4144 , vital:20556
- Description: Driver distraction remains a matter of concern throughout the world as the number of car accidents caused by distracted driving is still unacceptably high. Industry and academia are working intensively to design new techniques that will address all types of driver distraction including visual, manual, auditory and cognitive distraction. This research focuses on an existing technology, namely in-car communication systems (ICCS). ICCS allow drivers to interact with their mobile phones without touching or looking at them. Previous research suggests that ICCS have reduced visual and manual distraction. Two problems were identified in this research: existing ICCS are still expensive and only available in limited models of car. As a result of that, only a small number of drivers can obtain a car equipped with an ICCS, especially in developing countries. The second problem is that existing ICCS are not aware of the driving context, which plays a role in distracting drivers. This research project was based on the following thesis statement: A mobile, context-aware model can be designed to reduce driver distraction caused by the use of ICCS. A mobile ICCS is portable and can be used in any car, addressing the first problem. Context-awareness will be used to detect possible situations that contribute to distracting drivers and the interaction with the mobile ICCS will be adapted so as to avert calls and text messages. This will address the second problem. As the driving context is dynamic, drivers may have to deal with critical safety-related tasks while they are using an existing ICCS. The following steps were taken in order to validate the thesis statement. An investigation was conducted into the causes and consequences of driver distraction. A review of literature was conducted on context-aware techniques that could potentially be used. The design of a model was proposed, called the Multimodal Interface for Mobile Info-communication with Context (MIMIC) and a preliminary usability evaluation was conducted in order to assess the feasibility of a speech-based, mobile ICCS. Despite some problems with the speech recognition, the results were satisfying and showed that the proposed model for mobile ICCS was feasible. Experiments were conducted in order to collect data to perform supervised learning to determine the driving context. The aim was to select the most effective machine learning techniques to determine the driving context. Decision tree and instance-based algorithms were found to be the best performing algorithms. Variables such as speed, acceleration and linear acceleration were found to be the most important variables according to an analysis of the decision tree. The initial MIMIC model was updated to include several adaptation effects and the resulting model was implemented as a prototype mobile application, called MIMIC-Prototype.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A multiscale remote sensing assessment of subtropical indigenous forests along the wild coast, South Africa
- Authors: Blessing, Sithole Vhusomuzi
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Forests and forestry -- South Africa -- Remote sensing , Forest conservation , Remote sensing , Geographic information systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10677 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021169
- Description: The subtropical forests located along South Africa’s Wild Coast region, declared as one of the biodiversity hotspots, provide benefits to the local and national economy. However, there is evidence of increased pressure exerted on the forests by growing population and reduced income from activities not related to forest products. The ability of remote sensing to quantify subtropical forest changes over time, perform species discrimination (using field spectroscopy) and integrating field spectral and multispectral data were all assessed in this study. Investigations were conducted at pixel, leaf and sub-pixel levels. Both per-pixel and sub-pixel classification methods were used for improved forest characterisation. Using SPOT 6 imagery for 2013, the study determined the best classification algorithm for mapping sub-tropical forest and other land cover types to be the maximum likelihood classifier. Maximum likelihood outperformed minimum distance, spectral angle mapper and spectral information divergence algorithms, based on overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient values. Forest change analysis was made based on spectral measurements made at top of the atmosphere (TOC) level. When applied to the 2005 and 2009 SPOT 5 images, subtropical forest changes between 2005-2009 and 2009-2013 were quantified. A temporal analysis of forest cover trends in the periods 2005-2009 and 2009-2013 identified a decreasing trend of -3648.42 and -946.98 ha respectively, which translated to 7.81 percent and 2.20 percent decrease. Although there is evidence of a trend towards decreased rates of forest loss, more conservation efforts are required to protect the Wild Coast ecosystem. Using field spectral measurements data, the hierarchical method (comprising One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction, Classification and Regression Trees (CART) and Jeffries Matusita method) successfully selected optimal wavelengths for species discrimination at leaf level. Only 17 out of 2150 wavelengths were identified, thereby reducing the complexities related to data dimensionality. The optimal 17 wavelength bands were noted in the visible (438, 442, 512 and 695 nm), near infrared (724, 729, 750, 758, 856, 936, 1179, 1507 and 1673 nm) and mid-infrared (2220, 2465, 2469 and 2482 nm) portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Jeffries-Matusita (JM) distance method confirmed the separability of the selected wavelength bands. Using these 17 wavelengths, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classified subtropical species at leaf level more accurately than partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) and random forest (RF). In addition, the study integrated field-collected canopy spectral and multispectral data to discriminate proportions of semi-deciduous and evergreen subtropical forests at sub-pixel level. By using the 2013 land cover (using MLC) to mask non-forested portions before sub-pixel classification (using MTMF), the proportional maps were a product of two classifiers. The proportional maps show higher proportions of evergreen forests along the coast while semi-deciduous subtropical forest species were mainly on inland parts of the Wild Coast. These maps had high accuracy, thereby proving the ability of an integration of field spectral and multispectral data in mapping semi-deciduous and evergreen forest species. Overall, the study has demonstrated the importance of the MLC and LDA and served to integrate field spectral and multispectral data in subtropical forest characterisation at both leaf and top-of-atmosphere levels. The success of both the MLC and LDA further highlighted how essential parametric classifiers are in remote sensing forestry applications. Main subtropical characteristics highlighted in this study were species discrimination at leaf level, quantifying forest change at pixel level and discriminating semi-deciduous and evergreen forests at sub-pixel level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Blessing, Sithole Vhusomuzi
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Forests and forestry -- South Africa -- Remote sensing , Forest conservation , Remote sensing , Geographic information systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10677 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021169
- Description: The subtropical forests located along South Africa’s Wild Coast region, declared as one of the biodiversity hotspots, provide benefits to the local and national economy. However, there is evidence of increased pressure exerted on the forests by growing population and reduced income from activities not related to forest products. The ability of remote sensing to quantify subtropical forest changes over time, perform species discrimination (using field spectroscopy) and integrating field spectral and multispectral data were all assessed in this study. Investigations were conducted at pixel, leaf and sub-pixel levels. Both per-pixel and sub-pixel classification methods were used for improved forest characterisation. Using SPOT 6 imagery for 2013, the study determined the best classification algorithm for mapping sub-tropical forest and other land cover types to be the maximum likelihood classifier. Maximum likelihood outperformed minimum distance, spectral angle mapper and spectral information divergence algorithms, based on overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient values. Forest change analysis was made based on spectral measurements made at top of the atmosphere (TOC) level. When applied to the 2005 and 2009 SPOT 5 images, subtropical forest changes between 2005-2009 and 2009-2013 were quantified. A temporal analysis of forest cover trends in the periods 2005-2009 and 2009-2013 identified a decreasing trend of -3648.42 and -946.98 ha respectively, which translated to 7.81 percent and 2.20 percent decrease. Although there is evidence of a trend towards decreased rates of forest loss, more conservation efforts are required to protect the Wild Coast ecosystem. Using field spectral measurements data, the hierarchical method (comprising One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction, Classification and Regression Trees (CART) and Jeffries Matusita method) successfully selected optimal wavelengths for species discrimination at leaf level. Only 17 out of 2150 wavelengths were identified, thereby reducing the complexities related to data dimensionality. The optimal 17 wavelength bands were noted in the visible (438, 442, 512 and 695 nm), near infrared (724, 729, 750, 758, 856, 936, 1179, 1507 and 1673 nm) and mid-infrared (2220, 2465, 2469 and 2482 nm) portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Jeffries-Matusita (JM) distance method confirmed the separability of the selected wavelength bands. Using these 17 wavelengths, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classified subtropical species at leaf level more accurately than partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) and random forest (RF). In addition, the study integrated field-collected canopy spectral and multispectral data to discriminate proportions of semi-deciduous and evergreen subtropical forests at sub-pixel level. By using the 2013 land cover (using MLC) to mask non-forested portions before sub-pixel classification (using MTMF), the proportional maps were a product of two classifiers. The proportional maps show higher proportions of evergreen forests along the coast while semi-deciduous subtropical forest species were mainly on inland parts of the Wild Coast. These maps had high accuracy, thereby proving the ability of an integration of field spectral and multispectral data in mapping semi-deciduous and evergreen forest species. Overall, the study has demonstrated the importance of the MLC and LDA and served to integrate field spectral and multispectral data in subtropical forest characterisation at both leaf and top-of-atmosphere levels. The success of both the MLC and LDA further highlighted how essential parametric classifiers are in remote sensing forestry applications. Main subtropical characteristics highlighted in this study were species discrimination at leaf level, quantifying forest change at pixel level and discriminating semi-deciduous and evergreen forests at sub-pixel level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A positive clinical psychology approach to developing resilience among state employed nurses
- Authors: Plumb, Sarah
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Nurses -- Job stress , Nursing -- Psychological aspects , Resilience (Personality trait)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9955 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018879
- Description: Nurses are confronted with numerous work-related stressors that can result in burnout. This can contribute to absenteeism and high turn-over rates in the nursing profession. A review of the literature indicated that psycho-educational interventions to increase resilience could be an effective way of addressing this problem. The study aimed to develop a positive clinical-psychology approach to increasing resilience in State employed nurses. The study used a mixed-method approach to determine the current psychological functioning of a sample of 87 nurses. Quantitative data on personality traits, character strengths and levels of resilience were obtained, using the NEO PI-R, VIA – IS, and Resilience Scale. Qualitative data on the coping responses of nurses were obtained through the thematic analysis of focus groups. These data were integrated to create a positive clinical psychology conceptualisation of resilience and to develop therapeutic guidelines for a group psycho-educational intervention. The results of the study indicated a struggling psychological profile. This was defined as the ability to deal with work-related stressors – but with the potential risk of developing symptoms of burnout. The moderate levels of resilience were attributed to elevated character strengths in the sample. The distribution of personality traits indicated that the nurses in the sample were at risk of developing burnout; and this prevented them from flourishing. These data were synthesised to create therapeutic guidelines for developing resilience aimed: (1) increasing emotional stability and invulnerability; (2) increasing agreeableness; and (3) increasing conscientiousness. These guidelines were based on the personality traits that were deemed to negatively impact the resilience of the nurses. These personality traits were correlated with several character strengths that displayed strong relationships with resilience. This indicated that resilience could be developed through the cultivation of the following character strengths: perspective; perseverance; fairness; forgiveness; leadership; love; zest; hope; curiosity; and appreciation of beauty and excellence. These character strengths were identified to facilitate the positive adaptation of the personality traits identified in the therapeutic guidelines. A group psycho-educational intervention was developed, using the positive clinical psychology conceptualisation of resilience. The literature was reviewed to identify techniques to cultivate the ten character strengths specified in the therapeutic guidelines. These techniques were adapted to create experiential learning processes for the intervention. This psycho-educational programme can be applied as a secondary and tertiary intervention. It can be used to increase resilience to prevent burnout among nurses. It can also be used to psychologically empower nurses that have existing symptoms of burnout.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Plumb, Sarah
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Nurses -- Job stress , Nursing -- Psychological aspects , Resilience (Personality trait)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9955 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018879
- Description: Nurses are confronted with numerous work-related stressors that can result in burnout. This can contribute to absenteeism and high turn-over rates in the nursing profession. A review of the literature indicated that psycho-educational interventions to increase resilience could be an effective way of addressing this problem. The study aimed to develop a positive clinical-psychology approach to increasing resilience in State employed nurses. The study used a mixed-method approach to determine the current psychological functioning of a sample of 87 nurses. Quantitative data on personality traits, character strengths and levels of resilience were obtained, using the NEO PI-R, VIA – IS, and Resilience Scale. Qualitative data on the coping responses of nurses were obtained through the thematic analysis of focus groups. These data were integrated to create a positive clinical psychology conceptualisation of resilience and to develop therapeutic guidelines for a group psycho-educational intervention. The results of the study indicated a struggling psychological profile. This was defined as the ability to deal with work-related stressors – but with the potential risk of developing symptoms of burnout. The moderate levels of resilience were attributed to elevated character strengths in the sample. The distribution of personality traits indicated that the nurses in the sample were at risk of developing burnout; and this prevented them from flourishing. These data were synthesised to create therapeutic guidelines for developing resilience aimed: (1) increasing emotional stability and invulnerability; (2) increasing agreeableness; and (3) increasing conscientiousness. These guidelines were based on the personality traits that were deemed to negatively impact the resilience of the nurses. These personality traits were correlated with several character strengths that displayed strong relationships with resilience. This indicated that resilience could be developed through the cultivation of the following character strengths: perspective; perseverance; fairness; forgiveness; leadership; love; zest; hope; curiosity; and appreciation of beauty and excellence. These character strengths were identified to facilitate the positive adaptation of the personality traits identified in the therapeutic guidelines. A group psycho-educational intervention was developed, using the positive clinical psychology conceptualisation of resilience. The literature was reviewed to identify techniques to cultivate the ten character strengths specified in the therapeutic guidelines. These techniques were adapted to create experiential learning processes for the intervention. This psycho-educational programme can be applied as a secondary and tertiary intervention. It can be used to increase resilience to prevent burnout among nurses. It can also be used to psychologically empower nurses that have existing symptoms of burnout.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A proposed framework for mentoring in black-owned small businesses in South Africa
- Authors: Matabooe, Makatleho Julia
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mentoring in business -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6520 , vital:21101
- Description: In view of the important role that small businesses play in the economic development of most economies in the world, including South Africa (Adeniran & Johnston, 2012:4088; Kongolo, 2010:2290), as well as the survival challenges that they face, the purpose of this study was to propose a framework for effective mentoring. This framework can be used to develop the business management skills of black small business owner–managers which will eventually increase the survival of small businesses in South Africa. As such, the primary objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the conditions required for effective mentoring of black-owned small businesses by empirically identifying the factors that influence effective mentoring of these businesses. If mentoring programmes for black-owned small businesses can be effective, the high failure rate of these businesses could be reduced, which may influence the South African economy positively. This study sought to review previous findings and theories on mentoring and small business development, and then contextualise these to black-owned small businesses. A comprehensive literature review revealed potential factors which could influence the effectiveness of mentoring of black-owned small businesses. Four categories of these factors were identified, namely relational-based, non-relational based, cultural and demographical factors. These factors guided the collection of primary data in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Matabooe, Makatleho Julia
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mentoring in business -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6520 , vital:21101
- Description: In view of the important role that small businesses play in the economic development of most economies in the world, including South Africa (Adeniran & Johnston, 2012:4088; Kongolo, 2010:2290), as well as the survival challenges that they face, the purpose of this study was to propose a framework for effective mentoring. This framework can be used to develop the business management skills of black small business owner–managers which will eventually increase the survival of small businesses in South Africa. As such, the primary objective of this study was to gain an understanding of the conditions required for effective mentoring of black-owned small businesses by empirically identifying the factors that influence effective mentoring of these businesses. If mentoring programmes for black-owned small businesses can be effective, the high failure rate of these businesses could be reduced, which may influence the South African economy positively. This study sought to review previous findings and theories on mentoring and small business development, and then contextualise these to black-owned small businesses. A comprehensive literature review revealed potential factors which could influence the effectiveness of mentoring of black-owned small businesses. Four categories of these factors were identified, namely relational-based, non-relational based, cultural and demographical factors. These factors guided the collection of primary data in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A proposed theory of war economies and supporting policy framework for dismantling war economies in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Liebenberg, Frederick Sybert
- Authors: Liebenberg, Frederick Sybert
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Economic policy , Military occupation -- Economic aspects -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , War-time economies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3235 , vital:20414
- Description: Utilising the Grounded Theory Research Method, this study identified a range of open, axial and selective codes, through a literature review, which resulted in the formulation of a proposed theory of how war economies are formed and maintained. Based on the theoretical proposition of the proposed theory, a policy framework for dismantling such war economies was also developed and presented. The proposed theory of war economies essentially argues that war economies are formed in post-colonial sub-Saharan Africa because of the existence of an artificial state. The existence of an artificial state is ascribed to the emerging legacies of colonial state formation processes, which created failed state entities which are unable to produce public goods for all its citizens because of its inability to maintain a monopoly of violence whilst maintain full administrative control over its territory. This inability results in an increase in the vulnerability of state and non-state actors. In response to these vulnerabilities, both state and non-state actors established a range of parallel political, economic and military structures. These structures in turn made use of both network and resource capacities to create an environment where politics are economised and conflict is commercialised, in order to mitigate the impacts of state failure and the inability to produce public goods. The result of the creation of an environment where politics are economised and conflict is commercialised, is the creation of incentives, structures and processes to ensure that conflict and associated conditions of instability are sustained in order to ensure primitive accumulation of wealth and resources. Based on the core theoretical proposition of the proposed theory, the study also presents a broad policy framework for dismantling war economies. In broad terms the framework proposes an integrated state-building process, based on a range of policy mechanisms aimed at maintaining a monopoly over violence, increasing administrative control, dismantling conflict networks and ensuring effective and efficient resource management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Liebenberg, Frederick Sybert
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Africa, Sub-Saharan -- Economic policy , Military occupation -- Economic aspects -- Africa, Sub-Saharan , War-time economies
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3235 , vital:20414
- Description: Utilising the Grounded Theory Research Method, this study identified a range of open, axial and selective codes, through a literature review, which resulted in the formulation of a proposed theory of how war economies are formed and maintained. Based on the theoretical proposition of the proposed theory, a policy framework for dismantling such war economies was also developed and presented. The proposed theory of war economies essentially argues that war economies are formed in post-colonial sub-Saharan Africa because of the existence of an artificial state. The existence of an artificial state is ascribed to the emerging legacies of colonial state formation processes, which created failed state entities which are unable to produce public goods for all its citizens because of its inability to maintain a monopoly of violence whilst maintain full administrative control over its territory. This inability results in an increase in the vulnerability of state and non-state actors. In response to these vulnerabilities, both state and non-state actors established a range of parallel political, economic and military structures. These structures in turn made use of both network and resource capacities to create an environment where politics are economised and conflict is commercialised, in order to mitigate the impacts of state failure and the inability to produce public goods. The result of the creation of an environment where politics are economised and conflict is commercialised, is the creation of incentives, structures and processes to ensure that conflict and associated conditions of instability are sustained in order to ensure primitive accumulation of wealth and resources. Based on the core theoretical proposition of the proposed theory, the study also presents a broad policy framework for dismantling war economies. In broad terms the framework proposes an integrated state-building process, based on a range of policy mechanisms aimed at maintaining a monopoly over violence, increasing administrative control, dismantling conflict networks and ensuring effective and efficient resource management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A sociological analysis of biodiversity management in Nigeria
- Authors: Obayi, Bennycharles A
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Collective behavior , Sustainable biodiversity -- Nigeria , Biodiversity conservation -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5277 , vital:20835
- Description: The central thesis of this study addresses biodiversity challenges from a social relations perspective. This is viewed from the standpoint of enhancing sustainable bioresource-use systems from a behaviour change departure. The study reviewed the activities of organisations in Nigeria which focus on bioresource management. The review focused on how the organisations view, conceive and implement activities which aim to address biodiversity loss emphasising how these aspects inform the concept of programme design, planning and implementation. The strategies were weighed against theories and techniques in behaviour change. The study argues that it should be recognised that the challenges of biodiversity loss have a strong relationship with how a society is socially constructed, and that addressing the challenges will require a systematic approach aimed at social construction, using efficient techniques to ensure behaviour change. The objective of the study was to acquire insight on how programmes which aim at addressing biodiversity loss in Nigeria approached behaviour change towards sustainable bioresource-use practise. The study captured these insights in a set of themes which provided an improved analysis on the dynamics of behaviour change and biodiversity management in Nigeria as well as extrapolated these findings to articulate new ideas on how to address the challenges of biodiversity loss in Nigeria. Through analysing basic suppositions and exposing contradictions, social science disciplines examine the credibility of arguments and key concepts that commonly remain unquestioned. Based on this premise, critical assumptions on biodiversity management were challenged by the study. Furthermore, the study articulated questions which have been raised in recent years from a variety of social science perspectives on biodiversity management concerns. The study postulated the need for biodiversity management to be approached from a social-construct perspective in rethinking the discourse on unsustainable bioresource-use patterns. The thesis derives from an eco-sociology framework rooted in human interaction analysis, which is connected with approaches in the social science of functionalism and behaviourism. The concepts and ideas discussed in the thesis lay out the main dimensions relevant to the discourse on behaviour change-biodiversity management. The study’s conceptual and theoretical underpinning discussed biodiversity management concerns from a global context and narrowed the discussion down to country specific contexts. Within these contexts, the study discussed issues of policies, legal systems, political and social systems, practices and programme activities, as part of management concerns. The study compiled relevant views on conservation and protection practises which were in line with internationally accepted norms and practises on biodiversity management. It highlights the challenges of current practises which emphasise strengthening of legal frameworks, policies and practises, and which criminalise actions that contravene ideally-construed conservation precepts as best models of addressing biodiversity loss. It further discussed the emphasis placed on protected-area systems as the main model of biodiversity conservation and argued on the need to rethink the approach within the Nigerian context. The study articulates the role of sociology in ecological discourse and argues that although the knowledge gained by physical and biological sciences are essential in addressing ecological challenges, however, they are not sufficient to understand the driving forces underlying ecological challenges and the phenomenon fundamental to understanding trends and patterns of human factors in biodiversity loss. The study was explored within the methodological framework of phenomenology as the underpinning paradigm using a qualitative approach for analysis. The layouts of the thesis ensure that the research moves from theoretical and conceptual reflections to the actualities of lived realities and situated practices embedded in biodiversity management in Nigeria. The conceptual inclination for the theoretical base for the study analysis was postulated, which articulate the study’s scientific and empirical contributions. The survey method reflects exploratory analytical inquiry which supported the study’s methodological considerations. This was based on the specific data chosen for review, which was informed by the selected organisation’s application of social-construct concepts. Considered from a national perspective, the study assumed that issues of biodiversity management concerns were not to be separated from everyday social realities and the larger social challenges. In view of this consideration, the study analysis looked at historical, political and socio-economic backdrops in Nigeria, which reflected on bioresource-use practises. These are relevant to understand the dynamics and interplay of culture and values in bioresource-use patterns. The study builds on diverse arrays of global frameworks to integrate the major findings of the study. These were compared with related and different dimensions as well as existing theories of human-bioresource interactions. The first aspect of the empirical analysis explored conceptual dimensions which raised questions concerning perceptions of reality and social values that were linked to the strategies of social-constructs expressed through policies, plans and practices. The study’s fundamental empirical dimension explored the forms in which programmes and social institutions were relevant in ensuring behaviour change towards sustainable bioresource-use practise. The analytical sequences observed trends which support facilitation of social change through behaviour change. Another aspect of the empirical analysis focused on revealing the processional dynamics of programme activities to achieve set objectives. This was analysed from the methodical perspective of how the processes were monitored and measured in order to achieve anticipated outcomes. The study summarised the findings and the outcomes by outlining the themes which emerged from the research. The study analysis argued that the ideals of social interventions cannot be different from a society’s inherent and attributed meanings to realities, as well as how they engage with their everyday realities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Obayi, Bennycharles A
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Collective behavior , Sustainable biodiversity -- Nigeria , Biodiversity conservation -- Nigeria
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5277 , vital:20835
- Description: The central thesis of this study addresses biodiversity challenges from a social relations perspective. This is viewed from the standpoint of enhancing sustainable bioresource-use systems from a behaviour change departure. The study reviewed the activities of organisations in Nigeria which focus on bioresource management. The review focused on how the organisations view, conceive and implement activities which aim to address biodiversity loss emphasising how these aspects inform the concept of programme design, planning and implementation. The strategies were weighed against theories and techniques in behaviour change. The study argues that it should be recognised that the challenges of biodiversity loss have a strong relationship with how a society is socially constructed, and that addressing the challenges will require a systematic approach aimed at social construction, using efficient techniques to ensure behaviour change. The objective of the study was to acquire insight on how programmes which aim at addressing biodiversity loss in Nigeria approached behaviour change towards sustainable bioresource-use practise. The study captured these insights in a set of themes which provided an improved analysis on the dynamics of behaviour change and biodiversity management in Nigeria as well as extrapolated these findings to articulate new ideas on how to address the challenges of biodiversity loss in Nigeria. Through analysing basic suppositions and exposing contradictions, social science disciplines examine the credibility of arguments and key concepts that commonly remain unquestioned. Based on this premise, critical assumptions on biodiversity management were challenged by the study. Furthermore, the study articulated questions which have been raised in recent years from a variety of social science perspectives on biodiversity management concerns. The study postulated the need for biodiversity management to be approached from a social-construct perspective in rethinking the discourse on unsustainable bioresource-use patterns. The thesis derives from an eco-sociology framework rooted in human interaction analysis, which is connected with approaches in the social science of functionalism and behaviourism. The concepts and ideas discussed in the thesis lay out the main dimensions relevant to the discourse on behaviour change-biodiversity management. The study’s conceptual and theoretical underpinning discussed biodiversity management concerns from a global context and narrowed the discussion down to country specific contexts. Within these contexts, the study discussed issues of policies, legal systems, political and social systems, practices and programme activities, as part of management concerns. The study compiled relevant views on conservation and protection practises which were in line with internationally accepted norms and practises on biodiversity management. It highlights the challenges of current practises which emphasise strengthening of legal frameworks, policies and practises, and which criminalise actions that contravene ideally-construed conservation precepts as best models of addressing biodiversity loss. It further discussed the emphasis placed on protected-area systems as the main model of biodiversity conservation and argued on the need to rethink the approach within the Nigerian context. The study articulates the role of sociology in ecological discourse and argues that although the knowledge gained by physical and biological sciences are essential in addressing ecological challenges, however, they are not sufficient to understand the driving forces underlying ecological challenges and the phenomenon fundamental to understanding trends and patterns of human factors in biodiversity loss. The study was explored within the methodological framework of phenomenology as the underpinning paradigm using a qualitative approach for analysis. The layouts of the thesis ensure that the research moves from theoretical and conceptual reflections to the actualities of lived realities and situated practices embedded in biodiversity management in Nigeria. The conceptual inclination for the theoretical base for the study analysis was postulated, which articulate the study’s scientific and empirical contributions. The survey method reflects exploratory analytical inquiry which supported the study’s methodological considerations. This was based on the specific data chosen for review, which was informed by the selected organisation’s application of social-construct concepts. Considered from a national perspective, the study assumed that issues of biodiversity management concerns were not to be separated from everyday social realities and the larger social challenges. In view of this consideration, the study analysis looked at historical, political and socio-economic backdrops in Nigeria, which reflected on bioresource-use practises. These are relevant to understand the dynamics and interplay of culture and values in bioresource-use patterns. The study builds on diverse arrays of global frameworks to integrate the major findings of the study. These were compared with related and different dimensions as well as existing theories of human-bioresource interactions. The first aspect of the empirical analysis explored conceptual dimensions which raised questions concerning perceptions of reality and social values that were linked to the strategies of social-constructs expressed through policies, plans and practices. The study’s fundamental empirical dimension explored the forms in which programmes and social institutions were relevant in ensuring behaviour change towards sustainable bioresource-use practise. The analytical sequences observed trends which support facilitation of social change through behaviour change. Another aspect of the empirical analysis focused on revealing the processional dynamics of programme activities to achieve set objectives. This was analysed from the methodical perspective of how the processes were monitored and measured in order to achieve anticipated outcomes. The study summarised the findings and the outcomes by outlining the themes which emerged from the research. The study analysis argued that the ideals of social interventions cannot be different from a society’s inherent and attributed meanings to realities, as well as how they engage with their everyday realities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An enabling environment for independent power producers in renewable electricity
- Authors: Palmer, Vivian Julian
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- South Africa , Independent power producers -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5868 , vital:21007
- Description: The increasing demand for electricity, the rising price of energy from conventional sources and limited electricity supply are a global concern. The demand on electricity generation could be alleviated by diversifying the sources from which electricity is obtained to achieve the goals of long-term electricity supply. Diversification implies finding alternative sources of energy such as renewable energy for the production of electricity. The South African electricity system is under increased pressure to provide and maintain electricity supply to its users. Electricity production may be regarded as a key contributor to the social and economic development of South Africa. The challenges are so serious that it will gradually become increasingly difficult to extract sufficient resources to satisfy increasing electricity demand. Growth in the electricity and industrial sectors signifies profound changes in the entire energy industry. The South African power utility Eskom, supplies 94% of South Africa’s electricity but the risk of inadequate supply because of increasing electricity demand is mitigated through the employment of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) which supply to the grid. However, although a limited number of IPP entrepreneurs sell electricity to the Eskom grid, there is no enabling entrepreneurial environment in which they can thrive. There is no positive movement to inaugurate policies and processes. This has created an opportunity for Smart Grid access as a viable option to accommodate IPP entrepreneurs into the grid. Investing in renewable electricity sources may provide feasible alternatives for the electricity industry, it would alleviate pressure on current supply whilst creating an enabling entrepreneurial environment for IPP entrepreneurs and increase entrepreneurial activity. This study investigates a proposed model for an enabling entrepreneurial environment for IPPs in the RE sector that can be utilised to ensure increased entrepreneurial activity within the electricity industry. Establishing such an enabling environment would contribute positively to the alleviation of the electricity demand crisis, result in lower carbon emissions and create a sustainable, more diverse electricity generation mix. This proposed IPP industry model for an enabling entrepreneurial environment is presented to address the problems experienced at the different levels of the electricity industry. The model can be utilised to increase entrepreneurial activity while eradicating major electricity challenges at different levels in the South African electricity industry. The results indicate that that RE, in the form of solar and wind, has the potential to expand the South African electricity industry significantly. Therefore, in order to reform the South African electricity industry, stakeholders need to embrace entrepreneurship as IPP entrepreneurs. This can be done effectively by the incorporation of IPP entrepreneurs into the electricity network. However, an enabling entrepreneurial environment in which to operate must be ensured. In this study, five important variables support the establishment of an enabling entrepreneurial environment for IPP entrepreneurs. These have been identified as; Smart Grids, Entrepreneurship, Renewable electricity environment, SA policy and Stakeholder theory. An important contribution has been made towards Stakeholder Theory. This has proven to be instrumental within the RE sector of the electricity industry in South Africa, as the mentioned role players have a reciprocal role to play. Three surveys were conducted at three levels of the electricity industry, namely, at organisational, legislative and entrepreneurial levels and included Eskom Management, National Energy Regulator (NERSA) Management and Approved and Non-approved IPPs. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were utilised in this research study. The results indicate that SA Policy is instrumental in assisting stakeholders to facilitate the IPP process and feed the power from RE generation into the network. Most respondents were positive about the role of Smart Grids in future electricity generation and their contribution towards creating an enabling entrepreneurial environment for IPP entrepreneurs. Respondents indicated that by policy decisions, greater emphasis can be placed on the results of climate change and environmental challenges. Emphasis on the incorporation of stakeholders proved imperative to this group (IPPs). The results indicated that stakeholder management is a key factor contributing to the establishment of an enabling entrepreneurial environment. The major contribution of this study is a proposed entrepreneurial model that can improve future sustainability of the electricity supply.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Palmer, Vivian Julian
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Renewable energy sources -- South Africa , Independent power producers -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5868 , vital:21007
- Description: The increasing demand for electricity, the rising price of energy from conventional sources and limited electricity supply are a global concern. The demand on electricity generation could be alleviated by diversifying the sources from which electricity is obtained to achieve the goals of long-term electricity supply. Diversification implies finding alternative sources of energy such as renewable energy for the production of electricity. The South African electricity system is under increased pressure to provide and maintain electricity supply to its users. Electricity production may be regarded as a key contributor to the social and economic development of South Africa. The challenges are so serious that it will gradually become increasingly difficult to extract sufficient resources to satisfy increasing electricity demand. Growth in the electricity and industrial sectors signifies profound changes in the entire energy industry. The South African power utility Eskom, supplies 94% of South Africa’s electricity but the risk of inadequate supply because of increasing electricity demand is mitigated through the employment of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) which supply to the grid. However, although a limited number of IPP entrepreneurs sell electricity to the Eskom grid, there is no enabling entrepreneurial environment in which they can thrive. There is no positive movement to inaugurate policies and processes. This has created an opportunity for Smart Grid access as a viable option to accommodate IPP entrepreneurs into the grid. Investing in renewable electricity sources may provide feasible alternatives for the electricity industry, it would alleviate pressure on current supply whilst creating an enabling entrepreneurial environment for IPP entrepreneurs and increase entrepreneurial activity. This study investigates a proposed model for an enabling entrepreneurial environment for IPPs in the RE sector that can be utilised to ensure increased entrepreneurial activity within the electricity industry. Establishing such an enabling environment would contribute positively to the alleviation of the electricity demand crisis, result in lower carbon emissions and create a sustainable, more diverse electricity generation mix. This proposed IPP industry model for an enabling entrepreneurial environment is presented to address the problems experienced at the different levels of the electricity industry. The model can be utilised to increase entrepreneurial activity while eradicating major electricity challenges at different levels in the South African electricity industry. The results indicate that that RE, in the form of solar and wind, has the potential to expand the South African electricity industry significantly. Therefore, in order to reform the South African electricity industry, stakeholders need to embrace entrepreneurship as IPP entrepreneurs. This can be done effectively by the incorporation of IPP entrepreneurs into the electricity network. However, an enabling entrepreneurial environment in which to operate must be ensured. In this study, five important variables support the establishment of an enabling entrepreneurial environment for IPP entrepreneurs. These have been identified as; Smart Grids, Entrepreneurship, Renewable electricity environment, SA policy and Stakeholder theory. An important contribution has been made towards Stakeholder Theory. This has proven to be instrumental within the RE sector of the electricity industry in South Africa, as the mentioned role players have a reciprocal role to play. Three surveys were conducted at three levels of the electricity industry, namely, at organisational, legislative and entrepreneurial levels and included Eskom Management, National Energy Regulator (NERSA) Management and Approved and Non-approved IPPs. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were utilised in this research study. The results indicate that SA Policy is instrumental in assisting stakeholders to facilitate the IPP process and feed the power from RE generation into the network. Most respondents were positive about the role of Smart Grids in future electricity generation and their contribution towards creating an enabling entrepreneurial environment for IPP entrepreneurs. Respondents indicated that by policy decisions, greater emphasis can be placed on the results of climate change and environmental challenges. Emphasis on the incorporation of stakeholders proved imperative to this group (IPPs). The results indicated that stakeholder management is a key factor contributing to the establishment of an enabling entrepreneurial environment. The major contribution of this study is a proposed entrepreneurial model that can improve future sustainability of the electricity supply.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An international study on the influence of intrinsic rewards on the intrinsic motivation, work engagement and retention of employees in non-profit organisations
- Authors: Renard, Michelle
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Employee motivation , Achievement motivation , Organisational behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5148 , vital:20815
- Description: The primary objective of this thesis was to investigate whether intrinsic rewards play a role in the intrinsic motivation, work engagement and retention of employees working within non-profit organisations in Australia, Belgium, South Africa and the United States of America. It therefore served to form a cross-cultural comparison between employees from these four geographically dispersed yet culturally similar countries. A further aim was to determine whether demographic differences occurred across the four constructs studied. In order to achieve these objectives, a theoretical model was constructed to highlight the relationships between the constructs under study. The study made use of both qualitative and quantitative research to achieve the above-mentioned objectives. As a result of the data obtained from 15 qualitative interviews conducted with non-profit employees in Belgium and South Africa, two measuring instruments, namely the Intrinsic Work Rewards Scale and the Intrinsic Work Motivation Scale, were developed to assess intrinsic rewards and intrinsic motivation respectively. These measuring instruments were qualitatively piloted on a sample of academics and non-profit employees, and were translated from English into Dutch for use on the Belgian sample. Once these instruments had been refined, they were combined with instruments to measure work engagement and intention to quit to form a composite questionnaire. This questionnaire was completed electronically by 587 non-profit employees from the four countries under study. Data analysis was conducted in the form of descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency tables, Cronbach’s alpha testing, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlations, chi-square tests, t-tests, analysis of variance and structural equation modelling. The quantitative findings showed that intrinsic rewards lead to higher levels of intrinsic motivation, which in turn causes higher levels of work engagement and lower levels of intention to quit. Intrinsic rewards were also found directly to predict a reduction in employees’ intentions to quit their non-profit organisations, and work engagement directly predicted an increase in intention to quit. From a cross-cultural perspective, practically significant inter-country differences were discovered across the intrinsic rewards of meaningful work and challenging work; across intrinsic motivation and its three dimensions (personal connection to one’s work, personal desire to make a difference, and personal desire to perform); and across work engagement and its three factors (absorption, dedication and vigour). In addition to these inter-country results, age and job level differences were discovered across the four constructs under study, together with significant correlations between the four constructs. The Intrinsic Work Rewards Scale and the Intrinsic Work Motivation Scale were successfully validated in both English and Dutch in this study, with a number of forms of validity being confirmed through factor analyses and correlations. Reliability was proven through satisfactory Cronbach’s alpha values being obtained for both language versions of the instruments. These results theoretically contribute to literature pertaining to intrinsic rewards and intrinsic motivation as a result of the development of two measuring instruments that were empirically validated to assess these constructs. Furthermore, the results make a valuable contribution to the field of rewards management globally. This study’s findings provide evidence for causal relationships between four constructs not previously tested empirically, specifically within Australia, Belgium, South Africa and the United States of America. Consequently, this study’s results hold important implications for the management of non-profit employees worldwide.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Renard, Michelle
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Employee motivation , Achievement motivation , Organisational behaviour
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5148 , vital:20815
- Description: The primary objective of this thesis was to investigate whether intrinsic rewards play a role in the intrinsic motivation, work engagement and retention of employees working within non-profit organisations in Australia, Belgium, South Africa and the United States of America. It therefore served to form a cross-cultural comparison between employees from these four geographically dispersed yet culturally similar countries. A further aim was to determine whether demographic differences occurred across the four constructs studied. In order to achieve these objectives, a theoretical model was constructed to highlight the relationships between the constructs under study. The study made use of both qualitative and quantitative research to achieve the above-mentioned objectives. As a result of the data obtained from 15 qualitative interviews conducted with non-profit employees in Belgium and South Africa, two measuring instruments, namely the Intrinsic Work Rewards Scale and the Intrinsic Work Motivation Scale, were developed to assess intrinsic rewards and intrinsic motivation respectively. These measuring instruments were qualitatively piloted on a sample of academics and non-profit employees, and were translated from English into Dutch for use on the Belgian sample. Once these instruments had been refined, they were combined with instruments to measure work engagement and intention to quit to form a composite questionnaire. This questionnaire was completed electronically by 587 non-profit employees from the four countries under study. Data analysis was conducted in the form of descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequency tables, Cronbach’s alpha testing, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson’s Product Moment Correlations, chi-square tests, t-tests, analysis of variance and structural equation modelling. The quantitative findings showed that intrinsic rewards lead to higher levels of intrinsic motivation, which in turn causes higher levels of work engagement and lower levels of intention to quit. Intrinsic rewards were also found directly to predict a reduction in employees’ intentions to quit their non-profit organisations, and work engagement directly predicted an increase in intention to quit. From a cross-cultural perspective, practically significant inter-country differences were discovered across the intrinsic rewards of meaningful work and challenging work; across intrinsic motivation and its three dimensions (personal connection to one’s work, personal desire to make a difference, and personal desire to perform); and across work engagement and its three factors (absorption, dedication and vigour). In addition to these inter-country results, age and job level differences were discovered across the four constructs under study, together with significant correlations between the four constructs. The Intrinsic Work Rewards Scale and the Intrinsic Work Motivation Scale were successfully validated in both English and Dutch in this study, with a number of forms of validity being confirmed through factor analyses and correlations. Reliability was proven through satisfactory Cronbach’s alpha values being obtained for both language versions of the instruments. These results theoretically contribute to literature pertaining to intrinsic rewards and intrinsic motivation as a result of the development of two measuring instruments that were empirically validated to assess these constructs. Furthermore, the results make a valuable contribution to the field of rewards management globally. This study’s findings provide evidence for causal relationships between four constructs not previously tested empirically, specifically within Australia, Belgium, South Africa and the United States of America. Consequently, this study’s results hold important implications for the management of non-profit employees worldwide.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An investigation of the effect of co-solvents on the hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae biomass
- Authors: Nongauza, Sinethemba Aubrey
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Biomass chemicals Microalgae -- Biotechnology , Supercritical fluids Solvents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21667 , vital:29731
- Description: The study introduces and demonstrates the viability of the continuous flow reactor (CFR) system for the production of bio-crude oil (BCO) from wet microalgae. Preliminary experiments conducted in the CFR system in hot compressed water (HCW) were successful in converting wet microalgae into liquid BCO. However, the synthesis and aggregation of high boiling point (HBP) components of BCO and the accumulation of char in the tubular piping of CFR system were identified as the limiting factor to the viability of the system. The aggregation of HBP components and the accumulation of char result to system blockage which prevents the continuous flow of the liquefaction product mixture in the CFR system. Inhibiting the reactions leading to the formation of HBP components and char will improve the performance of the CFR system. Therefore, the study seeks to incorporate co-solvents in the liquefaction reaction media in an attempt to inhibit or minimize the prevalence of HBP components of BCO. As such, different co-solvents were screened for their influence on improving the quality of BCO with respect to its boiling point profile (BPP), initial and final boiling point, as well as the amount of char recovered from each experiment. Only one co-solvent was chosen for further exploration in the CFR system. Batch liquefaction reactor’s (BLR) made up of stainless steel were used to carry out the co-solvent screening experiments. These experiments were carried out at a constant temperature (280 °C), pressure (75 bar), and co-solvent concentration (10 wt.%), at varying residence times. Solvent extraction with dichloromethane (DCM) was performed on the liquefaction product mixture to separate the products, viz. BCO, char and water soluble components. The extracted BCO was analysed through simulated distillation (SimDis) to obtain the BPP. The BPP properties of the BCO samples, from different liquefaction media, and the amount of char recovered were highly influenced by the addition of a co-solvent. The final boiling point (FBP) of tetralin, heptane, and n-octanol BCO products were significantly reduced to below 500 °C for all tested residence times except at 20 minutes. The residence time also proved to be influential in the processing of wet microalgae. n-Octanol was selected as the optimal performing co-solvent and was used for the continuous liquefaction of wet microalgae in the CFR system. The CFR system was modified by adding a co-solvent feed line into the continuous system since n-octanol was insoluble in water. The n-octanol pump was set at different flow rates, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 g/min, which resulted in a concentration of about 10 wt.% in the reactor feed. The concentration of n-octanol had a significant influence on the BPP of BCO components. The FBP’s were reduced with an increase in n-octanol concentration. The initial boiling point (IBP) of n-octanol BCO was increased to just above 100 °C which was required for the stability of the BCO product. The components of BCO were identified by GCMS. n-Octanol also proved to affect the composition of the BCO with respect to its components. HCW BCO components were significantly different from those identified from n-octanol BCO. A second co-solvent (tetralin) was used to prove whether the difference on the components of BCO was affected by n-octanol. The results proved that indeed the addition of different solvents in liquefaction reaction media favours the formation of different components. The amount of char formed was also reduced when using a co-solvent. A decrease in the oxygen/nitrogen compounds was also observed in the presence of a co-solvent, thus improving BCO properties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
An investigation of the effect of co-solvents on the hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae biomass
- Authors: Nongauza, Sinethemba Aubrey
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Biomass chemicals Microalgae -- Biotechnology , Supercritical fluids Solvents
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21667 , vital:29731
- Description: The study introduces and demonstrates the viability of the continuous flow reactor (CFR) system for the production of bio-crude oil (BCO) from wet microalgae. Preliminary experiments conducted in the CFR system in hot compressed water (HCW) were successful in converting wet microalgae into liquid BCO. However, the synthesis and aggregation of high boiling point (HBP) components of BCO and the accumulation of char in the tubular piping of CFR system were identified as the limiting factor to the viability of the system. The aggregation of HBP components and the accumulation of char result to system blockage which prevents the continuous flow of the liquefaction product mixture in the CFR system. Inhibiting the reactions leading to the formation of HBP components and char will improve the performance of the CFR system. Therefore, the study seeks to incorporate co-solvents in the liquefaction reaction media in an attempt to inhibit or minimize the prevalence of HBP components of BCO. As such, different co-solvents were screened for their influence on improving the quality of BCO with respect to its boiling point profile (BPP), initial and final boiling point, as well as the amount of char recovered from each experiment. Only one co-solvent was chosen for further exploration in the CFR system. Batch liquefaction reactor’s (BLR) made up of stainless steel were used to carry out the co-solvent screening experiments. These experiments were carried out at a constant temperature (280 °C), pressure (75 bar), and co-solvent concentration (10 wt.%), at varying residence times. Solvent extraction with dichloromethane (DCM) was performed on the liquefaction product mixture to separate the products, viz. BCO, char and water soluble components. The extracted BCO was analysed through simulated distillation (SimDis) to obtain the BPP. The BPP properties of the BCO samples, from different liquefaction media, and the amount of char recovered were highly influenced by the addition of a co-solvent. The final boiling point (FBP) of tetralin, heptane, and n-octanol BCO products were significantly reduced to below 500 °C for all tested residence times except at 20 minutes. The residence time also proved to be influential in the processing of wet microalgae. n-Octanol was selected as the optimal performing co-solvent and was used for the continuous liquefaction of wet microalgae in the CFR system. The CFR system was modified by adding a co-solvent feed line into the continuous system since n-octanol was insoluble in water. The n-octanol pump was set at different flow rates, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 g/min, which resulted in a concentration of about 10 wt.% in the reactor feed. The concentration of n-octanol had a significant influence on the BPP of BCO components. The FBP’s were reduced with an increase in n-octanol concentration. The initial boiling point (IBP) of n-octanol BCO was increased to just above 100 °C which was required for the stability of the BCO product. The components of BCO were identified by GCMS. n-Octanol also proved to affect the composition of the BCO with respect to its components. HCW BCO components were significantly different from those identified from n-octanol BCO. A second co-solvent (tetralin) was used to prove whether the difference on the components of BCO was affected by n-octanol. The results proved that indeed the addition of different solvents in liquefaction reaction media favours the formation of different components. The amount of char formed was also reduced when using a co-solvent. A decrease in the oxygen/nitrogen compounds was also observed in the presence of a co-solvent, thus improving BCO properties.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Application of bacteriocins in the preservation of fruit juice
- Authors: Bodley, Mark David
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Bacteriocins , Fruit juices -- Preservation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10345 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020188
- Description: Bacteriocins (BCNs) are ribosomally synthesized polypeptides or proteins with antimicrobial activity, produced by different groups of bacteria. Many lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produce BCNs with broad spectra of inhibition. The antimicrobial activity of BCNs against spoilage organisms (SPOs) has raised considerable interest in their application in juice preservation. The objectives of the study were to: (i) isolate, identify and screen BCN producing bacteria for antimicrobial activity against spoilage bacteria and fungi, (ii) optimize production of BCN from selected producers and (iii) investigate the industrial application of the BCN as a preservative in fruit juice. Eleven LAB strains of BCN producers were screened for antimicrobial activity. BCNs from Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus 34 were the most effective against juice spoilage bacteria and fungi. The effect of medium components on bacteriocin production in L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus 34 was also determined. Clementine:Valencia (1:1) juice was used for the first time as the growth medium for L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus 34. The BCN from L. plantarum showed the highest activity and was, therefore, chosen for juice fermentation studies. The identification of L. plantarum was confirmed by biochemical tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the recA gene. The highest BCN activity was observed for L. plantarum grown in De Man-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) and a combination of all supplements (i.e. peptone, MnSO4.H2O, Tween 80, glucose and whey), followed by MRS and Tween 80, peptone, MnSO4.H2O and MRS alone. MRS was a better medium for BCN production than juice [Clementine:Valencia (1:1)]. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) was used to isolate the active L. plantarum BCN fraction which corresponded to an approximate molecular weight of 3.2 kDa and was proteinaceous in nature. Plantaricin structural genes (plnEF, plnJ, plnK, plnN) were detected in the L. plantarum strain by PCR and sequenced, and were chromosomally encoded as no plasmids could be detected. This implies that the BCN from L. plantarum is most likely a type of class IIa plantaricin which is responsible for the broad inhibitory activity observed. For the industrial application studies, L. plantarum BCN-containing cell free supernatant (BCNsup) added to “Ready to Drink” (RTD) Clementine:Valencia (1:1) juice at concentrations of 3 600 - 500 000 ppm decreased growth of SPOs, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus. At 250 000 ppm, the L. plantarum BCNsup achieved 5.3 and 6.8 log reductions of the L. acidophilus, after 24 and 48 h, respectively, which is larger than the USFDA (2001) requirement of a 5 log reduction in SPO activity, for preservation of fruit juices. However, there was a decrease in the activity when the BCNsup was applied to industrial (Valor) RTD juice (mango-orange) at decreasing concentrations of 100 000, 50 000 and 25 000 ppm. Organoleptic tests showed that the BCN did not alter flavor or taste of the juice and did not cause toxicity or allergic reactions. A food safety risk assessment was conducted in order to determine the Critical Control Point(s) [CCP(s)] at which the BCN could be applied to control identified microbiological hazards, and a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan was developed. This is the first report on the optimisation of L. plantarum BCN production in juice [Clementine:Valencia (1:1)], followed by inoculation into RTD juice (mango-orange), including a HACCP plan for the application of the BCN as a preservative in juice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Bodley, Mark David
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Bacteriocins , Fruit juices -- Preservation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10345 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020188
- Description: Bacteriocins (BCNs) are ribosomally synthesized polypeptides or proteins with antimicrobial activity, produced by different groups of bacteria. Many lactic acid bacteria (LAB) produce BCNs with broad spectra of inhibition. The antimicrobial activity of BCNs against spoilage organisms (SPOs) has raised considerable interest in their application in juice preservation. The objectives of the study were to: (i) isolate, identify and screen BCN producing bacteria for antimicrobial activity against spoilage bacteria and fungi, (ii) optimize production of BCN from selected producers and (iii) investigate the industrial application of the BCN as a preservative in fruit juice. Eleven LAB strains of BCN producers were screened for antimicrobial activity. BCNs from Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus 34 were the most effective against juice spoilage bacteria and fungi. The effect of medium components on bacteriocin production in L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus 34 was also determined. Clementine:Valencia (1:1) juice was used for the first time as the growth medium for L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus 34. The BCN from L. plantarum showed the highest activity and was, therefore, chosen for juice fermentation studies. The identification of L. plantarum was confirmed by biochemical tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the recA gene. The highest BCN activity was observed for L. plantarum grown in De Man-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS) and a combination of all supplements (i.e. peptone, MnSO4.H2O, Tween 80, glucose and whey), followed by MRS and Tween 80, peptone, MnSO4.H2O and MRS alone. MRS was a better medium for BCN production than juice [Clementine:Valencia (1:1)]. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) was used to isolate the active L. plantarum BCN fraction which corresponded to an approximate molecular weight of 3.2 kDa and was proteinaceous in nature. Plantaricin structural genes (plnEF, plnJ, plnK, plnN) were detected in the L. plantarum strain by PCR and sequenced, and were chromosomally encoded as no plasmids could be detected. This implies that the BCN from L. plantarum is most likely a type of class IIa plantaricin which is responsible for the broad inhibitory activity observed. For the industrial application studies, L. plantarum BCN-containing cell free supernatant (BCNsup) added to “Ready to Drink” (RTD) Clementine:Valencia (1:1) juice at concentrations of 3 600 - 500 000 ppm decreased growth of SPOs, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus. At 250 000 ppm, the L. plantarum BCNsup achieved 5.3 and 6.8 log reductions of the L. acidophilus, after 24 and 48 h, respectively, which is larger than the USFDA (2001) requirement of a 5 log reduction in SPO activity, for preservation of fruit juices. However, there was a decrease in the activity when the BCNsup was applied to industrial (Valor) RTD juice (mango-orange) at decreasing concentrations of 100 000, 50 000 and 25 000 ppm. Organoleptic tests showed that the BCN did not alter flavor or taste of the juice and did not cause toxicity or allergic reactions. A food safety risk assessment was conducted in order to determine the Critical Control Point(s) [CCP(s)] at which the BCN could be applied to control identified microbiological hazards, and a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan was developed. This is the first report on the optimisation of L. plantarum BCN production in juice [Clementine:Valencia (1:1)], followed by inoculation into RTD juice (mango-orange), including a HACCP plan for the application of the BCN as a preservative in juice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Articulating the nature of clinical nurse specialist practice
- Authors: Bell, Janet Deanne
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Nurse practitioners , Intensive care nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10057 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018623
- Description: Critical care nursing is a clinical specialist nursing practice discipline. The critical care nurse provides a constant presence in the care of a critically ill patient. She/he creates a thread of continuity in care through the myriad of other health care professionals and activities that form part of a patient’s stay in the critical care environment (World Federation of Critical Care Nurses [WFCCN], 2007). During conversations with people who have had intimate experience of the critical care environment, they have offered anecdotes that describe their interaction with critical care nurses who they perceive to be different from and better than other critical care nurses they encountered. Despite having met common professional requirements to be registered as a clinical specialist nurse, these distinctive, unique abilities that seem to be influential in meeting the complex needs and expectations of critically ill patients, their significant others as well as nursing and medical colleagues, are not displayed by all critical care nurses. While students of accredited postgraduate nursing programmes are required to advance their nursing knowledge and skill competence, many students do not seem to develop other, perhaps more tacit, qualities that utilisers characterise in their anecdotes of ‘different and better’ nursing practice. The overarching research question guiding this study was how can ‘different and better’ critical care nursing practice as recognised by a utiliser be explained? The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the qualities that those people who use critical care nursing practice recognise as ‘different and better’ to the norm of nursing practice they encounter in this discipline. The participant sample included patients’ significant others, nursing colleagues and medical colleagues of critical care nurses, collectively identified as utilisers. The stated aim of this work was to construct a grounded theory to elucidate an understanding of the qualities that a utiliser of critical care nursing recognises as ‘different and better’ critical care nursing practice in order to enhance the teaching and learning encounters between nurse educators and postgraduate students in learning programmes aiming to develop clinical specialist nurses. The method processes of grounded theory are designed to reveal and confirm concepts from within the data as well as the connections between these concepts, supporting the researcher in crafting a substantive theory that is definitively grounded in the participants’ views and stories (Streubert & Carpenter, 2011: 123, 128-129). Two data collection tools were employed in this study, namely in-depth unstructured individual interviews and naïve sketch. Constant comparative analysis, memo-writing, theoretical sampling, theoretical sensitivity and theoretical saturation as fundamental methods of data generation in grounded theory were applied. The study unfolded through three broad parts, namely: Forming & shaping this grounded theory through exploration and co-creation; Assimilating & situating this grounded theory through understanding and enfolding; Reflecting on this grounded theory through contemplating and reconnecting. The outcome of the first part of the study was my initial proposition of a grounded theory co-created in the interactions between the participants and myself. This was then challenged, developed and assimilated through a focussed literature review through the second part of the study. Through these two parts of this study, an inductively derived explanation was formed and shaped to produce an assimilated and situated substantive grounded theory named Being at Ease. This grounded theory articulates how ‘better and different’ nursing is recognised from the point of view of those who use the nursing ability of critical care nurses through the core concern ‘being at ease’ and its four categories ‘knowing self’, ‘skilled being’, connecting with intention’ and’ anchoring’. The final part of this study unfolded in my reflections on what this grounded theory had revealed about nurses and elements of nursing practice that are important to a utiliser in recognising ‘different and better’ critical care nursing. I suggest that as nurses we need to develop a language that enables us to reveal with clarity these intangible and tacit elements recognised within the being and doing of ‘different and better’ nursing. I reflected on the pivotal space of influence a teacher has with a student, and on how the elements essential in being and doing ‘different and better’ nursing need to be evident in her/his own ways of being a teacher of nursing. Teaching and learning encounters may be enhanced through drawing what this theory has shown as necessary elements that shape ‘different and better’ nurses through the moments of influence a teacher has in each encounter with a student.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Bell, Janet Deanne
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Nurse practitioners , Intensive care nursing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:10057 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018623
- Description: Critical care nursing is a clinical specialist nursing practice discipline. The critical care nurse provides a constant presence in the care of a critically ill patient. She/he creates a thread of continuity in care through the myriad of other health care professionals and activities that form part of a patient’s stay in the critical care environment (World Federation of Critical Care Nurses [WFCCN], 2007). During conversations with people who have had intimate experience of the critical care environment, they have offered anecdotes that describe their interaction with critical care nurses who they perceive to be different from and better than other critical care nurses they encountered. Despite having met common professional requirements to be registered as a clinical specialist nurse, these distinctive, unique abilities that seem to be influential in meeting the complex needs and expectations of critically ill patients, their significant others as well as nursing and medical colleagues, are not displayed by all critical care nurses. While students of accredited postgraduate nursing programmes are required to advance their nursing knowledge and skill competence, many students do not seem to develop other, perhaps more tacit, qualities that utilisers characterise in their anecdotes of ‘different and better’ nursing practice. The overarching research question guiding this study was how can ‘different and better’ critical care nursing practice as recognised by a utiliser be explained? The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the qualities that those people who use critical care nursing practice recognise as ‘different and better’ to the norm of nursing practice they encounter in this discipline. The participant sample included patients’ significant others, nursing colleagues and medical colleagues of critical care nurses, collectively identified as utilisers. The stated aim of this work was to construct a grounded theory to elucidate an understanding of the qualities that a utiliser of critical care nursing recognises as ‘different and better’ critical care nursing practice in order to enhance the teaching and learning encounters between nurse educators and postgraduate students in learning programmes aiming to develop clinical specialist nurses. The method processes of grounded theory are designed to reveal and confirm concepts from within the data as well as the connections between these concepts, supporting the researcher in crafting a substantive theory that is definitively grounded in the participants’ views and stories (Streubert & Carpenter, 2011: 123, 128-129). Two data collection tools were employed in this study, namely in-depth unstructured individual interviews and naïve sketch. Constant comparative analysis, memo-writing, theoretical sampling, theoretical sensitivity and theoretical saturation as fundamental methods of data generation in grounded theory were applied. The study unfolded through three broad parts, namely: Forming & shaping this grounded theory through exploration and co-creation; Assimilating & situating this grounded theory through understanding and enfolding; Reflecting on this grounded theory through contemplating and reconnecting. The outcome of the first part of the study was my initial proposition of a grounded theory co-created in the interactions between the participants and myself. This was then challenged, developed and assimilated through a focussed literature review through the second part of the study. Through these two parts of this study, an inductively derived explanation was formed and shaped to produce an assimilated and situated substantive grounded theory named Being at Ease. This grounded theory articulates how ‘better and different’ nursing is recognised from the point of view of those who use the nursing ability of critical care nurses through the core concern ‘being at ease’ and its four categories ‘knowing self’, ‘skilled being’, connecting with intention’ and’ anchoring’. The final part of this study unfolded in my reflections on what this grounded theory had revealed about nurses and elements of nursing practice that are important to a utiliser in recognising ‘different and better’ critical care nursing. I suggest that as nurses we need to develop a language that enables us to reveal with clarity these intangible and tacit elements recognised within the being and doing of ‘different and better’ nursing. I reflected on the pivotal space of influence a teacher has with a student, and on how the elements essential in being and doing ‘different and better’ nursing need to be evident in her/his own ways of being a teacher of nursing. Teaching and learning encounters may be enhanced through drawing what this theory has shown as necessary elements that shape ‘different and better’ nurses through the moments of influence a teacher has in each encounter with a student.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Assisting in-service grade R teachers to nurture the holistic development of the five to seven year old child through music : a participatory approach
- Authors: Cloete, Erna Petronella
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: School music -- Instruction and study -- South Africa , Early childhood education , Music -- Instruction and study
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8530 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021177
- Description: Music’s significant contribution to the holistic development of the young learner is uncontested and confirmed by views of seminal scholars, such as Nzewi 2003, Reimer 2003, Nussbaum 2001, Elliot 1994 and Merriam 1964, amongst others. As such, music education supports basic values of self-growth, self-knowledge and enjoyment. This study argues for the vital importance of music education in Grade R in the South African schooling system where teachers can successfully implement the curriculum. In post-apartheid multicultural and multi-musical South Africa music education in Grade R is the sole responsibility of the generalist Grade R teacher. However, due to inadequate training and minimal, unproductive in-service initiatives, the vast majority of Reception Year teachers assumingly do not have the required competences to teach music in a way that maximally enhances the holistic development of their learners. Findings revealed that teachers exhibited limited, if any, musical knowledge and per se, they are insufficiently skilled in the effective delivery of the curriculum in terms of music. This study acknowledges the need to equip in-service Grade R teachers with the required competences to effectively implement the national school and teach music with confidence. The lack of successful and effective continuing professional teacher development initiatives from the Department of Education and Department of Basic Education to assist Grade R teachers in teaching music, was a serious concern to me. This concern reinforced the motivation to embark on this project. In this thesis, I report on an intervention strategy aimed at enabling three Grade R practitioners at one peri- urban township school in the Eastern Cape to improve their music education competencies. These three Coloured ladies only held a Certificate in Early Childhood Development, rating at an NQF level 4 and 5. None of these practitioners had any prior music experience in music training, music making or music teaching. I utilised a Participatory Action Learning and Action Research (PALAR). PALAR combines research with development and is thus highly suitable when addressing multifaceted problems in rapidly changing environments, such as South Africa. In my study, the participants were thus actively involved in identifying problems and creating solutions. A number of collaborative interactions and qualitative data generation strategies such as Focus Group Interviews, Observations, Drawing, Interviews, Narrative Inquiry, Case Study and Reflective Journals were implemented. Findings indicated that the practitioners experienced transformation on both a professional and personal level as they discovered and tapped into their own innate musical competences. This enabled them to explore ways to teach music that enhanced the holistic development of their learners, developing them physically, cognitively emotionally, socially, and musically. Learners likewise benefitted from the intervention as they experienced social cohesion in a multicultural classroom and gained the fruits of music’s remedial impact and therapeutic value in their lives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Cloete, Erna Petronella
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: School music -- Instruction and study -- South Africa , Early childhood education , Music -- Instruction and study
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8530 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021177
- Description: Music’s significant contribution to the holistic development of the young learner is uncontested and confirmed by views of seminal scholars, such as Nzewi 2003, Reimer 2003, Nussbaum 2001, Elliot 1994 and Merriam 1964, amongst others. As such, music education supports basic values of self-growth, self-knowledge and enjoyment. This study argues for the vital importance of music education in Grade R in the South African schooling system where teachers can successfully implement the curriculum. In post-apartheid multicultural and multi-musical South Africa music education in Grade R is the sole responsibility of the generalist Grade R teacher. However, due to inadequate training and minimal, unproductive in-service initiatives, the vast majority of Reception Year teachers assumingly do not have the required competences to teach music in a way that maximally enhances the holistic development of their learners. Findings revealed that teachers exhibited limited, if any, musical knowledge and per se, they are insufficiently skilled in the effective delivery of the curriculum in terms of music. This study acknowledges the need to equip in-service Grade R teachers with the required competences to effectively implement the national school and teach music with confidence. The lack of successful and effective continuing professional teacher development initiatives from the Department of Education and Department of Basic Education to assist Grade R teachers in teaching music, was a serious concern to me. This concern reinforced the motivation to embark on this project. In this thesis, I report on an intervention strategy aimed at enabling three Grade R practitioners at one peri- urban township school in the Eastern Cape to improve their music education competencies. These three Coloured ladies only held a Certificate in Early Childhood Development, rating at an NQF level 4 and 5. None of these practitioners had any prior music experience in music training, music making or music teaching. I utilised a Participatory Action Learning and Action Research (PALAR). PALAR combines research with development and is thus highly suitable when addressing multifaceted problems in rapidly changing environments, such as South Africa. In my study, the participants were thus actively involved in identifying problems and creating solutions. A number of collaborative interactions and qualitative data generation strategies such as Focus Group Interviews, Observations, Drawing, Interviews, Narrative Inquiry, Case Study and Reflective Journals were implemented. Findings indicated that the practitioners experienced transformation on both a professional and personal level as they discovered and tapped into their own innate musical competences. This enabled them to explore ways to teach music that enhanced the holistic development of their learners, developing them physically, cognitively emotionally, socially, and musically. Learners likewise benefitted from the intervention as they experienced social cohesion in a multicultural classroom and gained the fruits of music’s remedial impact and therapeutic value in their lives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Capacity building for developmental local government in the Kicukiro District of Rwanda
- Authors: Rutebuka, Balinda
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Sustainable development -- Rwanda , Economic development -- Rwanda , Local government -- Rwanda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8490 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020906
- Description: This study investigated the capacity building for developmental local government with reference to the Kicukiro District of Rwanda. Its aim was to examine the contribution of capacity-building interventions towards a developmental local government and at the same time investigate factors that hinder their implementation in Kicukiro district. The study provides an extensive historical background on local government in Rwa-nda with a particular focus on its policy, legal and institutional framework, whereby the developmental local government environment has been analysed. Furthermore, this study explores the theoretical framework of capacity building in general, and in this regard particular emphasis was given to capacity building in relation to developmental local government. The study also argued that without appropriate capacity it would be difficult for the district to fulfil its developmental mandate. This research followed both qualitative and quantitative approaches of study. It involved a survey in which a structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews were used as data gathering instruments. Through data analysis, findings of the study have shed light on the fact that capacity building constitutes an indispensable mechanism for local government to achieve its developmental mandate, despite challenges associated with the process of capacity building. The study found that the Kicukiro district has made a significant progress towards the implementation of capacity-building interventions despite the fact that these interventions are still fragmented, uncoordinated and still supply-driven. Furthermore, the study revealed that the capacities already built generated considerable impetus that contributed to socio-economic development within the Kicukiro district. The study also found that despite the progress made in both capacity building and development in Kicukiro district, there are capacity gaps and factors which are undermining further progress in this regard. Therefore, the study recommends, among others, an effective co-ordination of capacity-building interventions in order to avoid duplication and fragmentation of capacity-building efforts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Rutebuka, Balinda
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Sustainable development -- Rwanda , Economic development -- Rwanda , Local government -- Rwanda
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:8490 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020906
- Description: This study investigated the capacity building for developmental local government with reference to the Kicukiro District of Rwanda. Its aim was to examine the contribution of capacity-building interventions towards a developmental local government and at the same time investigate factors that hinder their implementation in Kicukiro district. The study provides an extensive historical background on local government in Rwa-nda with a particular focus on its policy, legal and institutional framework, whereby the developmental local government environment has been analysed. Furthermore, this study explores the theoretical framework of capacity building in general, and in this regard particular emphasis was given to capacity building in relation to developmental local government. The study also argued that without appropriate capacity it would be difficult for the district to fulfil its developmental mandate. This research followed both qualitative and quantitative approaches of study. It involved a survey in which a structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews were used as data gathering instruments. Through data analysis, findings of the study have shed light on the fact that capacity building constitutes an indispensable mechanism for local government to achieve its developmental mandate, despite challenges associated with the process of capacity building. The study found that the Kicukiro district has made a significant progress towards the implementation of capacity-building interventions despite the fact that these interventions are still fragmented, uncoordinated and still supply-driven. Furthermore, the study revealed that the capacities already built generated considerable impetus that contributed to socio-economic development within the Kicukiro district. The study also found that despite the progress made in both capacity building and development in Kicukiro district, there are capacity gaps and factors which are undermining further progress in this regard. Therefore, the study recommends, among others, an effective co-ordination of capacity-building interventions in order to avoid duplication and fragmentation of capacity-building efforts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Characterisation of performance limiting defects in photovoltaic devices using electroluminescence and related techniques
- Authors: Crozier, Jacqueline Louise
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Photovoltaic cells Solar cells Photovoltaic power systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11004 , vital:26866
- Description: Solar cells allow the energy from the sun to be converted into electrical energy; this makes solar energy an environmentally friendly, sustainable alternative to fossil fuel energy sources. Solar cells are connected together in a photovoltaic (PV) module to provide the higher current, voltage and power outputs necessary for electrical applications. However, the performance of PV modules can limited by the degradation and defects. PV modules can be characterised using various opto-electronic techniques, each providing information about the performance of the module. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curve of a module being the most commonly used characterisation technique. The I-V curve is typically measured in outdoor, fully illuminated, conditions. This allows performance parameters such as short circuit current (ISC), open circuit voltage (VOC) and maximum power (PMAX) to be determined. However, it can be difficult to determine the root cause of the performance drop from the I-V curve alone. Electroluminescence (EL) is a module characterisation technique that allows defects and failures in PV modules to be successfully identified. This study investigates the characterisation of solar cells and photovoltaic modules using EL. EL occurs when a solar cell or module is forward biased and the injected electron-hole pairs recombine radiatively. The intensity of the emitted EL is related the applied voltage and the material properties. EL imaging is a useful characterisation technique in identifying module defects and failures. Defects such as micro-cracks, broken contact fingers and fractures are detected in EL images as well as material features such as grain boundaries. The common defects in crystalline silicon are catalogued and the possible causes are discussed. An experimental setup was developed in order to systematically take a high resolution EL image of every cell in the module and record the applied voltage and current. This produces a very detailed, clear, image of each cell with a pixel size in the micrometre range. This process is time consuming to acquire an EL image of an entire module so alternatively a different setup can be used and an EL image of a whole module can be captured in a single frame with an increased pixel size in the millimetre range. For EL imaging a silicon charge-coupled device (CCD) camera was used because it has very good spatial resolution however this sensor is only sensitive to wavelength in the range of 300-1200 nm. There is an overlap in wavelengths from about 900 to 1100 nm allowing the EL emitted from silicon solar cells to be detected. In conjunction with the high-resolution EL system an image processing program was developed to crop, adjust and align the images so only the relevant cell was included. This program also automatically detects certain defects that have a regular shape. Micro-cracks, broken fingers and striation rings are automatically identified. The program has an adjustable sensitivity to identify small or large defects. Defective cells are distinguished from undamaged cells by comparing the binary images to the ideal, undamaged cell. The current-voltage curves and the performance parameters of modules were compared with the EL images in order to discuss and identify power limiting defects. Features that remove significant portions of the cell from electrical contact such as micro-cracks are shown to have a larger effect of the performance of the module. Other features such as broken contact fingers, contact forming failures and striation rings do not significantly lower the performance of the module. Thus an understanding of how different features affect the module performance is important in order to correctly interpret the EL results. The intensity of the luminescence emitted is related to the applied voltage and the quantum efficiency of the cell material. The spectrum of the emitted luminescence was modelled and related to the recombination properties of the cell such as surface recombination velocity and minority carrier diffusion length/lifetime. In this study the emitted spectrum was modelled and the effects of recombination properties of the cell on the emitted spectrum were examined. The spectrum of the detected EL was modelled, dependent on the sensitivity of the camera, the transmission of the filters and the emitted photon flux. The integration of short-pass filters into the experimental setup in order to isolate short-wavelength luminescence was discussed. There is a proportional relationship between the intensity of the emitted EL and the local junction voltage. Resistive losses like series and shunt resistances lower the applied voltage and thus affect the EL image. The voltage dependence was assessed by comparing EL images taken at different applied biases. Analysis of the variation in EL intensity with voltage was successful in determining the origin of certain features in an EL image. Certain defects, those that are related to series resistance or shunting are highly voltage dependent. When a feature has little or no dependence on voltage then the defect could be in the laminate layers and not in the cell material. The results of this study allow for in-depth analysis of the defects found in PV modules using the high resolution EL imaging system and the image processing routine. The development of an image processing routine allows the interpretation of the EL image to be done automatically, resulting in a faster and more efficient process. By understanding the defects visible in the EL image, the test is more meaningful and allows the results to be used to predict module performance and potential failures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Crozier, Jacqueline Louise
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Photovoltaic cells Solar cells Photovoltaic power systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11004 , vital:26866
- Description: Solar cells allow the energy from the sun to be converted into electrical energy; this makes solar energy an environmentally friendly, sustainable alternative to fossil fuel energy sources. Solar cells are connected together in a photovoltaic (PV) module to provide the higher current, voltage and power outputs necessary for electrical applications. However, the performance of PV modules can limited by the degradation and defects. PV modules can be characterised using various opto-electronic techniques, each providing information about the performance of the module. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristic curve of a module being the most commonly used characterisation technique. The I-V curve is typically measured in outdoor, fully illuminated, conditions. This allows performance parameters such as short circuit current (ISC), open circuit voltage (VOC) and maximum power (PMAX) to be determined. However, it can be difficult to determine the root cause of the performance drop from the I-V curve alone. Electroluminescence (EL) is a module characterisation technique that allows defects and failures in PV modules to be successfully identified. This study investigates the characterisation of solar cells and photovoltaic modules using EL. EL occurs when a solar cell or module is forward biased and the injected electron-hole pairs recombine radiatively. The intensity of the emitted EL is related the applied voltage and the material properties. EL imaging is a useful characterisation technique in identifying module defects and failures. Defects such as micro-cracks, broken contact fingers and fractures are detected in EL images as well as material features such as grain boundaries. The common defects in crystalline silicon are catalogued and the possible causes are discussed. An experimental setup was developed in order to systematically take a high resolution EL image of every cell in the module and record the applied voltage and current. This produces a very detailed, clear, image of each cell with a pixel size in the micrometre range. This process is time consuming to acquire an EL image of an entire module so alternatively a different setup can be used and an EL image of a whole module can be captured in a single frame with an increased pixel size in the millimetre range. For EL imaging a silicon charge-coupled device (CCD) camera was used because it has very good spatial resolution however this sensor is only sensitive to wavelength in the range of 300-1200 nm. There is an overlap in wavelengths from about 900 to 1100 nm allowing the EL emitted from silicon solar cells to be detected. In conjunction with the high-resolution EL system an image processing program was developed to crop, adjust and align the images so only the relevant cell was included. This program also automatically detects certain defects that have a regular shape. Micro-cracks, broken fingers and striation rings are automatically identified. The program has an adjustable sensitivity to identify small or large defects. Defective cells are distinguished from undamaged cells by comparing the binary images to the ideal, undamaged cell. The current-voltage curves and the performance parameters of modules were compared with the EL images in order to discuss and identify power limiting defects. Features that remove significant portions of the cell from electrical contact such as micro-cracks are shown to have a larger effect of the performance of the module. Other features such as broken contact fingers, contact forming failures and striation rings do not significantly lower the performance of the module. Thus an understanding of how different features affect the module performance is important in order to correctly interpret the EL results. The intensity of the luminescence emitted is related to the applied voltage and the quantum efficiency of the cell material. The spectrum of the emitted luminescence was modelled and related to the recombination properties of the cell such as surface recombination velocity and minority carrier diffusion length/lifetime. In this study the emitted spectrum was modelled and the effects of recombination properties of the cell on the emitted spectrum were examined. The spectrum of the detected EL was modelled, dependent on the sensitivity of the camera, the transmission of the filters and the emitted photon flux. The integration of short-pass filters into the experimental setup in order to isolate short-wavelength luminescence was discussed. There is a proportional relationship between the intensity of the emitted EL and the local junction voltage. Resistive losses like series and shunt resistances lower the applied voltage and thus affect the EL image. The voltage dependence was assessed by comparing EL images taken at different applied biases. Analysis of the variation in EL intensity with voltage was successful in determining the origin of certain features in an EL image. Certain defects, those that are related to series resistance or shunting are highly voltage dependent. When a feature has little or no dependence on voltage then the defect could be in the laminate layers and not in the cell material. The results of this study allow for in-depth analysis of the defects found in PV modules using the high resolution EL imaging system and the image processing routine. The development of an image processing routine allows the interpretation of the EL image to be done automatically, resulting in a faster and more efficient process. By understanding the defects visible in the EL image, the test is more meaningful and allows the results to be used to predict module performance and potential failures.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Characterization of polychlorinated biphenyl residues in the North End lake and Port Elizabeth harbour, South Africa
- Authors: Kampire, Edwige
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Marine pollution -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Estuarine pollution -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7903 , vital:24320
- Description: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread in aquatic systems, they can bioaccumulate in the tissues of aquatic organisms, especially fish as they occupy a position near the top of the aquatic food web. PCBs are among the most toxic substances and have been shown to cause many adverse effects to humans and wildlife. High health risks are associated with populations that follow a diet high in fat content such as fish and shellfish in which PCBs bioaccumulate. Given the importance of industries and the potential health concerns of exposure to PCBs, the lack of information on environmental levels of PCBs in South Africa (SA) is significant and concerning. Less attention has been directed to analysis of PCBs in the South African environments due to high cost and lack of appropriate equipment. This study was the first conducted in order to assess the levels of PCBs in the environment of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (Port Elizabeth). The research was directed at determining the PCB levels in water, sediments, fish and mussels collected in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The sampling sites, North End Lake (NEL) and Port Elizabeth Harbour (PEH) were selected based on their location and the importance of activities taking place in these areas. In total 456 samples of water (dissolved and particulate phases), sediments, mussels and tissues of fish were analysed. Suitable analytical methods were based on the equipment and materials available at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to quantify PCBs in the samples using the internal standard method. Six indicator congeners (PCB nos. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180) were chosen because they are mainly present in most PCB mixtures in environmental samples and they are recommended for regular monitoring. These congeners represent about 50% of the total non-dioxin like (NDL) PCBs in food. All these congeners were detected in the samples analysed. The total PCB concentrations in the sediments from the NEL and PEH ranged from 1.60 to 3.06 and from 0.56 to 2.35 ng g-1 dry weight, respectively. The concentrations of total PCBs in Mytilus galloprovincialis ranged from 14.48 to 21.37 ng g-1 wet weight and from 20.84 to 31.34 ng g-1 wet weight in Perna perna. Total PCBs in water ranged from 0.18 to 0.355 ng L-1. The concentrations of total PCBs in the liver, gonads, gills and muscle were 95.69, 57.49, 44.63, 34.14 ng g-1 lipid weight in Cyprinus carpio and 119.73, 59.21, 49.78, 34.63 ng g-1 in Oreochromis mossambicus, respectively. Fish liver was the most contaminated organ due to its high lipid content compared to other parts of fish analysed. The NEL was found to be more contaminated than the PEH. The main potential sources of PCB pollutants in both areas of this study are industrial and municipal discharges. The NEL is surrounded by many industries and serves as a potential pollutant sink due to wastewater and inflow entering into this lake. Four 0.227 kg meals of the edible part of fish (muscle) per month were recommended based on the non-cancer health endpoint and one 0.227 kg meal per month was recommended based on the cancer health endpoint. This research contributed to notify the public and relevant governmental departments on the PCB pollution status of sediments, water and aquatic life in the PEH and NEL.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Kampire, Edwige
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Marine pollution -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Estuarine pollution -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7903 , vital:24320
- Description: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread in aquatic systems, they can bioaccumulate in the tissues of aquatic organisms, especially fish as they occupy a position near the top of the aquatic food web. PCBs are among the most toxic substances and have been shown to cause many adverse effects to humans and wildlife. High health risks are associated with populations that follow a diet high in fat content such as fish and shellfish in which PCBs bioaccumulate. Given the importance of industries and the potential health concerns of exposure to PCBs, the lack of information on environmental levels of PCBs in South Africa (SA) is significant and concerning. Less attention has been directed to analysis of PCBs in the South African environments due to high cost and lack of appropriate equipment. This study was the first conducted in order to assess the levels of PCBs in the environment of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (Port Elizabeth). The research was directed at determining the PCB levels in water, sediments, fish and mussels collected in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The sampling sites, North End Lake (NEL) and Port Elizabeth Harbour (PEH) were selected based on their location and the importance of activities taking place in these areas. In total 456 samples of water (dissolved and particulate phases), sediments, mussels and tissues of fish were analysed. Suitable analytical methods were based on the equipment and materials available at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to quantify PCBs in the samples using the internal standard method. Six indicator congeners (PCB nos. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180) were chosen because they are mainly present in most PCB mixtures in environmental samples and they are recommended for regular monitoring. These congeners represent about 50% of the total non-dioxin like (NDL) PCBs in food. All these congeners were detected in the samples analysed. The total PCB concentrations in the sediments from the NEL and PEH ranged from 1.60 to 3.06 and from 0.56 to 2.35 ng g-1 dry weight, respectively. The concentrations of total PCBs in Mytilus galloprovincialis ranged from 14.48 to 21.37 ng g-1 wet weight and from 20.84 to 31.34 ng g-1 wet weight in Perna perna. Total PCBs in water ranged from 0.18 to 0.355 ng L-1. The concentrations of total PCBs in the liver, gonads, gills and muscle were 95.69, 57.49, 44.63, 34.14 ng g-1 lipid weight in Cyprinus carpio and 119.73, 59.21, 49.78, 34.63 ng g-1 in Oreochromis mossambicus, respectively. Fish liver was the most contaminated organ due to its high lipid content compared to other parts of fish analysed. The NEL was found to be more contaminated than the PEH. The main potential sources of PCB pollutants in both areas of this study are industrial and municipal discharges. The NEL is surrounded by many industries and serves as a potential pollutant sink due to wastewater and inflow entering into this lake. Four 0.227 kg meals of the edible part of fish (muscle) per month were recommended based on the non-cancer health endpoint and one 0.227 kg meal per month was recommended based on the cancer health endpoint. This research contributed to notify the public and relevant governmental departments on the PCB pollution status of sediments, water and aquatic life in the PEH and NEL.
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- Date Issued: 2015