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"How did I get this lucky?" : issues of power, intimacy and sexuality in the construction of young women's identities within their heterosexual relationships

  • Authors: McEwen, Caryn
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Foucault, Michel, 1926-1984 -- Criticism and interpretation Heterosexuality Heterosexual women Women -- Sexual behavior Feminism -- Political aspects Sex role -- Political aspects Feminist psychology Sex (Psychology)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2861 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007595
  • Description: This thesis seeks to explore how young, educated and seemingly liberated women construct their identities and make sense of their futures around their heterosexual relationships. Using the experiences of eight women participants engaged in long-term heterosexual relationships, combined with relevant secondary literature, issues of sexuality, identity, power and intimacy are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the implications of their identity construction and how they 'perform' their roles as women in society. How their sexual stories reflect their positioning in society is premised by the phrase, 'the personal is political' . Through analysis of the participants' experiences mixed with theoretical arguments, this thesis finds that young women are apparently sexually, economically and intellectually liberated but locked into discourses that provide highly unequal, limiting, disempowering and oppressive understandings of masculinity, femininity and sexuality. They live and experience a reality which is far from liberated.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

"Is rugby bad for your intellect": the effect of repetitive mild head injuries on the cognitive functioning of university level rugby players

  • Authors: Smith, Ian Patrick
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Rugby football injuries Brain damage Neuropsychological tests Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Complications Sports injuries -- Psychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3058 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002567
  • Description: The study sought to determine whether there is evidence for the presence of residual (chronic) deleterious effects on cognition due to repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in top team university level rugby players, using ImPACT 3.0, Trail Making Test (TMT) and Digit Span. The initial sample of 48 participants was divided into groups; Rugby (n = 30) and Controls (n = 18), Rugby Forwards (n = 14) and Rugby Backs (n = 16). A reduced sample (N = 31) comprised of Rugby (n = 20) and Controls (n = 11), Rugby Forwards (n = 9) and Rugby Backs (n = 11). Comparative subgroups were equivalent for estimated IQ but not for age and educational level in the full sample; in the reduced sample there was equivalence for all three variables of age, education and estimated IQ. All cognitive test measures were subjected to independent t-test analyses between groups at the pre- and post-season, and dependent t-test analyses for Rugby and Controls at pre- versus post-season. Overall, the results implicated the presence of deleterious effects of concussive events on Rugby players in the areas of speed of information processing, working memory and impulse control. Significant practice effects were found on the TMT and Digit Span for controls, but not on ImPACT 3.0, supporting the use of this computer-based programme in the sports management context.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

"Morality and authority in existential praxis"

  • Authors: Praeg, Leonhard
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Hooks, Bell Teacher-student relationships Education, Higher Knowledge, Sociology of Universities and colleges Educational change College teaching|xPhilosophy
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1928 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007593
  • Description: In this study I am concerned with understanding how the emergence of participatory or, broadly understood, existential approaches to education has shifted the nature of the student/lecturer relationship. Historically, the difference was represented through the in loco parentis trope which contains implicit understandings as to the nature of the lecturer's authority and the ethical parameters of the relationship. With the emergence of more participatory approaches this relationship and its constitutive elements have to be re-imagined. In the first chapter I place this enquiry in the contemporary context in which the very identity of the university is changing as a result of massification and the accountability regime. In the second chapter I look at bell hooks' pedagogy as an example of such a participatory approach to education at higher education institutions. I describe her practice as a deconstructive pedagogy that is as powerful as it is because of the operation of a difference constitutive of it. In the third chapter I ask whether representing this difference in terms of the pre-modern master/apprentice offers a useful response to the questions raised by an existential praxis.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

"Museum spaces in post-apartheid South Africa": the Durban Art Gallery as a case study

  • Authors: Brown, Carol
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Durban Art Gallery -- History Museums -- South Africa -- Durban Art museums -- South Africa -- Durban Art -- South Africa -- Durban -- Exhibitions Art, Modern -- 20th century -- Exhibitions Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Exhibitions
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2446 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006231
  • Description: This dissertation examines the history of the Durban Art Gallery from its founding in 1892 until 2004, a decade after the First Democratic Election. While the emphasis is on significant changes that were introduced in the post-1994 period, the earlier section of the study locates these initiatives within a broad historical framework. The collecting policies of the museum as well as its exhibitions and programmes are considered in the light of the institution 's changing social and political context as well as shifting imperatives within a local, regional and national art world. The Durban Art Gallery was established in order to promote a European, and particularly British, culture, and the acquisition and appreciation of art was considered an important element in the formation of a stable society. By providing a broad overview of the early years of the gallery, I identify reasons for the choice of acquisitions and explore the impact and reception of a selection of exhibitions. I investigate changes during the 1960s and 1970s through an examination of the Art South Africa Today exhibitions: in addition to opening up institutional spaces to a racially mixed community, these exhibitions marked the beginning of an imperative to show protest art. I argue that, during the political climate of the 1980s, there was a tension in the cultural arena between, on the one hand, a motivation to retain a Western ideal of 'high art' and, on the other, a drive to accommodate the new forms of people's art and to challenge the values and ideological standpoints that had been instrumental in shaping collecting and exhibiting policies in the South African art arena. I explore this tension through a discussion of the Cape Town Triennial exhibitions, organised jointly by all the official museums, which ran alongside more inclusive and independently curated exhibitions, such as Tributaries, which were shown mainly outside the country. The post-1994 period marked an opening up of spaces, both literally and conceptually. This openness was manifest in the revised strategies that were introduced to show the Durban Art Gallery 's permanent collection as well as in two key public projects that were started - Red Eye @rt and the AIDS 2000 ribbon. Through an examination of these strategies and initiatives, I argue that the central role of the Durban Art Gallery has shifted from being a repository to providing an interactive public space.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

'n Evalueering van die implementering van die graad 9 natuurwetenskapkurrikulum in skole in die Noord-Kaap Provinsie

  • Authors: Van Schalkwyk, Daniël Jacobus
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Curriculum evaluation -- South Africa -- Northern Cape , Biology -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- Northern Cape
  • Language: Afrikaans
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:9577 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019685
  • Description: Curriculum 2005 was originally implemented in grade 1 in 1998. In 2002 it was implemented in grade 9. Similar problems and questions, which arose during the initial implementation, arose again during the implementation in grade 9. Implementation gave rise to many questions and uncertainties. Only in October 2001 was it finally decided to implement the curriculum for grade 9 in 2002. The result was that publishers, the national as well as provincial education departments as well as schools were not ready for the implementation in January 2002. This treatise aims to determine the amount of support offered to educators and the degree of uncertainty still being experienced by them. Information regarding these unnecertainties and problems has been obtained from educators by means of questionnaires, circulated to 38 schools in the Northern Cape Province, offering Natural Science. This sampling of schools is representative of schools offering Natural Science in the region. Data regarding the uncertainties from educators have been obtained from the SOC (Stages of Concern) questionnaires of Hall, George and Rutherford. The rest of the questionnaire concerned the biographical information regarding the educators as well as the support that educators have received during the implementation of the learning area. It emerged from the questionnaire that educators understand the importance of a new Natural Science curriculum for SA. They are however sceptical regarding the hasty manner in which the learning area was implemented; the fact that no textbooks or educational teaching aids were available prior to implementation was of concern. Educators are similarly concerned about the inadequate training prior to implementation and lack of support during implementation. Educators are also concerned about the administrative liability that the new curriculum will bring about.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

'Show and tell': a discursive analysis of women's written accounts of their self-injuring practices

  • Authors: Morison, Tracy
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Self-injurious behavior , Psychology, Pathological
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3026 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002535 , Self-injurious behavior , Psychology, Pathological
  • Description: Self-injuring is a practice that involves self-administered damage to one’s body, most commonly cutting of the skin on the forearms. (The practice is distinguished from other intentional and in/direct self-harmful or self-damaging behaviours that cause bodily harm). Dominant psychiatric, psychological or medical approaches construct self-injuring as deviant, socially unacceptable or abnormal behaviour that is indicative of more or less severe psychopathology, and importantly as a stereotypically female practice. This research is conducted within a post-essentialist framework and views self-injuring, and the injured body, as discursively constituted as well as a cultural and political act. It therefore moves away from pathologising discourses in which those who self-injure typically find themselves and their own accounts of their behaviour invalidated and silenced. Instead, the mental health perspective is viewed as one party among many that may contribute to the conceptualisation of ‘self-injuring’ practices as socially meaningful and thus self-injuring is critically interpreted without reliance on a medical model of ‘normalcy’. As part of attempts to challenge medical models and cultural ideals of normalcy, this research presents a critical discursive analysis of a series of narratives provided by 5 female participants in which they record their own experiences, feelings and thoughts related to their practices of selfinjuring. It makes use of critical discourse analytic methodology to identify certain characteristics of these narratives as representations of larger collective meaning systems. It analyses the ways in which self-injuring is constructed in women’s stories of their self-injuring experiences, focusing particularly on the subject positions available in these discourses, as well as their ideological effects. The analysis focuses particularly on constructions of the body and subject positions as they enable or undermines the self-injuring subject’s agency. Finally, it attempts to determine the limitations of certain accounts of self-injuring, pursuing multiple meanings of self-injuring and illuminating new dimensions of talk on self-injuring and novel ways of conceptualising and understanding the practice.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

3rd NATIONAL CONGRESS REPORT ON ACTIVITIES

A case study investigation of the neuropsychological profile of a rugby player with a history of multiple concussions

  • Authors: Case, Stephanie
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Rugby football injuries , Brain -- Concussion -- Complications , Neuropsychological tests , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Complications , Sports injuries -- Psychological aspects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:3165 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007727 , Rugby football injuries , Brain -- Concussion -- Complications , Neuropsychological tests , Head -- Wounds and injuries -- Complications , Sports injuries -- Psychological aspects
  • Description: sustained multiple concussions may be at risk of cumulative impairment. The role of neuropsychological testing in the management of sports-related concussion is a contentious and challenging issue which has gained credibility given the lack of clear and well-established guidelines pertaining to the diagnosis, assessment and return-to-play decisions following concussion. Despite various traditional paper and pencil tests being shown to be effective indicators of postconcussive neuropsychological dysfunction, testing has not been widely implemented, due to time- and labour-demands. ImPACT, a computer-based neuropsychological assessment instrument, has been recognised as a valid and reliable tool in the monitoring of athletes' symptoms and neurocognitive functioning preseason and postconcussion. As a part of larger-scale concussion research conducted on top-team university rugby players, this is an in-depth case study conducted on a 20-year old participant with a history of multiple concussions, who was referred following a concussion sustained during the season. The objectives of the study were: (i) to determine the sensitivity of ImPACT versus WAIS-III Digit Span and Trail Making Test during the acute postconcussive phase; and (ii) to examine the sensitivity of ImPACT versus a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests to possible residual deficits as a result of the multiple concussions. ImPACT was determined to be more sensitive to acute postconcussive impairment following concussion than Digit Span and Trail Making Test. Furthermore, the ImPACT preseason baseline scores appear to be sensitive to neurocognitive dysfunction, possibly due to cumulative concussive injuries.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A case study of teacher modification strategies in an ESL classroom context

  • Authors: Rataza, Themba Theophilus
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: English language -- Study and teaching (Foreign speakers) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape English language -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Code switching (Linguistics) -- South Africa Language and education -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1925 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007558
  • Description: The purpose of this study is to explore and discuss the use of teacher modification strategies by a high school teacher in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa in an English second language classroom. This teacher does not share the mother tongue of the learners. Unlike other teachers who resort to code switching when teaching L2 learners, this particular educator does not have that liberty. Code switching has been found to be a useful strategy for teaching and learning (Adendorff 1996, Marawu 1996). Code switching will henceforth be abbreviated as CS in the rest of the text. Often teachers use CS to help students understand as an avoidance strategy to teach in English. They have no other way of getting through to students because they haven't been shown the benefits of teacher modification strategies employed by the teacher I have observed in this study. The study therefore seeks to establish or investigate and describe the modification strategies the teacher uses to make his lessons comprehensible to his learners and to accommodate the needs of his L2 learners in view of the fact that he does not share the language of his learners. The motivation behind this study stems from the difficulties experienced by L2/ESL learners learning through the medium of English. These problems are described by researchers such as Macdonald (1990), Eiseman (1992), NEPI report (1992). These difficulties relate to the lack of vocabulary, low proficiency levels and comprehension skills. In view of the above, this case study research was conducted on one teacher to find out or investigate how he modifies his teaching strategies. It has been revealed in the literature studied / reviewed that teachers employ a variety of teaching strategies to adapt to the needs of their L2 learners. (Long (1983), Wong-Filhnore (1985), Chaudron (1988), Huizenga et al (1990)). The teacher in this study has also been found to employ the main strategies to modify his teaching practice. It is clear from the interviews with both the teacher and his students, that this particular teacher makes full use of a range of language and methodological strategies to help his students understand his lessons. It is hoped that the findings of this research may illuminate some valuable insights in the necessity and usefulness of teacher modification strategies for all teacher trainers so that our teaching institutions can provide a variety of methods for teacher trainees to help L2 students develop their English language skills.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A case study of the goals of the business communication course at Technikon Witwatersrand

  • Authors: Vongo, Mthuthuzeli Rubin
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Communication in education -- South Africa Communication -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa English language -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa Curriculum change -- South Africa Competency-based education -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1316 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003949
  • Description: At Technikon Witwatersrand, Business Communication is offered as a service subject, which is compulsory for a variety of diplomas and the majority of students are obligated to do the course. Its broad intention is to assist students in developing their proficiency in English, enabling them to cope with studying at Technikon and preparing them for the workplace. Despite the fact that the course is designed to assist them, many students question why they have to do the course and whether it is simply a repetition of high school work. The study attempts to examine the implicit and explicit goals of Business Communication, to explore the process through which the goals have been developed and changed over the years (i.e. how the goals have been constructed), and to elicit and compare the perspectives of the different stakeholder groups as to the goals. Both a qualitative and a quantitative approach are used in the research design. Interviews with four fulltime lecturers were conducted and a self-designed questionnaire was administered to students. These were the main means of data collection. The data reveals that the goals of Business Communication are implied rather than explicit. Despite this, students and lecturers see the course as important. Recommendations are made to help the Department of Business Communication to reflect on their practice with particular emphasis given to material development and the application of OBE principles.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A case study of two teachers' understanding of and attitudes towards bilingualism and multiculturalism in a South African primary school

  • Authors: Sutton, Candace
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Bilingualism in children , English language -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Foreign speakers , English language -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Education, Bilingual -- South Africa , Language and languages -- Study and teaching , Language policy -- South Africa , Multicultural education -- South Africa , Language and education -- South Africa , Multiculturalism
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:2363 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002646 , Bilingualism in children , English language -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Foreign speakers , English language -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Education, Bilingual -- South Africa , Language and languages -- Study and teaching , Language policy -- South Africa , Multicultural education -- South Africa , Language and education -- South Africa , Multiculturalism
  • Description: At present, there is an emphasis in South African education on promoting multicultural classrooms in schools. This thesis examines the classroom culture of a South African English-medium school, where the majority of the learners are Second Language English learners. It first describes, in the form of a case-study, how two teachers have constructed the culture of their foundation phase classrooms. It then considers why the two teachers have constructed their classrooms in such ways by exploring their knowledge and understanding of, and attitudes towards, multiculturalism, second language acquisition and multilingualism. The study also briefly considers whether teacher training has sufficiently prepared these teachers for the challenges of a multicultural classroom. The data is discussed in terms of education and second language acquisition theory and South African education and language policies. The results of this study indicate that for the most part the classroom culture is distinctly Western and that the teachers have two fundamental assumptions that underpin their action and classroom construction. The first is that a lack of exposure to English is the primary cause of language problems for L2 learners and the second is that the L1 does not need to be maintained or promoted in the school environment because learners are sufficiently exposed to their L1 in the home. The thesis concludes that shortcomings in training and information encourages these two assumptions to take root and that more in-service training that focuses specifically on the nature of second language acquisition and multiculturalism is necessary.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A comparative analysis of environmental policies of South African universities

  • Authors: Gyan, Cecilia Adwoa
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Environmental education -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- Study and teaching , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Universities and colleges -- Environmental aspects , Environmental policy -- South Africa , Campus planning -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4773 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008067 , Environmental education -- South Africa , Sustainable development -- Study and teaching , Education, Higher -- South Africa , Universities and colleges -- Environmental aspects , Environmental policy -- South Africa , Campus planning -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa
  • Description: There has been ongoing global concern on environmental issues and which is supposed to have moved down into smaller institutions and areas through local agenda 2l. Environmental issues are associated not only with care for the environment but also sustainable development. Various universities are beginning to strive for sustainable development and care for the environment. Some universities are therefore integrating care for the environment in their curricula and in their daily operations on campus. The greening of higher educational institutions as models is important as they are the seat for research and training of undergraduates who will become future leaders and policymakers and caretakers of the environment. It is therefore important for undergraduates to be exposed to greening processes in operations, research and curricula whilst still on campus. This study examines the process of formulating a policy and applies that to forming an environmental policy. The study involved a comparative analysis of environmental policies of various tertiary educational institutions from different countries. The study focused on how many universities in South Africa have environmental policies and how the universities which have environmental policies went about their formulation process. The study further examines the duration of the formulation process and the constraints encountered by universities. The study then reviews strategies on how the environmental policy is being implemented and how effective the implementation process is practically and the constraints these institutions face. The findings of the study reveal that few universities ill South Africa have an environmental policy. The universities are making efforts in their implementation process however, not all the principles found in the policies are being implemented effectively as there are no environmental management systems in place and there are no measurable objectives and targets set for proper evaluation of the success or failure of the policy.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A comparison framework for server virtualisation systems a case study

  • Authors: Van Tonder, Martin Stephen
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Virtual computer systems -- South Africa Case studies , Virtual storage (Computer science) -- South Africa Case studies
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:10481 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/439 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012009 , Virtual computer systems -- South Africa Case studies , Virtual storage (Computer science) -- South Africa Case studies
  • Description: Recent years have seen a revival of interest in virtualisation research. Although this term has been used to refer to various systems, the focus of this research is on systems which partition a single physical server into multiple virtual servers. It is difficult for researchers and practitioners to get a clear picture of the state of the art in server virtualisation. This is due in part to the large number of systems available. Another reason is that information about virtualisation systems lacks structure, and is dispersed among multiple sources. Practitioners, such as data centre managers and systems administrators, may be familiar with virtualisation systems from a specific vendor, but generally lack a broader view of the field. This makes it difficult to make informed decisions when selecting these systems. Researchers and vendors who are developing virtualisation systems also lack a standard framework for identifying the strengths and weaknesses of their systems, compared to competing systems. It is also time-consuming for researchers who are new to the field to learn about current virtualisation systems. The purpose of this research was to develop a framework to solve these problems. The objectives of the research correspond to the applications of the framework. These include conducting comparative evaluations of server virtualisation systems, identifying strengths and weaknesses of particular virtualisation systems, specifying virtualisation system requirements to facilitate system selection, and gathering information about current virtualisation systems in a structured form. These four objectives were satisfied. The design of this framework was also guided by six framework design principles. These principles, or secondary objectives, were also met. The framework was developed based on an extensive literature study of data centres, virtualisation and current virtualisation systems. Criteria were selected through an inductive process. The feasibility of conducting evaluations using the framework was demonstrated by means of literature-based evaluations, and a practical case study. The use of the framework to facilitate virtualisation system selection was also demonstrated by means of a case study featuring the NMMU Telkom CoE data centre. This framework has a number of practical applications, ranging from the facilitation of decision-making to identifying areas for improvement in current virtualisation systems. The information resulting from evaluations using the framework is also a valuable resource for researchers who are new to the field. The literature study which forms the theoretical foundation of this work is particularly useful in this regard. A future extension to this work would be to develop a decision support system based on the framework. Another possibility is to make the framework, and evaluations, available on-line as a resource for data center managers, vendors and researchers. This would also enable other researchers to provide additional feedback, enabling the framework to be further refined
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A comparison of two township iimbongi: a literary appreciation

  • Authors: Ntabeni, Jennifer Nonkoliso
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Laudatory poetry, Xhosa
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
  • Identifier: vital:8469 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/583 , Laudatory poetry, Xhosa
  • Description: The performance of Xhosa mbongis (no correct English equivalent is available for the Xhosa bard / praise singer) is an interesting art form presentation by some individuals found in the Xhosa community. What is of interest is the fact that such artists are known to be the voices of their communities, heralding socio-cultural and historical norms and achievements. In the olden days, such figures were commonly found in the royal circles of headmen, chiefs and kings. Nowadays, urbanization has brought them into the township where they are gradually assuming different roles of not only focusing on the royal houses, but also in all community leaders as well as non-leaders of the community. Initially they used to earn their reputation through the kings or councils stages / platforms, but these days they also acquire such reputation through media and in any socio-political gatherings. They used to win awards and presents while nowadays they charge appearance fees. It is being changed into a profession albeit without any sort of academic accreditation. In the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan township, a number of such mbongis have mushroomed much against the likings of some purists cultural practitioners. The purists accuse them of being drunk with greed. Perhaps the accusation is justified and perhaps not. What is most notable is the fact that mbongis recite whenever they are asked to do so, something which is not acceptable to purists who believe that an imbongi is called forth to perform when the spirits instruct him or her to stand up and bonga. Whatever the case may be, many of such mbongis appear mostly in funerals, of known and unknown figures and so to many people, they make mockery of such a solemn talent. It is against this background that the researcher felt the need to look into this literary art-form as being presently performed by a township imbongi. The first chapter will deal with introduction, aim of study and method of research. The second chapter will provide a review of oral poetry and a poet in Xhosa writings, the nature of traditional imbongi his or her role in traditional and modern society. The third chapter will give the analysis of content, form and style of two recited poems by two different imbongis. The fourth chapter will provide a brief conclusion on how we view modern traditional imbongis and oral poetry
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A critical analysis of organisational strategies for employee engagement

  • Authors: Poisat, Paul
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Employees -- Attitudes , Employee motivation , Personnel management
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech
  • Identifier: vital:9378 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/466 , Employees -- Attitudes , Employee motivation , Personnel management
  • Description: Organisations are continuously searching for ways to increase their competitiveness as a means to survive in the global economy. More recently approaches have focused on the role that people perform in bringing about competitive advantage. Research indicates that engaged employees contribute vastly to the financial bottom-line of the organisation (see section 3.2.2). The research problem in this study was to identify strategies that organisations can use to engage their employees. To achieve this objective a theoretical employee engagement model was presented. The presentation of the theoretical model consisted of the following sub-processes: § Firstly, a literature survey was conducted to determine the underlying drivers/constructs of employee engagement. Abstract iii § The second comprised surveying the literature dealing specifically with approaches for measuring employee engagement. § Thirdly, the literature was surveyed to identify strategies and models used by organisations for engaging employees. The theoretical employee engagement model served as a basis for the compilation of the survey questionnaire that determined the extent to which human resource practitioners and line managers agree with the theoretical model developed in this study. The questionnaire was administered to a random sample of individuals employed in the automotive cluster in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality and the Buffalo City Metropole. The empirical results obtained from the survey indicated that respondents strongly concurred with the theoretical employee engagement model presented in the study. These results were included in the theoretical model, which lead to the development of the integrated organisational employee engagement model. The model comprises of four interrelated categories that all contribute to enhancing employees’ engagement. These categories are organisational leadership, organisational culture, organisational strategies and the manager’s role. From the literature survey and the study it became clear that the role of the manager, had the most significant impact on employee engagement of all the categories. In addition, the integrated organisational employee engagement model can be used by organisations as an applied strategy for the measurement of employee engagement. The main findings from this research are that 60 per cent of organisations that participated in the empirical study had implemented strategies to engage their employees. However, the majority of organisations reporting not having an engagement strategy were among organisations that employed less than 700 employees (smaller organisations). The study also highlighted certain variables that required special attention, especially when implementing employee engagement within the South African context. South African companies as compared to their overseas counterparts, rated organisational engagement variables such as remuneration, benefits and gain sharing lower. A further variable that was identified by the study requiring special attention was, ‘senior management shows a sincere interest in employees’ well-being’. A final point emanating from the study is that the implementation of employee engagement, as a strategy to enhance organisational competitiveness, must be viewed as a continuous process. Organisations should prior, to the implementation of an employee engagement strategy, consider whether they are prepared to share engagement results, take corrective action commensurate with the results and deal with employee expectations that may be incurred. The strategies espoused by the integrated organisational employee engagement model developed in this study, can be used by organisations to increase organisational competitiveness by improving their employees’ level of engagement.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A critical evaluation of the performance management system used by Nampak Research and Development

  • Authors: Solomons, Neville
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Performance -- Management , Package goods industry -- South Africa , Organizational effectiveness -- Evaluation
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
  • Identifier: vital:8753 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/610 , Performance -- Management , Package goods industry -- South Africa , Organizational effectiveness -- Evaluation
  • Description: Introduction: Performance management is an important driver in most companies today. Companies regard this as the tool to ensure that the people working for them will deliver as per the agreed contract and objectives which were set mutually. This study will reveal the importance of a well managed performance management system and what benefits one will derive from it. Intent: The purpose of this research project is to conduct a critical analysis of the performance management system used by Nampak Research and Development. They have been using a system since 2001 to the present without any changes to the system. The study focused on key areas to ascertain the level of change in the above respect that needs to take place. The study addressed (a) the understanding of performance management, (b) the management attitude towards performance management, (c) staff development, (d) the mentoring system, and (e) the performance appraisal method used. Findings: the main findings were that: (a) loss of management skill due to retirement, (b) staff has a negative attitude towards the performance management system, (c) staff does not trust the system, (d) management is the only group that is positive about the system, (e) there are no staff development strategies and no staff development, (f) ineffective mentoring system, (g) no mentor and mentee relationship, and (h) the performance appraisal method raised concerns in terms of departments not being consistent with the rating scores. Conclusion: the researcher has recommended what needs to be put in place to help the system work. Due to the complexity of the system, the researcher then recommended that a specialist in the field of performance management be approached to resolve the situation.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A critical investigation of a Future Search Conference as a planned organisational change initiative within the National Health Training Network in Namibia

  • Authors: Hausiku, Marthina Ndahepa
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Future Search Conference National Health Training Network Organizational change -- Namibia Research -- Methodology Interviewing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
  • Identifier: vital:1478 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003359
  • Description: “The world is changing faster than the experts” (Weisbord & Janoff, 2000:xi). Change, according to Meyer & Botha (2000:223), is the movement of people from a current state to a defined, different, improved and desired new state. Change is needed in all organisations because it has direct influence on the organisation’s performance, and the National Health Training Network in Namibia is no exception. The Future Search Conference as a powerful organisation development strategy, can help people transform their capacity for action. The National Health Training Network (NHTN), like any other institution, has been experiencing some managerial/administrative problems. I, being a member of the NHTN, together with most of the organisation, was faced with the challenge of not knowing what to do. Learning about approaches that might help organisations to develop, concepts such as organisation development in general and Future Search in particular, I developed an interest especially in the Future Search Conference. My interest was based on successful developmental stories of Future Search Conferences in organisations across the world. I decided to introduce the Future Search Conference to our organisation, which I thought might be a remedy for our problems at a later stage. The aim of the study was to investigate participants' experiences and the perception of the Future Search Conference as an approach to organisational change, through interviews. The study found that Future Search was a new concept/approach to the NHTN as well as to the whole Ministry, and it is different from the traditional strategic planning. The difference is seen in the way Future Search involves all stakeholders in issues of concern, while strategic planning involves only managers. The responses revealed the willingness of participants to implement the Future Search Conference in their organisation. Data also revealed, however, that it was not clear how ready the managers were to carry out this task, as they are the gatekeepers. Participants suggested a separate Future Search Conference with managers, to sensitise them to the approach, so that they can see whether it addresses the values and goals of the organisation and can be implemented for developmental purposes.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A critical investigation of the effectiveness of warm-ups as technical exercises for the improvement of choral tone : a case study of the Eastern Cape Children's Choir

  • Authors: Van Zyl, Lionel
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Choral singing Studies and exercises , Choral singing -- Instruction and study , Music rehearsals
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
  • Identifier: vital:8513 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/634 , Choral singing Studies and exercises , Choral singing -- Instruction and study , Music rehearsals
  • Description: This is a research project based on the author’s experience of more than 20 years as conductor of the Eastern Cape Childrens Choir. It investigates the effectiveness of technical exercises - with special reference to selected “warm-up” exercises - in creating a superior choral tone in the children’s choir. The investigation is motivated by the fact that it is an ongoing challenge to effectively overcome problems with intonation and poor choral tone, problems which are mostly caused by lack of attention to pure vowel formation. Toward this end, a practical “tool box” of vocal exercises for the children’s choir is ultimately proposed. The toolbox is based on one single exercise with different variations. Each variation is designed to address multiple vocal needs and to correct vocal production during singing. In this manner a great many technical aspects are covered with the simplest of means and in the shortest possible time, bearing in mind that the rehearsal session allows limited time to focus on such matters to the exclusion of all else.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A detailed investigation of interoperability for web services

  • Authors: Wright, Madeleine
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Firefox , Web services , World Wide Web , Computer architecture , C# (Computer program language) , PHP (Computer program language) , Java (Computer program language)
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
  • Identifier: vital:4592 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004832 , Firefox , Web services , World Wide Web , Computer architecture , C# (Computer program language) , PHP (Computer program language) , Java (Computer program language)
  • Description: The thesis presents a qualitative survey of web services' interoperability, offering a snapshot of development and trends at the end of 2005. It starts by examining the beginnings of web services in earlier distributed computing and middleware technologies, determining the distance from these approaches evident in current web-services architectures. It establishes a working definition of web services, examining the protocols that now seek to define it and the extent to which they contribute to its most crucial feature, interoperability. The thesis then considers the REST approach to web services as being in a class of its own, concluding that this approach to interoperable distributed computing is not only the simplest but also the most interoperable. It looks briefly at interoperability issues raised by technologies in the wider arena of Service Oriented Architecture. The chapter on protocols is complemented by a chapter that validates the qualitative findings by examining web services in practice. These have been implemented by a variety of toolkits and on different platforms. Included in the study is a preliminary examination of JAX-WS, the replacement for JAX-RPC, which is still under development. Although the main language of implementation is Java, the study includes services in C# and PHP and one implementation of a client using a Firefox extension. The study concludes that different forms of web service may co-exist with earlier middleware technologies. While remaining aware that there are still pitfalls that might yet derail the movement towards greater interoperability, the conclusion sounds an optimistic note that recent cooperation between different vendors may yet result in a solution that achieves interoperability through core web-service standards.
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  • Date Issued: 2006

A field investigation of physical workloads imposed on harvesters in South African forestry

  • Authors: Christie, Candice Jo-Anne
  • Date: 2006
  • Subjects: Forests and forestry -- South Africa Employees -- Workload Forest products industry -- South Africa Work -- Physiological aspects Heart rate monitoring Foresters -- South Africa -- Workload Oxygen -- Physiological transport
  • Language: English
  • Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
  • Identifier: vital:5122 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005200
  • Description: The focus of this field investigation was an analysis of the work demands being placed on South African forestry workers, in particular Chainsaw Operators and Stackers. Working postures, physiological and perceptual responses were assessed on a sample of 58 workers (29 Chainsaw Operators and 29 Stackers) during a ‘normal’ working shift. Body mass was measured before and after work in order to determine dehydration levels. Polar heart rate monitors were fitted to six workers each day over a period of two weeks in order to record ‘working’ heart rates. Fluid and food intake was monitored and recorded during this initial data collection phase. The Rating of Perceived Exertion and Body Discomfort Scales were explained in Zulu, their native language, and workers were asked to rate their perceptions of effort at regular intervals during work, while areas and intensity of body discomfort was obtained on completion of work. After completing a work shift, a 30 minute ‘recovery’ period was given, thereafter a portable ergospirometer, the k4b², was attached to the worker who then participated in a progressive, submaximal step test for the purpose of establishing individual, and group, heart rate-oxygen uptake (HR/VO[subscript 2]) regressions for predicting oxygen uptake from ‘working’ heart rate responses. These procedures were repeated four weeks later following the introduction of a fluid and nutritional supplement during work which was delivered to the workers while they were executing their tasks. The results revealed awkward working postures with a predominance of trunk flexion during all the harvesting tasks; these postures, adopted for long periods during work, are very likely to lead to the development of musculoskeletal injuries. The mean working heart rates were 123.3 bt.min[superscript (-1)] and 117.6 bt.min[superscript (-1)] during chainsaw operations and stacking respectively. During the step test, the mean heart rate and oxygen uptake responses were 127.9 bt.min[superscript (-1)] and 22.9 mlO[subscript 2].kg[superscript (-1)].min[superscript (-1)] (Chainsaw Operators) and 116.9 bt.min[superscript (-1)] and 24.0 mlO[subscript 2].kg[superscript (-1)].min[superscript (-1)] (Stackers), revealing no significant difference between the ‘working’ heart rates and the heart rates recorded during the step test. Physiological responses were analyzed over the full work shift which was divided into four quarters. Heart rate and oxygen uptake were significantly higher during the last half of the Chainsaw Operators’ work shift compared to the first half. Heart rate increased from 120.7 bt.min[superscript (-1)] during the first quarter to 127.4 bt.min[superscript (-1)] during the last quarter of chainsaw operations. Likewise, oxygen uptake increased from 19.9 mlO[subscript 2].kg[superscript (-1)].min[superscript (-1)] to 22.9 mlO[subscript 2].kg[superscript (-1)].min[superscript (-1)] from the first to the last quarter of work. During stacking the heart rate (mean of 117.6 bt.min[superscript (-1)]) and oxygen uptake (mean of 24.6 ml.kg[superscript (-1)].min[superscript (-1)]) responses remained stable over the duration of the working shift. Workers lost, on average, 2.8% body mass during work while felling and cross-cutting and 3.6% during stacking. This reduced significantly to a loss of 0.4% body mass when re-tested following the introduction of water and food during the work period. Likewise, the energy deficit was significantly improved due to the introduction of a nutritional supplement. Pre-intervention the deficit was 8861.8 kJ (Chainsaw Operators) and 8804.2 kJ (Stackers) while in the post-intervention phase this deficit was reduced by approximately 50% for both groups of workers.
  • Full Text:
  • Date Issued: 2006
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