The management of conflict between employees: a case study of an information technology company in Johannesburg
- Authors: Monakali, Robin
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Johannesburg , Conflict management -- Case studies Interpersonal relations Personnel management -- Psychological aspects Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41997 , vital:36616
- Description: The global working environment has transformed significantly over the last two decades, with rapid advancements in technology and information as well as the levels of diversity in the workplace. This process of adaptation, the failure to adapt or weaknesses in adaptation can be an underlying cause of conflict within organizations. For an organization to be successful, there must be effective conflict management techniques in place in order to resolve or keep the conflict at a minimum. The aim of this exploratory case study was to therefore explore the management of conflict between employees in an Information Technology company in Johannesburg. The human needs theory, which states that the deprivation of human needs is a major source of conflict, was used as the theoretical framework guiding this study. A mixed methods approach, also known as methodological triangulation, was used, which involved combining qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to achieve triangulation of data. The qualitative research method that was used comprised individual semi-structured interviews with two Human Resources managers and the quantitative research method involved the completion of self-administered questionnaires by 94 employees of the IT company. The researcher used a purposive sampling design for the interviews and simple random sampling for the questionnaires. Ethics permission for this research was received from Nelson Mandela University’s Research Ethics Committee and the study was conducted in accordance with the university’s Policy on Research Ethics. The findings of this study have revealed that the type of conflict mainly experienced in this organization was employee conflict, due to interpersonal clashes relating to personality differences. The employees were unanimous that conflict can have both a positive and negative effect. The interviews confirmed that the IT company makes use of negotiation and mediation to resolve workplace conflict, with the literature review providing evidence that negotiation and mediation are useful means of managing conflict between employees. However, the results from the completed questionnaires revealed that employees attempt to manage conflict by avoiding the conflict, which could be due to employees having limited awareness of the organization’s procedures to address conflict. This study can therefore potentially be beneficial to organizations and assist the latter in developing conflict management skills and practices, which can enhance organizational performance, productivity and employee retention.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Mineralogy and geochemistry of permian black shales and carbonate concretions in the lower ECCA formations of the Steytlerville- Jansenville area, southern Karoo basin
- Authors: Maake, Laurentias Tebatso
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Black shales -- South Africa -- Jansenville , Geochemistry Chemistry, Analytic Mineralogy -- Analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40643 , vital:36206
- Description: The Lower Permian Ecca Group formations of the Karoo Basin of South Africa have recently been identified as a target for shale gas exploration. These units, named the Prince Albert, Whitehill and Collingham formations, comprise organic-rich shales with occasional associated carbonate deposits, and siliciclastic facies. Mineralogical and geochemical investigations were conducted into carbonaceous shales and associated sedimentary rocks in the Jansenville area of the southern Karoo Basin with the ultimate aim to decipher the paleoenvironment and post-depositional conditions of these shales and their associated features such as prominent intra-formational carbonate deposits. Sediments of the main Karoo Basin were deposited from ~350 Ma to ~182 Ma, the end of sedimentation being marked by eruption of basaltic lava. This period, which began with the Dwyka continental glaciation, included tectonism of the Cape Fold Belt, the end-Permian mass extinction at ~250 Ma, and major intrusion of dolerite associated with the lavas of the Karoo Large Igneous Province. Subsequent to this, the basin experienced faulting associated with Gondwana breakup, uplift and intrusion of small volume kimberlite and melilite magmas, and erosion resulting in formation of a major escarpment. Each episode was imprinted upon the Karoo rocks and to a greater or lesser extent erases the signature of older episodes. To decipher the depositional paleoenvironment and post-depositional conditions of the black shales and the dolomite concretions posed a challenge due to deformation, orogeny, metamorphism, and weathering and erosion. Therefore, deep borehole core-logging and sampling was generally preferred over surface fieldwork, and trace elements backed up by scanning electron microscopy-based petrography was the method most relied upon to decipher the redox conditions of the black shales and the intra-formational carbonates. Relevant sections from three SOEKOR boreholes SP1/69, AB1/65 and QU1/65 were logged and carbonate concretions localities studied in four field locations. Samples collected from the core and field localities were prepared for thin section optical, SEM petrographical analysis, mineral identification, modal estimation by XRD, major, and trace element analysis by XRF and Laser Ablation-ICPMS, and acid leaching of a sample subset to determine the degree of pyritization (DOP). Logging of the SOEKOR boreholes indicates that in the western part of the basin all three lower Ecca formations, namely the Prince Albert, Whitehill and Collingham, overlie the tillites of the Dwyka Group, whereas near East London only the Whitehill Formation is present. Dwyka diamictites occur in all the studied boreholes overlying the crystalline basement in AB 1/65 and QU 1/65 boreholes whereas in the SP 1/69 the tillites rest above the quartzite of Witteberg Group of the Cape Supergroup. The shale consists of discontinuous, wavy and straight parallel laminae. Parallel, discontinuous and elongate micro-lenses of very fine-grained quartz are diagnostic and suggest late-stage silicification. Thin laminae of black shale are interlaminated with grey clay. The black shales are composed of quartz and clay minerals (illite and chlorite) as the major crystalline minerals with minor quantities of sulphides and heavy minerals. Organic matter occurs as unstructured, anhedral patches of amorphous material. It contains abundant small (~10nm) and less common larger (~100 nm) pores of subsphaeroidal shape. Carbonates occur as cementation and concretions. Heavy minerals identified by SEM include detrital zircon, thorite, titanite, authigenic fluorite, galena, sphene, and sphalerite and apatite, monazite and epidote-group minerals that appear to be of later stage metamorphic origin, some a product of hydrothermal feldspar alteration. Zircon and monazite show evidence of partial corrosion and/or new overgrowth. Titanite occurs in greater abundance in the SP1/69 section than other boreholes, where it exhibits a porphyroblastic texture suggesting secondary growth. These features all suggest modification of detrital minerals by metamorphic fluids and therefore some possible modification of bulk geochemical composition. Pyrite is abundant, commonly occurring as framboidal and occasional euhedral grains. Pyrite-bearing, calcite veins are common in the Whitehill Formation. Some pyrite is metamorphosed to pyrrhotite in the shales adjacent to dolerite intrusions. The carbonate deposits in the lower Ecca occur mostly as large concretions of 0.5-2.5 m in diameter at intensely faulted areas, and as laterally continuous beds at less intensely faulted areas. They consist of dominant dolomite with calcite (differentiated by thin section staining) and minor associated quartz veins, and appear to have formed in an early diagenetic stage of the black shale. Five different dolomite-rock textures were identified indicating varying crystal growth conditions. Calcite cementation types accompany these dolomite textures. The major types include mosaic, sparry and bladed/prismatic calcite cement. Calcite occurs mainly as cement in pores and grain replacement, as well as crudely radial septerian veins. XRD indicates that the carbonate concretions are made up of more than 90% dolomite, especially within the intensely folded areas. The remaining 10% consist of post-depositional quartz veins and secondary calcite associated with the quartz veins. In one locality (VAAL) the carbonate samples are dominates by bladed/prismatic calcite. The black shales in this study have similar geochemical signature to previously analysed samples from the Karoo Basin and to black shales worldwide. The geochemical signature results from the combined input of detrital sedimentary materials as well as enrichment or depletions acquired from pore water, biological activity and during diagenesis. Positive correlation of K2O, Na2O with Al2O3 suggests control by the detrital contribution. CaO and P2O5, have a negative correlation with Al2O3 suggesting a biogenic source. Elemental ratios suggest that the sediments derive from felsic source rock, most likely Cape Supergroup and underlying crystalline basement. These shales exhibit different degrees of trace-element enrichment relative to global average shale, the approximate order being Pb> V> Zn> Cr> Cu> Co > Ni. Assessment of selected trace elements, V/(V+Ni), V/Cr, Ni/Co and EF Mn ratios describes the paleoenvironment of these sediments to have been partially oxygenated before sulphate reduction interface. The pyrite size distribution, DOP, Fe and S correlation points to an organic matter limited environment, where the main sulphur sink is pyrite rather than organic matter. The DOP and Fe/Al indicated that the sediments became anoxic at the sediment-water interface (early diagenetic stages). V/Cr assessment of the dolomite concretions suggested partially oxygenated environment corresponding to the black shale deposition. The occurrence of concretions at the base of the Whitehill Formation, which has the highest TOC content of 14% compared to other associated formations, is evidence that organic matter preservation was important to their origins. The parameters used here to assess the redox conditions of the black shales and the dolomite concretions in this region of the Karoo Basin suggest a normal marine redox environment, rather than the anoxic Black Sea-type environment. The conditions that affected the lower Ecca formations varied from semi-oxygenated to oxygen depletion environment. The oxygen depletion environment occurred during the deposition of the Whitehill Formation of which organic matter preservation was favoured..
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- Date Issued: 2019
A strategy to promote awareness and adherence to information security policy at Capricorn District Municipality
- Authors: Mamabolo, Mokgadi Hellen
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Computer security -- Management , Data protection -- Management Computer security Computer networks -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40867 , vital:36245
- Description: The purpose of this research was to investigate the reasons for non-adherence to the ISP and to measure the current level of adherence to the ISP. The research revealed that non adherence to the ISP is caused by lack of training or awareness, and through non-communication of the ISP to employees. The study was conducted at Capricorn District Municipality, Polokwane Local Municipality, Molemole Local Municipality and Blouberg Local Municipality. A web-based questionnaire (QuestionPro) was developed and it was directed to every official who uses or interacts with municipal information, to quantify the level of adherence to ISP by employees. An email with the questionnaire link administered by www.questionpro.com was then sent to the population of 152 employees. Presently ISP adherence is one of the key concerns that are faced by organisations. Employees are perceived as one of the reasons that there are security breaches within organisations; hence, it is of paramount importance that these security breaches are noticed, as well as technical matters. Most researchers have reasoned that non-adherence to ISP is one of the major challenges faced by organisations. The non-adherence to ISP will lead to potential information security threats and unauthorised access to information that might compromise municipal business operations. The Information Security Officer together with the help of management must educate employees regarding the value of IS and why it is crucial to adhere to these policies. The proposed strategy summarises the various concepts required in the promotion of awareness and adherence to an effective ISP. Ultimately, this research study concludes that if management continually trains employees, raising awareness about ISP and monitoring their adherence to ISP, this should increase the adherence level.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Evaluation of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Principles at the University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus
- Authors: Mditshwa, Abongile Sisanda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Crime prevention
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc.Sci (Criminology)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17695 , vital:41137
- Description: The University of Fort Hare Alice campus experiences high crime rates. To address this problem, and add to the literature, this study applied the Crime Prevention through Environmental design (CPTED) model to measure the effectiveness of the crime prevention strategies at the University of Fort Hare (Alice campus). The aim of this study was to evaluate the sufficiency of surveillance and visibility, target hardening, maintenance and management at the University of Fort Hare, which contribute to the reduction of criminal activities around campus. The study further sought to evaluate the perceptions of students regarding their safety on campus by way of soliciting their experiences and observations. This study used the quantitative method, and questionnaires were distributed to the students in the Alice campus to collect data. The study found that whilst a marginal majority of students felt safe, a large proportion of students felt unsafe on campus. The study also found that students were dissatisfied with the service and found the security officers to be incompetent and un-trained. The study evaluated the sufficiency of crime prevention measures implemented within the university. One crucial aspect that emerged from the study is that CPTED principles were not sufficiently implemented to their fullest and the perception of the majority of students was that security personnel were not functioning in the way that they should, and measures such as adequate lighting were lacking. As a result, students felt unsafe on campus, especially during the night .The study concluded that there are clear increased feelings of vulnerability among students at the University of Fort Hare. The measures that are currently in place are not sufficient; therefore there is need for implementation of CPTED principles. It was recommended that the University increases number of CCTV surveillance cameras on campus, Social gathering places be surrounded by security guards for patrols, lighting recommendations that are modern and in proper design, keep up with repairs, make necessary replacements, paint, trim, current campus buildings e updated to meet recent CPTED practises etc.
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- Date Issued: 2019
An evaluation of performance management and development system: South African social security agency, Eastern Cape regional office
- Authors: Ndamase, Nkuthalo
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Performance -- Management -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational commitment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41763 , vital:36579
- Description: The main aim and objective of the study was to conduct an evaluation of Performance Management and Development System with reference to South African Social Security Agency Eastern Cape Regional Office. In order to achieve the objective, the study applied stratified random sampling to draw a sample of 44 participants and 4 key informants representing the four PMDS Moderation Branch Committees. The study utilized questionnaires and semi-structured interviews as data collection instruments. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics in terms of frequencies and percentages of occurrences. Data was also analyzed using thematic content analysis and a number of themes were identified. The main findings of the study, were that there was alignment of individual key performance areas to their unit’s Operational Plan and ultimately to goals and objectives of the Agency. There was lack of performance feedback sessions between supervisor and supervisee, which resulted in training of employees not being conducted. PMDS Moderation Committee members were not equipped in terms of how to assess employee performance. The main recommendation of the study is for the Human Capital Development unit as custodians of the implementation of PMDS, to conduct regular workshops on the application of the PMDS Policy for the employees as well as training of the PMDS Moderation Committee members. This would be done in an effort to ensure that the implementation of PMDS leads to the achievement of the goals and objectives of the Agency. The implementation of the PMDS Policy at SASSA Eastern Cape Regional Office has the potential to contribute to improved service delivery and by implication, the improvement of the quality of life of the millions of the recipients of social grant.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Records management at Albany Museum, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Authors: Obileke , Ugonna Christiana
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Records -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M.LIS
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17663 , vital:41133
- Description: This study is about records management at the Albany Museum in Grahamstown, in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The objectives of the study were to find out the extent to which records management is practised; to find out what records management programme exist; to find out the infrastructure available for records management; and to identify the challenges, if any, facing records management in Albany Museum. The records life cycle and the records continuum formed the theoretical framework. The study adopted qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The state accountant, senior administrator, fossil excavator, receptionist and the postgraduate researcher formed the sample of the study. Quantitative data were coded and analysed using Microsoft Office Excel 2013 while the qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The major findings showed that records management Albany Museum is very weak, which makes it difficult for the museum to derive or benefit from effective records management as well as experiencing delays in decision-making, loss and misplacement of records. Also, it was revealed that there was no personnel responsible for the records management. The study recommended for recruitment of personnel for records management in the museum to improve on records management as well as the development of a functioning records management program
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- Date Issued: 2019
Between drones and al-Shabaab: United States extra-judicial killings in Somalia, sovereignty and the future of liberal intervention
- Authors: Koloko, Mojalefa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Somalia -- Politics and government -- 1991- , Somalia -- History -- 1991- , Somalia -- Foreign relations -- United States , Somalia -- Foreign relations -- 1991- , Military assistance, American -- Somalia , Extrajudicial exeutions -- Somalia , Shabaab (Organization)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67657 , vital:29125
- Description: This study examines the nature of the United States intervention in Somalia, specifically the use of drone strikes that first targeted the militant Sunni Islamist transnational group, al-Qaeda, which claimed responsibility for the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States, and now target the Somali organisation, Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahidin, commonly known as al-Shabaab. The use of drone strikes in the US led war on terror has raised concerns about sovereignty as the extra-judicial killings are conducted without the consent of the concerned states. Furthermore, drone strikes also raise questions about the processes of liberal intervention as the US conducts them without the approval of the United Nations Security Council. It is argued in this study that what is understood to be the “golden era” of liberal interventionism is a legacy of the post-Cold War unipolar dominance of the United States in global governance and security. It is argued that US unipolarity was accompanied by a shifting perception regarding the security position of weak states, whose weakness becomes understood as a source of global insecurity. This perception that so called “weak” and “fragile” states are sources of threats is a departure in International Relations theory, because the discipline is historically preoccupied with studying the actions of powerful states and their consequence for the global order. It is argued that the discourse on the war on terror, and its focus on “failed states” as breeding grounds for alleged terrorists, represents the height of the repositioning of less powerful states from a peripheral status in IR analysis and practice, to their current position that are now being represented as core sources of threat to international peace and security. Through life history interviews with Somali nationals in Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage, South Africa, the study examines the consequences of US actions from the eyes of Somali people. The findings of this study show that despite all the controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the war on terror, the manner in which it is conducted, as well as the tactics that it employs, the majority of Somali participants showed an overwhelming support for the US intervention. Participants expressed support for the US extra-judicial killings because they are understood to undermine al-Shabaab strength which is a major source of insecurity. The study also shows that the lack of necessary collaboration between the US intelligence and the Somali ground forces has resulted in high numbers of civilian deaths, which participants fear can be used by al-Shabaab to recruit and radicalise more Somalis. The study also shows that most Somalis resent the presence of the African Union Mission in Somalia because Kenya and Ethiopia are seen as 10 pursuing national interests that are not invested in Somali peace and stability. The study concludes that US extra-judicial killings have failed to constrain the actions of al-Shabaab. Somalis expressed that the leadership of current president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo, holds the unique possibilities of creating national unity that rises above clan divisions and the radical Jihadist ideology of al-Shabaab.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Leadership influence on organisational performance at Eskom
- Authors: Xawuka, Asanda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42433 , vital:36655
- Description: The role and the impact of leadership in business and society is a topic of interest to many in business. This is evident by the increase in the number of studies on the topic of leadership. Organisational leaders are responsible to oversee the company’s operations including the allocation of resources, people management and to facilitate process integration to enable the organisation to achieve its stated objectives. State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) such as Eskom has a mandate to provide infrastructure services to improve the country’s economic conditions. In particular, Eskom is responsible for electricity generation, transmission and distribution in South Africa and other neighbouring counties. Infrastructure development is much needed in South Africa (SA) to enable the country to attract investors and to grow local businesses, as its economy was downgraded to one notch above‘junk status’ in June 2017 (Mutize & Gossel, 2017). Apart from social responsibility, SOEs are required to operate efficiently in line with good corporate governance and become self-sufficient to fund their own future growth plans. Hence, the importance of SOEs to improve their own performance and efficiencies. In the past few years, Eskom has underperformed in meeting its key deliverables as stipulated in the shareholder compact. These include the electrification of households, maintenance of the current infrastructure and the building of excess electricity capacity. The poor performance has negatively affected the country economy due to planned outages when trying to balance electricity demand and supply. It has further contributed to ongoing community service delivery protests, which costs the country millions of rands (Kekana, 2017; Nyembezi, 2015). In the same period, the company faced many leadership changes which partly contribute to its not fully implementing its strategic plans. The objective of this study was to contribute to a possible improvement in Eskom’s performance by examining the influence of leadership on organisational performance, using the independent variables of the leadership conduct (authenticity), work support and performance determinants (culture, communication, change management, strategy implementation and talent management) and further to add to the current literature in explaining how leadership influences performance. The research design was positivistic asthe relationship amongst the above-mentioned variables was statistically tested. The sample consisted of 111 managerial and non-managerial employees in Eskom, across the nine provinces in South Africa. The empirical results were reported and interpreted. The results revealed that the talent management process, work support, effective communication and strategy implementation have a positive influence on employee performance, which in turn has a positive influence on organisational performance. These results were discussed in terms of the implications they hold for the leadership at Eskom. The limitations are reported, thereby providing areas for possible future research.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Strategies schools in a low-socio-economic are used to maintain discipline
- Authors: Manuel, Bianca Winestine
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Corporal punishment -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44550 , vital:38143
- Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate the strategies schools use to maintain discipline in a low socio-economic area. Poor discipline in public schools has become a major concern following the abolition of corporal punishment by the National Department of Education. The educational authorities left educators in schools with no constructive alternatives to maintain discipline and alternative strategies had to be found and implemented. Data were collected be means of semi-structured interviews, from principals, educators and school governing body (SGB) members. Three neighbouring high schools in the Northern Areas of Port Elizabeth in the Nelson Mandela Bay District of Education were used. A qualitative research approach was employed in the study. The findings supported the literature that was consulted in that there is a wide range of causes of disciplinary problems in schools. According to the findings, there is a lack of effective strategies to maintain discipline in schools but Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory is in line with the perceptions of the respondents in this study. This study opened a door for further research into effective strategies that are in line with the changing teaching environment in low socio-economic areas. The government should come on board to create an environment to promote the good life for educators and learners. The final outcome of this study focused on strategies that principals, educators and SGB members can use to maintain discipline in low socio-economic areas. These strategies can create an environment that is conducive for teaching and learning, especially in schools situated in low socio-economic areas. These include consistency, parental involvement, detention, suspension and the home environment and socio-economic circumstances. Learners must be disciplined and parents must be involved in the maintenance of discipline in schools situated in low socio-economic areas.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Youth development through basketball in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Thuo, Andrew G
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Youth development -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality , Youth -- Services for Sports and state Basketball -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/43776 , vital:37046
- Description: Limited research exists, both internationally and in the South African context, on the use of basketball as tool for youth development through sport. In almost all sport-based youth development programs, the desired sport is football and occasionally rugby. Developing the youth is crucial for the development of a nation and the United Nations has highlighted the progress sport has had as a development tool over the past 20 years. South Africa has recently received international acclaim by becoming the focal point of the National Basketball Associations (NBA) presence in Africa by hosting the last three NBA Africa games. South Africa’s Eastern Cape province was the home of elite basketball in the early eighties and is no stranger to the sport of basketball. The study aimed to explore the possibility of using basketball as a tool for youth development in Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape. The study employed a mixed methods research approach that was explorative, descriptive and contextual in design. The empirical data was collected by means of a questionnaire distributed to target basketball players in the Nelson Mandela Bay area. While the data analysis and literature favoured basketball as a suitable tool to be used in sport-based youth development programs, there were limitations with respect to the number of female participants in the study. It was recommended that further research be considered within this field of study and on a wider scale, in an effort to expand the knowledge base on youth development through basketball across South Africa.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Archives and Records Management Programmes in selected Universities in South Africa: A Study of University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University
- Authors: Somniso, Zoleka
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Records -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc. Sci (Library and information science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/18280 , vital:42248
- Description: The study investigates the Archives and Records Management Programmes (ARMP) in the University of Fort Hare (UFH) and Rhodes University (RU). The task of managing huge quantities of records and archives material is not an easy task when people have to use limited resources. The Research Objectives of the this study was to find out types of records created, received and maintained by university archives and records management programmes at University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University. Establish the available infrastructure for ARMP at the UFH and RU. Find out the legislative and regulatory frameworks that govern the ARMP at the UFH and RU. Identify challenges if there are any facing ARMP at the UFH and Rhodes University. Interviews and questionnaires were two research instruments used in this study to collect data; additional data was collected by reading relevant documents gathered on both institutions and on their website. In this study, the sample was 26 respondents from both universities. The study dealt with administrative staff who deal with records management: Records managers/Officers and Archivists at both institutions. viii Data collected was coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and the findings were presented using pie chart , graphs. The triangulation approaches involves using more than one method to collect data and it is a way of assuring the validity of research with variety of methods to collect data. Findings revealed that respondents were unaware of ARMP in the university. And also some of the findings were the infrastructural needs such as the Lack of records storage, space, Records Preservation facilities (RH, Light), Personnel Training and Development. The challenges facing ARMP in universities includes: a lack of programmes to manage records and archives material, absence of policy that regulates archives and records keeping in the universities understudy, the existing infrastructure at hand cannot meet the requirements for regulatory framework on records and archives management. Based on these challenges mentioned above, the study recommended that both institutions should improve their infrastructure as to be able to preserve the archival material. Training and retraining of staff among others should include use of technology, filing, records creation, maintenance and disposition
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- Date Issued: 2019
Incentive effects: assessing effort and heterogeneity in professional tennis
- Authors: Chadwick, Byron James Rhett
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Professional sports -- Economic aspects , Tennis players -- Wages , Tennis -- Tournaments , Achievement motivation , Incentive awards
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/69467 , vital:29541
- Description: This study explores the impact incentive effects have on the level of effort exerted by professional men and women tennis players. Understanding what impact incentives have on tennis players can allow for greater understanding of the impact incentives have in the workplace and how employees react to different incentive schemes. The study makes use of data from both the ATP and WTA tour of every tournament played during the 2016 season. This includes player statistics, tournament statistics and in-game statistics from the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals of each tournament in an attempt to account for initial seeding effects. This provides a total of 440 ATP matches and 389 WTA matches for an overall sample size of 829 professional tennis matches. The findings from this study illustrate in the last three rounds of all the tournaments played, for both male and females, money is not considered to be a key motivator for players. The ATP and WTA results suggest that competitors do not alter their effort levels depending on the level of the tournament. This illustrates that players exert similar effort levels regardless of the amount of money or ranking points available. The outcome of the findings supports that of the capability effect of heterogeneity on players’ performance. This means that the outcome of a match is linked more to the abilities of the competitors involved as opposed to the incentives available. Thus, players will adjust their effort levels according to their opponent and not because there are more money or ranking points available. This suggests that both the ATP and WTA should aim to reduce the differences in abilities amongst the players in an attempt to raise the attractiveness of the sport. Overall, the findings from this study illustrate that the capability effect outweighs that of the incentive effect.
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- Date Issued: 2019
An evaluation of the harmonised social cash transfer programme on livelihoods in Zimbabwe: the case of Mangwe District
- Authors: Poseni ,Pedzisai
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Economic development -- Social aspects Social integration Social systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Development Studies)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/13943 , vital:39730
- Description: Poverty and limited livelihood options remains a huge challenge in Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe. The study investigated the effectiveness of the Harmonized Social Cash Transfer programme in improving household economy and strengthening livelihood options in Zimbabwe with a particular focus on Mangwe District. In order to come up with a comprehensive investigation, the researcher grounded the study in sustainable livelihood approach and the capabaility approach. Due to persistent poverty and people adopting precarious coping strategies in Zimbawe, the government and NGOs collectively came up with a comprehensive cash based poverty alleviation strategy to alleviate poverty and build on peoples livelihood options which is the cash transfer programme. The study utilized a qualitative methodology, based on its ability to provide a contextualized description of people’s perspectives, feelings and opinions in terms of how a programme affected them. The evaluation sought to find out whether the cash transfer programme achieved its objective of strengthening household economy. The study established that the Harmonized Social Cash Transfer programme made some positive inroad towards strengthening household economy, however, lack of stakeholders coordination, collapsed economy, pollitically motivated moves from the ruling party caused the programme to fail. As such, the poor Mangwe people are still continuing engaging in precarious coping strategies, such as, selling assets, eating less than one meal per day and venturing into prostitution. The study therefore, calls for the government to review the household size vs cash scale and regularly review the amount of money received to be in line with current prices of commodities
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- Date Issued: 2019
Teachers’ engagement with learners in inclusive foundation phase classrooms: a case study analysis
- Authors: Skae, Vera Astrid
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Early childhood education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies , Education and state -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92705 , vital:30722
- Description: Since 2001, South African teachers have been attempting to practise inclusive education in classrooms in ordinary, public schools. Previous research has shown the many challenges South African teachers face in our current educational environment. Strong arguments, however, have been made for more research to be done on actual teacher engagement with learners in our ordinary, public school classrooms, and the extent to which classroom practices are inclusive (Engelbrecht, Nel, Nel & Tlale, 2015, p. 3). This study sought to do an in-depth critical analysis of three foundation phase teachers and their engagement with learners in their classrooms at an Eastern Cape school. The aim was to examine how inclusive education was being enacted by the teacher with learners in real classroom settings, with particular attention paid to ways in which learners experience barriers to learning. A micro-level analysis was conducted in a single unit case study and using a qualitative research approach in an interpretive paradigm. Questionnaires, observations, and semi-structured interviews were conducted in an attempt to gather in-depth data. It was heartening to observe the extent to which inclusive education and practices were being enacted at the school and in the classrooms, and instructive in providing examples of what can work in the South African context. Key findings of this study include the generation of a framework for analysing inclusive classroom practice at the micro level. Criteria were identified as indicators of inclusive education of learners including those experiencing barriers to learning in the classroom. This study builds on and extends what has been developed at the macro and micro level of inclusive education in schools and in the classroom. It found that a number of challenges remain for enabling the implementation of an inclusive education. At the macro level, these include the provision of clear directives for implementation of inclusive education by the appropriate authorities; the provision of well-structured professional teacher training and development programmes in inclusive classroom practices, as well as in barriers to learning and how to address them; and the provision of funding for school and classroom infrastructure and resources. At the micro level, these include the successful implementation by teachers of inclusive classroom practices and the provision of the necessary support for learners experiencing barriers to learning in their classrooms, including expert personnel, resources, and assistive devices.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Retailers’ food waste management: challenges and potential for action in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Đào, Thị Anh Thư
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Food industry and trade -- Waste minimization , Food industry and trade -- Waste disposal Refuse and refuse disposal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39359 , vital:35220
- Description: Food waste management within retailers is seen as an important solution to assist retailers in effectively managing food waste, and by doing so improving food security while limiting negative ecological consequences. Given the lack of research attention focusing on the importance of managing food waste among South African food retailers, and in particular the Eastern Cape, the primary objective of this research was to investigate retailers‟ food waste management in Port Elizabeth. Primary data was collected by conducting interviews with representatives of Port-Elizabeth-based participating stores and their individual Head Offices. This treatise reports on the findings and the conclusions drawn.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Testing the efficient market hypothesis in the cryptocurrency market
- Authors: Apopo, Natalya Camilla
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Digital currency
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42427 , vital:36662
- Description: Digital currencies are rising in popularity owing to their purported benefits and the speculative profits that investors are making in the market. These currencies, though decentralised in substance, can be purchased using digital wallets from cryptocurrency exchange platforms around the world. In Africa, these platforms are still at the nascent stages of growth and development, but evidence suggests a burgeoning potential in these markets. Volatility in these markets has been a topic of concern for many empirical investigations with most finding corroborative evidence of excess volatility in the digital currency market. However, there is a conflicting body of evidence when it comes to the studies evaluating the efficiency of the virtual currency market. The efficient market hypothesis ( EMH)is a controversial theory in finance. Proponents argue that it provides a basis for understanding financial markets whereas opponents suggest that the hypothesis is premature in its assumptions of the real functioning of these markets. Though not perfect, the efficient markets model provides a sufficient baseline against which capital markets may be analysed. Besides being one of the most empirically investigated theories in finance, its utility led to the development of later models such as the capital asset pricing model. In postulating that the prices of securities reflect all available information in capital markets, the efficient markets theory lends itself to testing the efficacy levels of the cryptocurrency market. For the purposes of this study, the weak version of the efficient markets theory was evaluated as itis considered the lowest possible form of efficiency attainable. Using both linear and nonlinear unit root testing methodologies, a significant subset of the cryptocurrency market was investigated for inefficiencies via the null hypothesis of non-stationarity. There were mixed results from the testing process, but a substantial portion of the currencies investigated rejected the null of a unit root in favour of stationarity, providing some evidence against weak form efficiency. For these reasons, it is recommended that further research be conducted in the virtual currency markets to offer more conclusive findings.
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- Date Issued: 2019
An analysis of the use of DNS for malicious payload distribution
- Authors: Dube, Ishmael
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Internet domain names , Computer networks -- Security measures , Computer security , Computer network protocols , Data protection
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/97531 , vital:31447
- Description: The Domain Name System (DNS) protocol is a fundamental part of Internet activities that can be abused by cybercriminals to conduct malicious activities. Previous research has shown that cybercriminals use different methods, including the DNS protocol, to distribute malicious content, remain hidden and avoid detection from various technologies that are put in place to detect anomalies. This allows botnets and certain malware families to establish covert communication channels that can be used to send or receive data and also distribute malicious payloads using the DNS queries and responses. Cybercriminals use the DNS to breach highly protected networks, distribute malicious content, and exfiltrate sensitive information without being detected by security controls put in place by embedding certain strings in DNS packets. This research undertaking broadens this research field and fills in the existing research gap by extending the analysis of DNS being used as a payload distribution channel to detection of domains that are used to distribute different malicious payloads. This research undertaking analysed the use of the DNS in detecting domains and channels that are used for distributing malicious payloads. Passive DNS data which replicate DNS queries on name servers to detect anomalies in DNS queries was evaluated and analysed in order to detect malicious payloads. The research characterises the malicious payload distribution channels by analysing passive DNS traffic and modelling the DNS query and response patterns. The research found that it is possible to detect malicious payload distribution channels through the analysis of DNS TXT resource records.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Experiences of undergraduate diagnostic radiography students regarding assessor feedback during summative clinical assessments
- Authors: Hodgson, Hayley Dianne
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Medical education , Teacher-student relationships Communication in education Mentoring in education Radiography, Medical -- Digital techniques
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42296 , vital:36643
- Description: Assessment and feedback are closely interlinked terms. High quality feedback within education and assessment can have a profound influence on learning. Summative clinical assessments and feedback, conducted in clinical training sites, are vital steps in successfully preparing an undergraduate diagnostic radiography student for the desired outcome of a competent, skilled diagnostic radiographer. Feedback has the potential to close the gap between a student’s actual clinical performance and desired clinical performance. Despite the importance of feedback, students across the globe, particularly in the health professions, are dissatisfied with the current feedback systems. Failure to provide effective feedback within the clinical context can be detrimental to patient safety because students have a false impression of their clinical skills and competencies. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the experiences of undergraduate diagnostic radiography students regarding assessor feedback during summative clinical assessments. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual research design was used to gain in-depth knowledge of the experiences of undergraduate diagnostic radiography students regarding assessor feedback during summative clinical assessments. Data were gathered from students by means of semi-structured focus group interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and coded using Tesch’s eight steps. Two principle themes emerged from the data analysis. Theme 1 unpacked whether an assessor is an ally or foe. Theme 2 focussed on key elements that influence the nature of the feedback process. There were various positive experiences regarding assessor feedback during the summative clinical assessments reported by the participants. However, they were dissatisfied with numerous aspects of assessor feedback during their summative clinical assessments and this subsequently impeded their learning experience. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical research practices governed this research study. Based on the findings, the recommendations include that the higher education institution, clinical supervisors, and radiography students, should utilise feedback as a learning tool for skills development during summative clinical assesssments.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Improving public participation through ward based planning in Port St Johns Local Municipality
- Authors: Koninga, Siyabonga
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Political participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Social participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Public Administration -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45194 , vital:38262
- Description: This research study deals with ways in which to improve public participation through ward based planning in Port St Johns local municipality. Public participation in South Africa is important, as it is the backbone of the democratic state that was introduced by the 1994 democratic elections. Public participation is essentially a process that engages communities from the planning phase to the implementation and evaluation phases of a particular activity or project. Public participation has become a key aspect of South African planning and is a recurring theme in several legislative and theoretical documents. Public participation is a principle that is accepted throughout all spheres of government. It is important because it is the only method whereby government can gain a sense of the needs and aspirations of the various communities. With specific reference to municipalities, public participation is enhanced through the establishment of ward based planning. The Port St Johns ward based planning process has not only been an opportunity for households and communities to contribute to the integrated development plan (IDP), it has also provided them with access to information. This is the first step towards re-skilling our people to participate in the knowledge economy. The ward based planning process provides a link between municipal level planning and delivery and activities at ward level. Port St Johns’ ward based planning process is the vehicle for entrenching participation in the IDP in order to maximise co-ordination and synergy between priorities and municipal programs. The main objective and aim of the study was to advance recommendations that may be adopted as solutions to Port St Johns’ municipal management for improving a strategy for the public to participate in municipal activities. In conclusion, this study found that community based planning does influence the municipality’s integrated development plan but its effectiveness lies in proper planning and giving it the attention it deserves as one of the tools to be used to improve public participation in the affairs of the Port St Johns Municipality.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Evaluating the benefits of the extended public works programme in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Authors: Lindani-Beni, Bulelwa
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Public service employment -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Job creation -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Public works -- South Africa -- Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40555 , vital:36182
- Description: Public Works Programmes (PWPs) are interventions implemented by the government to overcome the high levels of unemployment and to provide the poor with salaries so that they can meet their basic needs. This was done in response to the United Nations (UN) call to meet the sustainable development goals adopted in 2015. The study defines PWPs and gives an overview of the categories of the intervention programmes. Different countries use the PWPs for different aims from poverty reduction, response to economic shocks and guaranteed employment. Most of the countries, like South Africa, use these programmes as a temporary relief. Unemployment remains a challenge in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) and the municipality has always been unsuccessful in reaching the targets expected in job creation. The study compares the South African Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) with the two other international programmes, India and Malawi. The analysis of the three phases of the South African EPWP since its inception in 2004 is done in this study. The paper analysed the BCMM’s EPWP projects in the Eastern Cape where there is a high level of unemployment and a high degree of rural-urban migration. An overview of the Malawi Social Action Fund (MASAF) and India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) is also presented in this study. The researcher analysed documents and desktop reviews for the study. The available information such as the programme strategic plans, logical frameworks, policy documents, implementation reports, academic journals and media reports were consulted for this study. The study highlighted challenges in the South African EPWP which contributes towards the inefficiency of the programme in reducing the high levels of unemployment in the BCMM. The researcher provided recommendations that may improve the effectiveness of the public works programme in South Africa. One recommendation is the development of a Management Information System for EPWP that can assist the government in monitoring and evaluating the whole programme in the different departments and municipalities.
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- Date Issued: 2019