Assessing land use and land cover change dynamics of wildlife ranches in South Africa
- Authors: Moon, Lisa
- Date: 2025-04-02
- Subjects: Wildlife refuges South Africa , Biodiversity conservation South Africa , Land use Planning , Social ecology , Business model , Land cover
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478980 , vital:78246
- Description: With increasing urbanisation and corresponding environmental impacts, urban green infrastructure (UGI) and the services it provides are of high importance. However, the degree to which these spaces are beneficial and provide ecological services are influenced by the extent to which patches of UGI are connected to each other. Varying levels of connectivity may enhance or lower the resilience of the UGI and the biodiversity it houses. Although not considered as UGI, golf courses are prominent green spaces in many urban landscapes occupying vast areas of land, and therefore hold potential to aid biodiversity and facilitate species movement. However, the extent which golf courses are able to do so is a function of both the structure and availability of resources on the golf courses, as well as in the surroundings areas or landscape in which they are situated. This notion of connectivity of golf courses to their surroundings UGI (in its many forms) and landscapes has not been adequately explored in the literature as much of the present literature has addressed golf courses’ biodiversity in isolation of other UGI, or where it has been considered, only the context in which golf courses were situated has been acknowledged (i.e. urban or rural landscapes). Moreover, as golf courses occupy large areas of lands forms of UGI, they may also be able to enhance the connectivity of the landscapes in which they are situated through increasing land cover, and lowering fragmentation through connecting patches. This however, is also context specific, as seen in natural settings were golf courses would in fact fragment the landscape. This study therefore sought to assess the extent to which urban golf courses are connected to other forms of UGI in the South African context, and illustrate the importance of paying attention to connectivity in an avifaunal diversity study. It also aimed to investigate the potential of urban golf courses to foster avifaunal diversity in comparison to a reference landscape, the direct surrounding urban and residential areas. To analyse the extent to which golf courses in three South African cities were connected to the wider landscape a connectivity analysis was undertaken using GIS software. This analysis indicated that all golf courses were to some extent connected to a range of different UGI. Whilst the level of connectivity fluctuated between golf courses and cities, there was however no significant difference noted. Urban golf courses in the South African context are thus not isolated habitats but connected to other land uses and therefore potentially provide valuable resources that aid biodiversity. Despite being physically connected to surrounding UGI illustrating that both the golf courses benefit from the surrounding UGI and vice versa, at a larger landscape there was not sufficient evidence of the ability of golf courses to enhance connectivity. Although there was little evidence of golf courses’ ability to aid connectivity at the larger landscape scale, the observed extent to which golf courses were connected to their directly surrounding landscape and the high presence UGI within the larger landscape, informed the more refined investigation of avian biodiversity of golf courses in comparison to surrounding urban areas in the city of Cape Town. This biodiversity analysis indicated that there was significantly higher bird diversity on golf courses in comparison to the surrounding urban areas. However, the high level of connectivity to directly surrounding UGI that was obtained in the former part of the study proved to have no impact on the diversity noted. In contrast, the connectivity at the landscape scale, a scale addressing the broader landscape, provided valuable insight into factors determining the levels of avifaunal diversity noted. This dissertation therefore provides evidence of the biodiversity supporting function of urban golf courses and highlights the importance of landscape context in ecological assessment. These findings are a starting point for future research about the capacity of golf courses to support biodiversity in conjunction with other UGI. In the Global South context, which is complex and dynamic in nature, this information is vital, as these dynamic and changing landscapes provide opportunities to incorporate, and preserve already existing biodiversity. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2025
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2025-04-02
- Authors: Moon, Lisa
- Date: 2025-04-02
- Subjects: Wildlife refuges South Africa , Biodiversity conservation South Africa , Land use Planning , Social ecology , Business model , Land cover
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/478980 , vital:78246
- Description: With increasing urbanisation and corresponding environmental impacts, urban green infrastructure (UGI) and the services it provides are of high importance. However, the degree to which these spaces are beneficial and provide ecological services are influenced by the extent to which patches of UGI are connected to each other. Varying levels of connectivity may enhance or lower the resilience of the UGI and the biodiversity it houses. Although not considered as UGI, golf courses are prominent green spaces in many urban landscapes occupying vast areas of land, and therefore hold potential to aid biodiversity and facilitate species movement. However, the extent which golf courses are able to do so is a function of both the structure and availability of resources on the golf courses, as well as in the surroundings areas or landscape in which they are situated. This notion of connectivity of golf courses to their surroundings UGI (in its many forms) and landscapes has not been adequately explored in the literature as much of the present literature has addressed golf courses’ biodiversity in isolation of other UGI, or where it has been considered, only the context in which golf courses were situated has been acknowledged (i.e. urban or rural landscapes). Moreover, as golf courses occupy large areas of lands forms of UGI, they may also be able to enhance the connectivity of the landscapes in which they are situated through increasing land cover, and lowering fragmentation through connecting patches. This however, is also context specific, as seen in natural settings were golf courses would in fact fragment the landscape. This study therefore sought to assess the extent to which urban golf courses are connected to other forms of UGI in the South African context, and illustrate the importance of paying attention to connectivity in an avifaunal diversity study. It also aimed to investigate the potential of urban golf courses to foster avifaunal diversity in comparison to a reference landscape, the direct surrounding urban and residential areas. To analyse the extent to which golf courses in three South African cities were connected to the wider landscape a connectivity analysis was undertaken using GIS software. This analysis indicated that all golf courses were to some extent connected to a range of different UGI. Whilst the level of connectivity fluctuated between golf courses and cities, there was however no significant difference noted. Urban golf courses in the South African context are thus not isolated habitats but connected to other land uses and therefore potentially provide valuable resources that aid biodiversity. Despite being physically connected to surrounding UGI illustrating that both the golf courses benefit from the surrounding UGI and vice versa, at a larger landscape there was not sufficient evidence of the ability of golf courses to enhance connectivity. Although there was little evidence of golf courses’ ability to aid connectivity at the larger landscape scale, the observed extent to which golf courses were connected to their directly surrounding landscape and the high presence UGI within the larger landscape, informed the more refined investigation of avian biodiversity of golf courses in comparison to surrounding urban areas in the city of Cape Town. This biodiversity analysis indicated that there was significantly higher bird diversity on golf courses in comparison to the surrounding urban areas. However, the high level of connectivity to directly surrounding UGI that was obtained in the former part of the study proved to have no impact on the diversity noted. In contrast, the connectivity at the landscape scale, a scale addressing the broader landscape, provided valuable insight into factors determining the levels of avifaunal diversity noted. This dissertation therefore provides evidence of the biodiversity supporting function of urban golf courses and highlights the importance of landscape context in ecological assessment. These findings are a starting point for future research about the capacity of golf courses to support biodiversity in conjunction with other UGI. In the Global South context, which is complex and dynamic in nature, this information is vital, as these dynamic and changing landscapes provide opportunities to incorporate, and preserve already existing biodiversity. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Environmental Science, 2025
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2025-04-02
The art of adaption: the National Arts Festival’s strategic response to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Authors: Brody, Blake Benjamin
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Standard Bank National Arts Festival , Strategic planning , Strategic thinking , Crisis management South Africa , Business model , Stakeholder management , COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- Influence
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461863 , vital:76246
- Description: The National Arts Festival (NAF), an annual event held in South Africa, faced a significant challenge in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The traditional in-person format of the festival was no longer feasible due to government restrictions. In response, the NAF's CEO, Monica Newton, led her team in a rapid transition to a virtual platform. This decision-making process and the creation of the first virtual NAF (vNAF) occurred within a remarkably short period of 100 days. This teaching case study delves into the academic framework of crisis management, stakeholder theory, strategic thinking, strategic management, and business models, examining their application in the context of the NAF's transformation. To understand the decision-making process and challenges faced by the NAF, a qualitative research design was employed. Data collection involved two face-to-face interviews with Monica Newton, CEO of the NAF, and secondary sources. The teaching case is accompanied by a comprehensive note for educators, offering guidance on its classroom use. The note includes a case synopsis, intended audience, suggested learning outcomes, theoretical connections, teaching strategies, potential discussion questions, evaluation methods, and additional resources. It supports a multi-faceted analysis of the NAF's transformation and encourages vibrant class discussion. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
- Authors: Brody, Blake Benjamin
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Standard Bank National Arts Festival , Strategic planning , Strategic thinking , Crisis management South Africa , Business model , Stakeholder management , COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- Influence
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/461863 , vital:76246
- Description: The National Arts Festival (NAF), an annual event held in South Africa, faced a significant challenge in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The traditional in-person format of the festival was no longer feasible due to government restrictions. In response, the NAF's CEO, Monica Newton, led her team in a rapid transition to a virtual platform. This decision-making process and the creation of the first virtual NAF (vNAF) occurred within a remarkably short period of 100 days. This teaching case study delves into the academic framework of crisis management, stakeholder theory, strategic thinking, strategic management, and business models, examining their application in the context of the NAF's transformation. To understand the decision-making process and challenges faced by the NAF, a qualitative research design was employed. Data collection involved two face-to-face interviews with Monica Newton, CEO of the NAF, and secondary sources. The teaching case is accompanied by a comprehensive note for educators, offering guidance on its classroom use. The note includes a case synopsis, intended audience, suggested learning outcomes, theoretical connections, teaching strategies, potential discussion questions, evaluation methods, and additional resources. It supports a multi-faceted analysis of the NAF's transformation and encourages vibrant class discussion. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-10-11
A business model framework for mission-driven organisations
- Authors: Thackeray, Sean Robin
- Date: 2023-03-31
- Subjects: Nonprofit organizations South Africa Makhanda , Business model , Sustainable development South Africa Makhanda , Resource-based view , Social responsibility of business South Africa Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419123 , vital:71618
- Description: Non-profit organisations (NPOs) contribute to our society by addressing needs through value-creation activities which are normally not addressed by normal for-profit organisations. These NPOs generate their income through donations, fundraising and market activities such as the sale of products or services. However, in the pursuit of organisational sustainability, these NPOs need to ensure that their income meets their expenditure needs over the long run, to allow continuous value creation and to pursue their mission. An organisation’s business model can be visualised through a business model framework (BMF), which have been illustrated to be useful tools for organisations to test new business models, plan and coordinate activities, and to communicate how an organisations business model works to stakeholders. The use of BMFs by NPOs may be useful for similar purposes. However, a key challenge for NPOs and their management is adapting for-profit tools to be more applicable to the NPO environment. Whilst there has been some progress within the literature on adapting these for-profit business model tools to NPOs, this area of research is relatively underrepresented in the literature. The single case study method, exploratory in nature, following a deductive approach with a theoretical framework was used to evaluate the NPO Business model framework for NPOs with multiple income streams (Sanderse, 2014) appropriateness for the Centre for Biological Control (CBC), a mission-driven research organisation located within Rhodes University. The study made use of an interpretivist paradigm through the lens of resource-based theory. The contextual environment of the CBC was similar to other NPOs in that their organisational sustainability was at risk due to uncertainty about the availability of long-term funding. The CBC is actively diversifying their income streams by establishing new partnerships, which increase the capacity and resource base of the organisation to improve its flexibility in meeting current and potential funders’ needs. The NPO Business model framework for NPOs with multiple income streams was found to be a suitable BMF to visualise the holistic operations of the CBC. However, the role of governance-related matters being represented in this BMF was found to be lacking. An amended framework including governance as part of the Business model framework for NPOs with multiple income streams was developed. This improved the BMF, by allowing for further contextual insight into the CBCs business model as governance played a major role in the key activities and income-generating strategies they participate in. The role a BMF has in assisting an organisation with resource management activities was also explored. A suitable BMF, which allows for a holistic and explicit display of an organisation’s business model, would assist in determining how resources could be better managed or orchestrated to pursue different potential income-generating strategies or improve the efficiency of how resources are used in the current business model. This study contributed to business model theory by further testing the Business model framework for NPOs with multiple income streams as a tool to visualise an NPOs business model and identifying that once the governance block was added, this BMF became more suitable within the CBCs context. A minor contribution to resource based theory was the exploration of the potential roles BMFs play in resource management, which should be further investigated in line with additional research questions proposed. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-31
- Authors: Thackeray, Sean Robin
- Date: 2023-03-31
- Subjects: Nonprofit organizations South Africa Makhanda , Business model , Sustainable development South Africa Makhanda , Resource-based view , Social responsibility of business South Africa Makhanda
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419123 , vital:71618
- Description: Non-profit organisations (NPOs) contribute to our society by addressing needs through value-creation activities which are normally not addressed by normal for-profit organisations. These NPOs generate their income through donations, fundraising and market activities such as the sale of products or services. However, in the pursuit of organisational sustainability, these NPOs need to ensure that their income meets their expenditure needs over the long run, to allow continuous value creation and to pursue their mission. An organisation’s business model can be visualised through a business model framework (BMF), which have been illustrated to be useful tools for organisations to test new business models, plan and coordinate activities, and to communicate how an organisations business model works to stakeholders. The use of BMFs by NPOs may be useful for similar purposes. However, a key challenge for NPOs and their management is adapting for-profit tools to be more applicable to the NPO environment. Whilst there has been some progress within the literature on adapting these for-profit business model tools to NPOs, this area of research is relatively underrepresented in the literature. The single case study method, exploratory in nature, following a deductive approach with a theoretical framework was used to evaluate the NPO Business model framework for NPOs with multiple income streams (Sanderse, 2014) appropriateness for the Centre for Biological Control (CBC), a mission-driven research organisation located within Rhodes University. The study made use of an interpretivist paradigm through the lens of resource-based theory. The contextual environment of the CBC was similar to other NPOs in that their organisational sustainability was at risk due to uncertainty about the availability of long-term funding. The CBC is actively diversifying their income streams by establishing new partnerships, which increase the capacity and resource base of the organisation to improve its flexibility in meeting current and potential funders’ needs. The NPO Business model framework for NPOs with multiple income streams was found to be a suitable BMF to visualise the holistic operations of the CBC. However, the role of governance-related matters being represented in this BMF was found to be lacking. An amended framework including governance as part of the Business model framework for NPOs with multiple income streams was developed. This improved the BMF, by allowing for further contextual insight into the CBCs business model as governance played a major role in the key activities and income-generating strategies they participate in. The role a BMF has in assisting an organisation with resource management activities was also explored. A suitable BMF, which allows for a holistic and explicit display of an organisation’s business model, would assist in determining how resources could be better managed or orchestrated to pursue different potential income-generating strategies or improve the efficiency of how resources are used in the current business model. This study contributed to business model theory by further testing the Business model framework for NPOs with multiple income streams as a tool to visualise an NPOs business model and identifying that once the governance block was added, this BMF became more suitable within the CBCs context. A minor contribution to resource based theory was the exploration of the potential roles BMFs play in resource management, which should be further investigated in line with additional research questions proposed. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-31
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