Strategies for retaining talented staff and knowledge managers : a case study
- Authors: Gatyeni, Litha
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa , Employee motivation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8710 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/958 , Employee retention -- South Africa , Employee motivation -- South Africa
- Description: The South African government is currently targeting 6 per cent economic growth for the country (Mail & Guardian, 2006). The construction industry is one of the growing forces contributing to the current economic growth of South Africa. However, in the speech made by the president Thabo Mbeki, he highlighted the labour market as one of the key constraints to achieving higher and sustainable growth. It is believed that there is a skills shortage or a mismatch in the labour market (Mail & Guardian, 2006). The construction industry has seen a steady growth over the past number of years. When South Africa won the bid to host the 2010 world cup, this required more building work to be done, such as construction of stadia, hotels, etc. This has put further strain in the construction industry. As the work load increases, the companies in the industry require more resources, with the human resources being the most affected. This has seen a high rate of talented staff turnover in the industry as companies seek to increase their capacity to allow them cope with the current work load. The consulting engineering industry plays a critical role of the construction industry. The selected company is part of the electrical and mechanical consulting engineering industry which has also been affected by the high talented staff turnover. The main purpose for this research was to identify retention strategies that can be used by the selected company to reduce the turnover of their talented staff. The research also investigated methods to retain the knowledge within the company that was possibly lost due to a high talented staff turnover rate. The first step used to resolve the issues discussed above was to complete a full literature study. The literature study sought to reveal what characteristics were required in the company that ensured staff would be happy in that company and remain there for a long time. The literature study also covered what knowledge iv management methods can be used by the company to retain its valuable knowledge. Secondly, the views of current staff, ex-staff and management of the selected company on staff and knowledge management strategies were asked in an empirical study, which involved completing questionnaires and conducting structured interviews. Based on the findings of the literature study and the empirical study, the last step was to make recommendations on what strategies should be implemented to retain staff and knowledge for the selected company.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Gatyeni, Litha
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Employee retention -- South Africa , Employee motivation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8710 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/958 , Employee retention -- South Africa , Employee motivation -- South Africa
- Description: The South African government is currently targeting 6 per cent economic growth for the country (Mail & Guardian, 2006). The construction industry is one of the growing forces contributing to the current economic growth of South Africa. However, in the speech made by the president Thabo Mbeki, he highlighted the labour market as one of the key constraints to achieving higher and sustainable growth. It is believed that there is a skills shortage or a mismatch in the labour market (Mail & Guardian, 2006). The construction industry has seen a steady growth over the past number of years. When South Africa won the bid to host the 2010 world cup, this required more building work to be done, such as construction of stadia, hotels, etc. This has put further strain in the construction industry. As the work load increases, the companies in the industry require more resources, with the human resources being the most affected. This has seen a high rate of talented staff turnover in the industry as companies seek to increase their capacity to allow them cope with the current work load. The consulting engineering industry plays a critical role of the construction industry. The selected company is part of the electrical and mechanical consulting engineering industry which has also been affected by the high talented staff turnover. The main purpose for this research was to identify retention strategies that can be used by the selected company to reduce the turnover of their talented staff. The research also investigated methods to retain the knowledge within the company that was possibly lost due to a high talented staff turnover rate. The first step used to resolve the issues discussed above was to complete a full literature study. The literature study sought to reveal what characteristics were required in the company that ensured staff would be happy in that company and remain there for a long time. The literature study also covered what knowledge iv management methods can be used by the company to retain its valuable knowledge. Secondly, the views of current staff, ex-staff and management of the selected company on staff and knowledge management strategies were asked in an empirical study, which involved completing questionnaires and conducting structured interviews. Based on the findings of the literature study and the empirical study, the last step was to make recommendations on what strategies should be implemented to retain staff and knowledge for the selected company.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
A model for privacy-aware presence management in mobile communications
- Authors: Ophoff, Jacobus Albertus
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Mobile communications systems , Mobile communication systems -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9757 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1354 , Mobile communications systems , Mobile communication systems -- Management
- Description: As humans we find communicating natural and compelling. Over the centuries we have created many innovations which enable and improve communication between people; during the past decade mobile phone networks have brought about a technological revolution in this area. Never before have people been so connected to one another. Today we have the ability to communicate with almost anyone, anytime, anywhere. Our increased connectivity and reachability also leads to new issues and challenges that we need to deal with. When we phone someone we expect an instant connection, and when this does not occur it can be frustrating. On the other hand it is equally disruptive to receive a call when one is busy with an important task or in a situation where communication is inappropriate. Social protocol dictates that we try to minimize such situations for the benefit of others nearby and for ourselves. This management of communications is a constant and difficult task. Using presence – which signals a person’s availability and willingness to communicate – is a solution to this problem. Such information can benefit communication partners by increasing the likelihood of a successful connection and decreasing disruptions. This research addresses the problem of staying connected while keeping control over mobile communications. It adopts a design-science research paradigm, with the primary research artifact being a model for privacy-aware presence management in mobile communications. As part of the model development knowledge contributions are made in several ways. Existing knowledge about the problem area is extended through a quantitative analysis of mobile communications management. This analysis uses a novel survey, collecting useful empirical data for future research. This includes how people currently manage their communications and what features they expect from a potential “call management” system. The examination and use of presence standards, as a foundation for the model, provides a comparison of the main presence technologies available today. A focus on privacy features identifies several shortcomings in standards which, if addressed, can help to improve and make these standards more complete. The model stresses the privacy of potentially sensitive presence information. A unique perspective based on social relationship theories is adopted. The use of relationship groups not only makes logical sense but also assists in the management of presence information and extends existing standards. Finally, the evaluation of the model demonstrates the feasibility of a practical implementation as well the ability to extend the model in next generation mobile networks. Thus the model presents a solid foundation for the development of future services. In these ways the proposed model contributes positively towards balancing efficient mobile communications with the need for privacy-awareness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Ophoff, Jacobus Albertus
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Mobile communications systems , Mobile communication systems -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9757 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1354 , Mobile communications systems , Mobile communication systems -- Management
- Description: As humans we find communicating natural and compelling. Over the centuries we have created many innovations which enable and improve communication between people; during the past decade mobile phone networks have brought about a technological revolution in this area. Never before have people been so connected to one another. Today we have the ability to communicate with almost anyone, anytime, anywhere. Our increased connectivity and reachability also leads to new issues and challenges that we need to deal with. When we phone someone we expect an instant connection, and when this does not occur it can be frustrating. On the other hand it is equally disruptive to receive a call when one is busy with an important task or in a situation where communication is inappropriate. Social protocol dictates that we try to minimize such situations for the benefit of others nearby and for ourselves. This management of communications is a constant and difficult task. Using presence – which signals a person’s availability and willingness to communicate – is a solution to this problem. Such information can benefit communication partners by increasing the likelihood of a successful connection and decreasing disruptions. This research addresses the problem of staying connected while keeping control over mobile communications. It adopts a design-science research paradigm, with the primary research artifact being a model for privacy-aware presence management in mobile communications. As part of the model development knowledge contributions are made in several ways. Existing knowledge about the problem area is extended through a quantitative analysis of mobile communications management. This analysis uses a novel survey, collecting useful empirical data for future research. This includes how people currently manage their communications and what features they expect from a potential “call management” system. The examination and use of presence standards, as a foundation for the model, provides a comparison of the main presence technologies available today. A focus on privacy features identifies several shortcomings in standards which, if addressed, can help to improve and make these standards more complete. The model stresses the privacy of potentially sensitive presence information. A unique perspective based on social relationship theories is adopted. The use of relationship groups not only makes logical sense but also assists in the management of presence information and extends existing standards. Finally, the evaluation of the model demonstrates the feasibility of a practical implementation as well the ability to extend the model in next generation mobile networks. Thus the model presents a solid foundation for the development of future services. In these ways the proposed model contributes positively towards balancing efficient mobile communications with the need for privacy-awareness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Assessing authentic leadership and workplace trust amongst managerial government employees in Lesotho
- Authors: Damane, Likeleko
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Leadership -- Moral and ethical aspects , Industrial management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9033 , vital:26458
- Description: In today‘s world, characterised by highly competitive global economies, organisations have realised the need for a positive approach in order to remain competitive, sustainable and to attract and retain talent. A positive approach to leadership and an organisational environment characterised by trust has been one of the fundamental tools towards achieving this goal. The main objective of the present study was to assess the existence of positive organizational approaches (authentic leadership and workplace trust) within the government of Lesotho, especially at a time when the country was facing difficulties. The study was descriptive in nature, and followed a non-experimental quantitative approach. The survey made use of a sample of 153 civil servants occupying positions from supervisory to senior management. Data was acquired through the use of an electronic questionnaire made up of two scales: one was a self-assessment instrument on authentic leadership adopted from Walumbwa and associates, and the other scale was on workplace trust developed by Natalie Ferres. The analysis of data involved descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, post hoc tests and Cohen‘s d. The results of the study provided evidence that there were high levels of the authentic leadership and trust in the workplace. Demographic variables were not found to influence the outcome of authentic leadership scores, however, education and managerial level were found to have an influence on organisational trust. The findings of the study provoked the researcher to call for an implementation of policy on positive training for management and for further research in this area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Damane, Likeleko
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Leadership -- Moral and ethical aspects , Industrial management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9033 , vital:26458
- Description: In today‘s world, characterised by highly competitive global economies, organisations have realised the need for a positive approach in order to remain competitive, sustainable and to attract and retain talent. A positive approach to leadership and an organisational environment characterised by trust has been one of the fundamental tools towards achieving this goal. The main objective of the present study was to assess the existence of positive organizational approaches (authentic leadership and workplace trust) within the government of Lesotho, especially at a time when the country was facing difficulties. The study was descriptive in nature, and followed a non-experimental quantitative approach. The survey made use of a sample of 153 civil servants occupying positions from supervisory to senior management. Data was acquired through the use of an electronic questionnaire made up of two scales: one was a self-assessment instrument on authentic leadership adopted from Walumbwa and associates, and the other scale was on workplace trust developed by Natalie Ferres. The analysis of data involved descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, post hoc tests and Cohen‘s d. The results of the study provided evidence that there were high levels of the authentic leadership and trust in the workplace. Demographic variables were not found to influence the outcome of authentic leadership scores, however, education and managerial level were found to have an influence on organisational trust. The findings of the study provoked the researcher to call for an implementation of policy on positive training for management and for further research in this area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
A journey with an abused child : a non-directive play therapy perspective
- Authors: Currin, Lisa Natalie
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Play therapy -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse -- South Africa -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9847 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/434 , Play therapy -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse -- South Africa -- Psychological aspects
- Description: The extensive amount of research conducted in the field of family violence internationally indicates that child abuse has a detrimental effect on both the physical and emotional development of children as well as having a profound effect on an individual’s psychological development and functioning in adult life. The aim of this research study was to describe the therapeutic process that unfolded with a seven year old allegedly abused female client within the framework of non-directive play therapy. The case was further contextualised utilising Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. This study served to broaden the body of psychotherapeutic knowledge by means of meaningful qualitative enquiry. The client was referred for therapy because of severe emotional and behavioural problems following the alleged sexual abuse. The client was seen over a period of eight months and this included 11 sessions of non-directive play therapy, three parent interviews and psychometric assessments conducted by a colleague. The case study method was utilised in this study. To achieve the aim of the research, the methodology of choice was the descriptive dialogic case study. A purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of the research subject for this study. The data collection and analysis were conducted according to Yin’s (1994) analytical generalisation, which consists of two main strategies: (a) using a theoretical framework as a guide to determine what data is relevant; and (b) developing a matrix as a descriptive framework for organising and integrating the data. Furthermore, the process of data analysis was aided by the use of guidelines proposed by Irving Alexander (1988) with Axline’s non-directive play therapy and Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development as the theoretical frameworks. The findings of this study suggest that plotting the play therapy sessions according to the framework of the four stages of play therapy was a particularly useful tool to monitor Michelle’s progression through the therapeutic process. This can be seen as a valuable application of a tool which can be used within the non-directive play therapy approach. Contextualising Michelle’s development according to the stages of Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development was also found to be a valuable endeavour. According to her chronological age, Michelle should have been in the fourth stage of industry versus inferiority, but in reality Michelle was still struggling to strike a healthy balance between the terms of conflict of trust versus mistrust issues of the first stage. From a therapeutic point, this was an important exercise as it helped to inform the therapist and consequently, the therapeutic process. This research undertaking can be recognised as a positive demonstration of the value of non-directive play therapy (Virginia Axline) and Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development in the therapeutic process. In addition, this study has served to facilitate a more holistic understanding of the case study approach to research. Recommendations regarding future research undertakings that utilise the case study approach and methodology have been made. Key concepts: child abuse; family violence; non-directive play therapy; Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development; analytical generalisation; case study research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Currin, Lisa Natalie
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Play therapy -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse -- South Africa -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9847 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/434 , Play therapy -- South Africa , Child sexual abuse -- South Africa -- Psychological aspects
- Description: The extensive amount of research conducted in the field of family violence internationally indicates that child abuse has a detrimental effect on both the physical and emotional development of children as well as having a profound effect on an individual’s psychological development and functioning in adult life. The aim of this research study was to describe the therapeutic process that unfolded with a seven year old allegedly abused female client within the framework of non-directive play therapy. The case was further contextualised utilising Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development. This study served to broaden the body of psychotherapeutic knowledge by means of meaningful qualitative enquiry. The client was referred for therapy because of severe emotional and behavioural problems following the alleged sexual abuse. The client was seen over a period of eight months and this included 11 sessions of non-directive play therapy, three parent interviews and psychometric assessments conducted by a colleague. The case study method was utilised in this study. To achieve the aim of the research, the methodology of choice was the descriptive dialogic case study. A purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of the research subject for this study. The data collection and analysis were conducted according to Yin’s (1994) analytical generalisation, which consists of two main strategies: (a) using a theoretical framework as a guide to determine what data is relevant; and (b) developing a matrix as a descriptive framework for organising and integrating the data. Furthermore, the process of data analysis was aided by the use of guidelines proposed by Irving Alexander (1988) with Axline’s non-directive play therapy and Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development as the theoretical frameworks. The findings of this study suggest that plotting the play therapy sessions according to the framework of the four stages of play therapy was a particularly useful tool to monitor Michelle’s progression through the therapeutic process. This can be seen as a valuable application of a tool which can be used within the non-directive play therapy approach. Contextualising Michelle’s development according to the stages of Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development was also found to be a valuable endeavour. According to her chronological age, Michelle should have been in the fourth stage of industry versus inferiority, but in reality Michelle was still struggling to strike a healthy balance between the terms of conflict of trust versus mistrust issues of the first stage. From a therapeutic point, this was an important exercise as it helped to inform the therapist and consequently, the therapeutic process. This research undertaking can be recognised as a positive demonstration of the value of non-directive play therapy (Virginia Axline) and Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development in the therapeutic process. In addition, this study has served to facilitate a more holistic understanding of the case study approach to research. Recommendations regarding future research undertakings that utilise the case study approach and methodology have been made. Key concepts: child abuse; family violence; non-directive play therapy; Erik Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development; analytical generalisation; case study research.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Child sex tourism in South African law
- Authors: Chetty, Kasturi
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Child sexual abuse -- South Africa , Sex tourism -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Sex crimes -- South Africa , Child prostitution -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10276 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/485 , Child sexual abuse -- South Africa , Sex tourism -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Sex crimes -- South Africa , Child prostitution -- South Africa
- Description: Child sex tourism is tourism organised with the primary purpose of facilitating a commercial sexual relationship with a child. It involves a segment of the local child sex industry that is directly connected to both an international and domestic tourist market. The increase of tourism has brought with it complications in that tourism is being used as a means for sex tourists to initiate contact with children. Aside from child sex tourists who are paedophiles, there are those who engage in the opportunistic exploitation of children while travelling on business or for other reasons. There are a number of social and economic factors leading to child sex tourism and the effect is that child victims are exposed to immediate harm, irreversible damage and even death. As South Africa's tourism industry expands into one of the country’s top earners of foreign currency, it is unfortunate to note that its child sex tourist trade is also on the increase. Reports show that sex tours are as easily organised as wine route tours in Cape Town. Commercial sexual exploitation of children is prevalent in South Africa and has become more organised in recent years. A comprehensive response to the problem is essential to ensure that South Africa does not become a “safe haven” for child sex tourists. Effective laws at home and the extraterritorial application of these laws to prosecute South African nationals for crimes committed abroad are imperative. Significant steps are being taken both nationally and internationally to target child sex tourism. South Africa has ratified several international instruments on children’s rights, trafficking in persons, child labour, and discrimination against women and young girls, all of which relate to child sex tourism. In doing so, South Africa has made an international commitment to uphold the provisions of these instruments and give effect to them. South Africa is therefore under an international obligation to create the necessary structures and apply mechanisms and resources to combat child sex tourism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Chetty, Kasturi
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Child sexual abuse -- South Africa , Sex tourism -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Sex crimes -- South Africa , Child prostitution -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10276 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/485 , Child sexual abuse -- South Africa , Sex tourism -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Sex crimes -- South Africa , Child prostitution -- South Africa
- Description: Child sex tourism is tourism organised with the primary purpose of facilitating a commercial sexual relationship with a child. It involves a segment of the local child sex industry that is directly connected to both an international and domestic tourist market. The increase of tourism has brought with it complications in that tourism is being used as a means for sex tourists to initiate contact with children. Aside from child sex tourists who are paedophiles, there are those who engage in the opportunistic exploitation of children while travelling on business or for other reasons. There are a number of social and economic factors leading to child sex tourism and the effect is that child victims are exposed to immediate harm, irreversible damage and even death. As South Africa's tourism industry expands into one of the country’s top earners of foreign currency, it is unfortunate to note that its child sex tourist trade is also on the increase. Reports show that sex tours are as easily organised as wine route tours in Cape Town. Commercial sexual exploitation of children is prevalent in South Africa and has become more organised in recent years. A comprehensive response to the problem is essential to ensure that South Africa does not become a “safe haven” for child sex tourists. Effective laws at home and the extraterritorial application of these laws to prosecute South African nationals for crimes committed abroad are imperative. Significant steps are being taken both nationally and internationally to target child sex tourism. South Africa has ratified several international instruments on children’s rights, trafficking in persons, child labour, and discrimination against women and young girls, all of which relate to child sex tourism. In doing so, South Africa has made an international commitment to uphold the provisions of these instruments and give effect to them. South Africa is therefore under an international obligation to create the necessary structures and apply mechanisms and resources to combat child sex tourism.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Problems experienced by project managers on housing projects
- Mtshekexe, Ntombesibini Octavia
- Authors: Mtshekexe, Ntombesibini Octavia
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Project management , Housing rehabilitation , Public housing -- South Africa , Building -- Superintendence
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9675 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020930
- Description: Housing projects are amongst the South African (SA) Government’s major focus points with reference to budgeting for its financial years. The delivery of these housing projects is taking place at a slower rate than anticipated due to the problems experienced in the processes involved in their management. The project management shortcomings are a major setback with reference to the delivery of houses to the communities. It is, however, stated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) that every South African citizen has a right to housing and that the Local Government, as the closest entity to communities, must do whatever it possibly can to ensure timeous service delivery to its communities. The objective of this research is to ascertain the nature and extent of project management problems experienced by municipal project managers, the impact thereof and potential solutions to the identified problems. The study is intended to advise on possible ways to address project management problems arising during the implementation of housing projects in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) through investigation and analysis of information gathered in both theory and practice. Project management is a process of controlling the achievement of project objectives through the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques. For a housing project the main objective is to deliver safe, quality houses on time and within budget. Problems which hinder the delivery of housing projects relate to cost, time and the quality of housing projects delivered. The fact that these key project objectives are not met needs to be addressed urgently in order to improve the housing delivery. The literature reviewed and the feedback from the surveys; indicate that these problems have a vast impact on housing projects. The survey also reveals that it is not only housing Project Managers (PMs) that are unable to perform well, but also other parties involved in the project management of housing projects and which play a great role in project management failures of housing projects. Some of these parties are consultants and contractors. The lack of performance by project managers affects the delivery of houses negatively in the NMBM.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Mtshekexe, Ntombesibini Octavia
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Project management , Housing rehabilitation , Public housing -- South Africa , Building -- Superintendence
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:9675 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020930
- Description: Housing projects are amongst the South African (SA) Government’s major focus points with reference to budgeting for its financial years. The delivery of these housing projects is taking place at a slower rate than anticipated due to the problems experienced in the processes involved in their management. The project management shortcomings are a major setback with reference to the delivery of houses to the communities. It is, however, stated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) that every South African citizen has a right to housing and that the Local Government, as the closest entity to communities, must do whatever it possibly can to ensure timeous service delivery to its communities. The objective of this research is to ascertain the nature and extent of project management problems experienced by municipal project managers, the impact thereof and potential solutions to the identified problems. The study is intended to advise on possible ways to address project management problems arising during the implementation of housing projects in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) through investigation and analysis of information gathered in both theory and practice. Project management is a process of controlling the achievement of project objectives through the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques. For a housing project the main objective is to deliver safe, quality houses on time and within budget. Problems which hinder the delivery of housing projects relate to cost, time and the quality of housing projects delivered. The fact that these key project objectives are not met needs to be addressed urgently in order to improve the housing delivery. The literature reviewed and the feedback from the surveys; indicate that these problems have a vast impact on housing projects. The survey also reveals that it is not only housing Project Managers (PMs) that are unable to perform well, but also other parties involved in the project management of housing projects and which play a great role in project management failures of housing projects. Some of these parties are consultants and contractors. The lack of performance by project managers affects the delivery of houses negatively in the NMBM.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Uptake of liposomes into bacterial cells
- Authors: Oidu, Benjamin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Liposomes , Drug carriers (Pharmacy)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10165 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021010
- Description: Liposomes are small phospholipid vesicles that have been widely investigated as drug carriers for the delivery of therapeutic agents. A variety of liposome formulations are presently under clinical trial exploration, while others have already been approved for clinical use. The aim of this study was to optimize liposome uptake into bacterial cells. Both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were used in the study as well as Candida albicans.Response surface methodology (RSM) using a central composite design (CCD) model was used to optimize liposomal formulations of carboxyfluorescien (CF) for each of the three microbes, and also the three microbes in combination namely; Staphylococcus aureus (Sa), Escherichia coli (Ec) and Candida albicans (Ca). Percentage of CF encapsulated and CF increase in Uptake were investigated with respect to two independent variables that were, cholesterol (CHOL) and stearylamine (SA) content. Design Expert 8 was used for the purpose of finding the combination of independent variables that would yield an optimal formulation for each microbe and the three microbes in combination. The model selected by the software managed to reasonably correlate the predicted models to the experimental data. Encapsulation of carboxyfluorescien (CF) into a liposome formulation enhanced its uptake by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as well as Candida albicans. This was evident in the increase in CF uptake when the uptake rate of free CF was compared with that of liposomal CF.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Oidu, Benjamin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Liposomes , Drug carriers (Pharmacy)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10165 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021010
- Description: Liposomes are small phospholipid vesicles that have been widely investigated as drug carriers for the delivery of therapeutic agents. A variety of liposome formulations are presently under clinical trial exploration, while others have already been approved for clinical use. The aim of this study was to optimize liposome uptake into bacterial cells. Both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were used in the study as well as Candida albicans.Response surface methodology (RSM) using a central composite design (CCD) model was used to optimize liposomal formulations of carboxyfluorescien (CF) for each of the three microbes, and also the three microbes in combination namely; Staphylococcus aureus (Sa), Escherichia coli (Ec) and Candida albicans (Ca). Percentage of CF encapsulated and CF increase in Uptake were investigated with respect to two independent variables that were, cholesterol (CHOL) and stearylamine (SA) content. Design Expert 8 was used for the purpose of finding the combination of independent variables that would yield an optimal formulation for each microbe and the three microbes in combination. The model selected by the software managed to reasonably correlate the predicted models to the experimental data. Encapsulation of carboxyfluorescien (CF) into a liposome formulation enhanced its uptake by Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as well as Candida albicans. This was evident in the increase in CF uptake when the uptake rate of free CF was compared with that of liposomal CF.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
The impact of customer relationship management on retail banking using self-service channels
- Authors: Bothma, Tracy
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Banks and banking -- Customer services , Service industries -- Technological innovations , Customer relations -- Management , Consumer satisfaction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9346 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013654
- Description: If you do not own the latest technology today it is thought that you are left behind in this technology driven age. More businesses use Self- Service channels to accommodate the increasing demands of customers. It has been said that the use of self-service channels can reduce input costs, increase efficiency and improve customer service. Unfortunately, many customers are left unsatisfied because retail banks are moving away from the human interaction when visiting a branch or advise customers to use their self-service channels, sometimes without any assistance. This causes customers to move banks, complain and in so doing reduce profits and customer relationships with their banks.This research’s main objective was to determine the impact of customer relationship management on retail banks that make use of self-service channels. A theoretical overview of self-service channels and customer relationship management was given. Advantages and disadvantages of each option were explored. The researcher wanted to explore the relation between customers using self-service channels and the assistance and protection provided by retail banks. The customer experience questionnaire used in this research asked retail banking customers from the South African population to determine how customers perceive and experience their banks’ self-service channels and customer service. Many questions relating to their needs and wants with regards to banking have been explored. The results show that most customers are satisfied with their banks in general but do feel that the banks can improve their customer service and assistance with regards to using self-service channels like ATM’s, online and telephone banking and E-Wallet. It has concluded that most customers choose their banks based on advertisements and other media, not customer service, product range or word-of-mouth. The general perception is that customers say that their bank charges do justify the customer service received.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Bothma, Tracy
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Banks and banking -- Customer services , Service industries -- Technological innovations , Customer relations -- Management , Consumer satisfaction
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9346 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013654
- Description: If you do not own the latest technology today it is thought that you are left behind in this technology driven age. More businesses use Self- Service channels to accommodate the increasing demands of customers. It has been said that the use of self-service channels can reduce input costs, increase efficiency and improve customer service. Unfortunately, many customers are left unsatisfied because retail banks are moving away from the human interaction when visiting a branch or advise customers to use their self-service channels, sometimes without any assistance. This causes customers to move banks, complain and in so doing reduce profits and customer relationships with their banks.This research’s main objective was to determine the impact of customer relationship management on retail banks that make use of self-service channels. A theoretical overview of self-service channels and customer relationship management was given. Advantages and disadvantages of each option were explored. The researcher wanted to explore the relation between customers using self-service channels and the assistance and protection provided by retail banks. The customer experience questionnaire used in this research asked retail banking customers from the South African population to determine how customers perceive and experience their banks’ self-service channels and customer service. Many questions relating to their needs and wants with regards to banking have been explored. The results show that most customers are satisfied with their banks in general but do feel that the banks can improve their customer service and assistance with regards to using self-service channels like ATM’s, online and telephone banking and E-Wallet. It has concluded that most customers choose their banks based on advertisements and other media, not customer service, product range or word-of-mouth. The general perception is that customers say that their bank charges do justify the customer service received.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Investigating the Cuban Revolución Agricola as a model for the post-'peak oil' age
- Authors: Weideman, Lisa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Sustainable agriculture -- Cuba , Agriculture and state -- Cuba , Green Revolution -- Cuba , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Cuba , Cuba -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4998 , vital:20777
- Description: In this dissertation, the socio-ecological transformations that occurred during Cuba’s Revolución Agrícola are explored, against the backdrop of the historical subalternisation of the country as a consequence of Spanish and American imperialism, and in relation to the continuing subalternisation of the country and its people through the neoliberal mass media. To contextualize such exploration, the origins of large-scale privatization of common land, and the subsequent process of urbanization in the West, are investigated, before Cuba’s similar developmental path – as a result of Spanish colonialism, U.S. imperialism, and communist influence – is detailed. Thereafter, the way in which Cuba established an alternative food paradigm, characterised by local, communal, and urban production during the country’s ‘Special Period’ in the 1990s, is discussed, with a view to illustrating how this eco-socialist model of food production, in both rural and urban areas, led to new relations between people and nature. This Cuban model is then posited as a socio-ecologically sustainable model of food production, deserving of the attention of communities around the world, who seek to gain a degree of autonomy from neoliberal agribusiness. Conversely, the efforts of mainstream neoliberal mass media to silence the immensely positive characteristics of the revolution are also investigated, and framed in terms of the historical subjugation of Cuban voices in the American mass media, and the contemporary marginalisation of the country and its people in the neoliberal mass media. Finally, the dissertation concludes by examining the alternative media response, on the part of several prominent Cubans and those sympathetic to their cause, to bring attention to the value of the socio-ecological transformations that have occurred on the island, against the backdrop of various theorisations of the importance of alternative media platforms as a radical counterforce to neoliberal mass media hegemony.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Weideman, Lisa
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Sustainable agriculture -- Cuba , Agriculture and state -- Cuba , Green Revolution -- Cuba , Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Cuba , Cuba -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4998 , vital:20777
- Description: In this dissertation, the socio-ecological transformations that occurred during Cuba’s Revolución Agrícola are explored, against the backdrop of the historical subalternisation of the country as a consequence of Spanish and American imperialism, and in relation to the continuing subalternisation of the country and its people through the neoliberal mass media. To contextualize such exploration, the origins of large-scale privatization of common land, and the subsequent process of urbanization in the West, are investigated, before Cuba’s similar developmental path – as a result of Spanish colonialism, U.S. imperialism, and communist influence – is detailed. Thereafter, the way in which Cuba established an alternative food paradigm, characterised by local, communal, and urban production during the country’s ‘Special Period’ in the 1990s, is discussed, with a view to illustrating how this eco-socialist model of food production, in both rural and urban areas, led to new relations between people and nature. This Cuban model is then posited as a socio-ecologically sustainable model of food production, deserving of the attention of communities around the world, who seek to gain a degree of autonomy from neoliberal agribusiness. Conversely, the efforts of mainstream neoliberal mass media to silence the immensely positive characteristics of the revolution are also investigated, and framed in terms of the historical subjugation of Cuban voices in the American mass media, and the contemporary marginalisation of the country and its people in the neoliberal mass media. Finally, the dissertation concludes by examining the alternative media response, on the part of several prominent Cubans and those sympathetic to their cause, to bring attention to the value of the socio-ecological transformations that have occurred on the island, against the backdrop of various theorisations of the importance of alternative media platforms as a radical counterforce to neoliberal mass media hegemony.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Factors affecting information technology implementation in the mobile telecommunications industry: a family business case
- Authors: De Jong, Piet
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems -- Technological innovations , Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8629 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1486 , Mobile communication systems -- Technological innovations , Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Description: This treatise investigates how information technology (I.T.) enables growth in a family business (the firm) in Port Elizabeth. The firm operates in the mobile telecommunications sector. The objective of the study is to gain a deeper understanding on why family businesses adopt information technology in their firm by means of a case study. The firm found its technology (or lack thereof) completely out-dated compared to the competition and customer demands. The future of the firm was in jeopardy. The study starts with a literature review of the following three topics which form part of the scope of the research: 1. Family businesses; 2. Influence of I.T. as a driver of growth in business; and 3. An introduction into the mobile telecommunications industry. Data are collected through structured interviews with family members involved in the business. The data are consequently linked to the theory and provides insight as to what the drivers are for I.T. adoption and the required core competencies or critical success factors of the firm. Although it might seem trivial for a small family business to adopt information technology, the research concludes that I.T. is critical for continuous growth and survival of this family business. Conversely due to a lack of internal skills the firm is heavily reliant upon outside consultants for advice, implementation and support. Recommendations which are of particular interest to family businesses in a similar environment are: • Embrace technology early, utilise I.T. solutions to grow and enhance current competitive advantage, do not see I.T. as a competitive advantage alone (Pavlou & Sawy, 2006); • If information expertise is not present within the company it is advisable to invest in that expertise through recruitment, training, partnership, or outsourcing; • Ensure software meets specification / is effective enough – this can be achieved by frequent releases cycles with small changes instead of infrequent release cycles with many big changes; • Engage the consultants in a partnership by i.e. providing a profit share – this will ensure that the consultants are committed to the cause and will also ensure that their involvement is also in their own best interest; • Choose local consultants who are easily accessible – build relationships and focus on trust; • Create lock-in (Amit & Zott, 2001), provide tools free-ofcharge for customers, this will make switching to competitor more difficult; • Automate as much as possible, enable standard work practices, routinize; • Be ready to adjust the organisational structure or relinquish control (Bruquea & Moyanob, 2007)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: De Jong, Piet
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems -- Technological innovations , Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8629 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1486 , Mobile communication systems -- Technological innovations , Family-owned business enterprises -- South Africa
- Description: This treatise investigates how information technology (I.T.) enables growth in a family business (the firm) in Port Elizabeth. The firm operates in the mobile telecommunications sector. The objective of the study is to gain a deeper understanding on why family businesses adopt information technology in their firm by means of a case study. The firm found its technology (or lack thereof) completely out-dated compared to the competition and customer demands. The future of the firm was in jeopardy. The study starts with a literature review of the following three topics which form part of the scope of the research: 1. Family businesses; 2. Influence of I.T. as a driver of growth in business; and 3. An introduction into the mobile telecommunications industry. Data are collected through structured interviews with family members involved in the business. The data are consequently linked to the theory and provides insight as to what the drivers are for I.T. adoption and the required core competencies or critical success factors of the firm. Although it might seem trivial for a small family business to adopt information technology, the research concludes that I.T. is critical for continuous growth and survival of this family business. Conversely due to a lack of internal skills the firm is heavily reliant upon outside consultants for advice, implementation and support. Recommendations which are of particular interest to family businesses in a similar environment are: • Embrace technology early, utilise I.T. solutions to grow and enhance current competitive advantage, do not see I.T. as a competitive advantage alone (Pavlou & Sawy, 2006); • If information expertise is not present within the company it is advisable to invest in that expertise through recruitment, training, partnership, or outsourcing; • Ensure software meets specification / is effective enough – this can be achieved by frequent releases cycles with small changes instead of infrequent release cycles with many big changes; • Engage the consultants in a partnership by i.e. providing a profit share – this will ensure that the consultants are committed to the cause and will also ensure that their involvement is also in their own best interest; • Choose local consultants who are easily accessible – build relationships and focus on trust; • Create lock-in (Amit & Zott, 2001), provide tools free-ofcharge for customers, this will make switching to competitor more difficult; • Automate as much as possible, enable standard work practices, routinize; • Be ready to adjust the organisational structure or relinquish control (Bruquea & Moyanob, 2007)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Portfolio of compositions
- Authors: Simpson, Wayne Charles
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Composition (Music) , Music
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7385 , vital:21343
- Description: This essay will address the evolving nature of, and diversity, in method types of musical analysis. It will explore the connection between methods and approach types to musical analysis and related conceptions of what constitutes meaning in music. These methods will be largely understood as operating inside given parameters of musical meaning. Following a short history of some of the developments concerning structure in music from the 17th to late 19th century, I will discuss some of the dominant analytical methods and aim to highlight common features between them. I will discuss the different approaches these methods employ and highlight areas where a given method might be seen as using more than one approach. I will then investigate some approaches to composition that fall outside the conventional view of musical meaning and ultimately suggest the application of an eclectic model to musical analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Simpson, Wayne Charles
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Composition (Music) , Music
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MMus
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7385 , vital:21343
- Description: This essay will address the evolving nature of, and diversity, in method types of musical analysis. It will explore the connection between methods and approach types to musical analysis and related conceptions of what constitutes meaning in music. These methods will be largely understood as operating inside given parameters of musical meaning. Following a short history of some of the developments concerning structure in music from the 17th to late 19th century, I will discuss some of the dominant analytical methods and aim to highlight common features between them. I will discuss the different approaches these methods employ and highlight areas where a given method might be seen as using more than one approach. I will then investigate some approaches to composition that fall outside the conventional view of musical meaning and ultimately suggest the application of an eclectic model to musical analysis.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Retention of medical doctors in the public health sector: a case study of the Port Elizabeth Hospital complex
- Authors: Guvava, Dorothy Dorica
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Employee retention -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , Physicians -- Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8221 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/976 , Employee retention -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , Physicians -- Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: The Port Elizabeth (PE) hospital complex is one of the public hospital groups in South Africa facing a critical shortage of medical practitioners, with reference to doctors in particular. In the quest of finding how to retain doctors in the hospital complex, the aims of this research were to survey doctors’ career intentions; to investigate factors that could be contributing to these career intentions so as to uncover some of the reasons why doctors are leaving the public sector; and to identify effective ways in which the government and hospitals might improve retention by pointing out areas that need improvement. The factors that influence doctors’ career intention included income, work conditions, risk of contracting infection, risk of injury at work, hours of work, work load, work related stress, paid leave days, resources, personal growth and development opportunities, ongoing training opportunities, advancement and promotion opportunities, relation with co-workers, relations with supervisor/superiors, and sense of meaning. Findings revealed that even though the tendency to leave’ group (43%) was smaller than the ‘tendency to stay’ (57%), the majority (85%) of those who intended to leave were younger doctors. Despite some significant differences in responses between the two groups, results revealed that both groups were dissatisfied with almost all conditions of work apart from relationships with supervisors and co-workers. To a large extent, both groups revealed that work conditions are better in the private hospitals than in their current hospitals. viii The fact that some doctors could stay in the public hospital sector despite intense dissatisfaction with conditions of work, and despite the perception that that there are better options in the private hospitals could be attributed to the fact that most of these doctors are older and are at their retirement stage . Adding to this is that most of these doctors, who indicated willingness to say, scored high in sense of meaning as a factor influencing their career intention. This research was based on the assumption that there was no retention strategy put in place to solve the problems facing PE hospital complex. However, during this research a strategy was being developed and implemented by the Eastern Cape Department of Health. Therefore, evaluation and recommendations of the strategy are provided in the conclusions of the study. These recommendations relate not only to the implementation of the strategy, but improving it to accommodate all problems currently facing the doctors and finding ways and means of making the strategy sustainable; creating private-public partnerships; focusing on creating a sense of meaning amongst the doctors (especially the younger ones) and focusing on retaining the risk group which was the younger doctors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
- Authors: Guvava, Dorothy Dorica
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Employee retention -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , Physicians -- Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8221 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/976 , Employee retention -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , Physicians -- Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Hospitals -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: The Port Elizabeth (PE) hospital complex is one of the public hospital groups in South Africa facing a critical shortage of medical practitioners, with reference to doctors in particular. In the quest of finding how to retain doctors in the hospital complex, the aims of this research were to survey doctors’ career intentions; to investigate factors that could be contributing to these career intentions so as to uncover some of the reasons why doctors are leaving the public sector; and to identify effective ways in which the government and hospitals might improve retention by pointing out areas that need improvement. The factors that influence doctors’ career intention included income, work conditions, risk of contracting infection, risk of injury at work, hours of work, work load, work related stress, paid leave days, resources, personal growth and development opportunities, ongoing training opportunities, advancement and promotion opportunities, relation with co-workers, relations with supervisor/superiors, and sense of meaning. Findings revealed that even though the tendency to leave’ group (43%) was smaller than the ‘tendency to stay’ (57%), the majority (85%) of those who intended to leave were younger doctors. Despite some significant differences in responses between the two groups, results revealed that both groups were dissatisfied with almost all conditions of work apart from relationships with supervisors and co-workers. To a large extent, both groups revealed that work conditions are better in the private hospitals than in their current hospitals. viii The fact that some doctors could stay in the public hospital sector despite intense dissatisfaction with conditions of work, and despite the perception that that there are better options in the private hospitals could be attributed to the fact that most of these doctors are older and are at their retirement stage . Adding to this is that most of these doctors, who indicated willingness to say, scored high in sense of meaning as a factor influencing their career intention. This research was based on the assumption that there was no retention strategy put in place to solve the problems facing PE hospital complex. However, during this research a strategy was being developed and implemented by the Eastern Cape Department of Health. Therefore, evaluation and recommendations of the strategy are provided in the conclusions of the study. These recommendations relate not only to the implementation of the strategy, but improving it to accommodate all problems currently facing the doctors and finding ways and means of making the strategy sustainable; creating private-public partnerships; focusing on creating a sense of meaning amongst the doctors (especially the younger ones) and focusing on retaining the risk group which was the younger doctors.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2008
The role of universities on human capital development in Zimbabwe
- Authors: Bandama, Carol Tambudzai
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- Zimbabwe Human capital -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/16044 , vital:28315
- Description: Countries should encourage their workforce to foster human development as it contributes to the economic development through having a well-trained and skilled workforce. The countries that are economically developed have stood out because of human capabilities that have triggered economic development. With innovation being one of the major advantages of human capital, new ideas lead to the creation of vast employment opportunities especially for those that have studied critical skill subjects. The economic status of Zimbabwe shows that there is human capital development happening in the country, but there is a serious shortage of skills in sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics that are necessary for the industrialisation of the country. The government believes that Zimbabwe can industrialise if STEM education is integrated in the country’s educational system to make human capital development wholistic. The study aims to understand the concept of human capital development and how it can be developed at a balance. A discussion on the primary role of universities and higher learning institutions on developing human capital will be done. Universities educate and equip students with knowledge and skills, hence both STEM and non-STEM curricula is needed to develop human capital that is balanced. This is because STEM graduates that are innovative can create jobs for non-STEM graduates and help a country to industrialise and develop its economy. Universities are recommended to increase public awareness of STEM, train teachers specifically for STEM, invest in research and development and develop STEM-related policies and systems to develop more STEM graduates to strike a balance with non-STEM graduates and enhance industrialisation in Zimbabwe. Interviews were conducted and analysed and some of the recommendations made were to encourage the government to deregulate to attract investment, to increase the public’s awareness of STEM and to train STEM teachers accordingly.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Bandama, Carol Tambudzai
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Economic development -- Zimbabwe Human capital -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/16044 , vital:28315
- Description: Countries should encourage their workforce to foster human development as it contributes to the economic development through having a well-trained and skilled workforce. The countries that are economically developed have stood out because of human capabilities that have triggered economic development. With innovation being one of the major advantages of human capital, new ideas lead to the creation of vast employment opportunities especially for those that have studied critical skill subjects. The economic status of Zimbabwe shows that there is human capital development happening in the country, but there is a serious shortage of skills in sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics that are necessary for the industrialisation of the country. The government believes that Zimbabwe can industrialise if STEM education is integrated in the country’s educational system to make human capital development wholistic. The study aims to understand the concept of human capital development and how it can be developed at a balance. A discussion on the primary role of universities and higher learning institutions on developing human capital will be done. Universities educate and equip students with knowledge and skills, hence both STEM and non-STEM curricula is needed to develop human capital that is balanced. This is because STEM graduates that are innovative can create jobs for non-STEM graduates and help a country to industrialise and develop its economy. Universities are recommended to increase public awareness of STEM, train teachers specifically for STEM, invest in research and development and develop STEM-related policies and systems to develop more STEM graduates to strike a balance with non-STEM graduates and enhance industrialisation in Zimbabwe. Interviews were conducted and analysed and some of the recommendations made were to encourage the government to deregulate to attract investment, to increase the public’s awareness of STEM and to train STEM teachers accordingly.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Understanding current teacher implementation of Zimbabwe's primary school AIDS curriculum: a case study
- Authors: Musingarabwi, Starlin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Teacher participation in curriculum planning -- Zimbabwe , Primary school teachers -- Zimbabwe , Education -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9584 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020912
- Description: Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Education Sport, Arts and Culture offers as one of the primary school curricula, an AIDS curriculum which all Grades 4 to 7 teachers in Zimbabwe’s primary schools mandatorily implement with a view to contributing towards the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS among the young primary school learners. The purpose of this research was to explore and describe teachers’ understanding and implementation of Zimbabwe’s primary school AIDS curriculum regarding the ways in which they articulated teaching practices and processes in their classrooms. The study also aimed to elicit the teachers’ views on how personal and contextual factors impact their adaptation and enactment of the curriculum. The study also sought to establish teachers’ perceptions of their practical experiences with the implementation of Zimbabwe’s primary school AIDS curriculum and their suggestions for improving practice. The study follows a qualitative case study design with minimal quantitative results. It involved three purposively selected primary school grade six teachers (n=3) each of whom was asked to teach five lessons while being observed over a period of three months. Each teacher availed his or her teaching scheme/plan to the researcher who conducted document analysis to glean their symbolic conceptualisation of actual classroom practice of the curriculum. This was followed by three semi-structured interviews with each participating teacher to elicit their perceptions. A content analysis using ideas borrowed from the grounded theory approach was employed resulting in thematic findings. The findings of the study confirm and enhance the theoretical significance of the phenomenological-adaptive perspective of educational change and Honig’s (people, policy, places) and cognition model for describing teacher implementation of the mandatory AIDS curriculum. The findings also confirm the complex ways in which human-generated personal and contextual factors played out in framing and shaping teachers’ personal adaptation of the mandatory AIDS curriculum. The study confirms the adaptation claim that as cognitive sense-makers, teachers mutate and enact a curriculum according to their personal subjective interpretations in the context of unique use-setting implementation realities. Although one of the participants’ understanding and practice displayed considerable comprehension of the requirements of the curriculum, the other teachers displayed an understanding of this curriculum in a superficial way, and experienced few positive experiences and several conceptual and operational constraints in its implementation. Drawing on their practical experiences with the implementation of the curriculum, teachers offered suggestions for transforming the implementation proficiency of this curriculum, which formed part of the conceptual strategy I developed for improving practice. Thus the resultant achievement of the study was a conceptual strategy that was constructed from the key findings of the study to provide educational change leaders with nuanced ideas and insights for improving practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Musingarabwi, Starlin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Teacher participation in curriculum planning -- Zimbabwe , Primary school teachers -- Zimbabwe , Education -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9584 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020912
- Description: Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Education Sport, Arts and Culture offers as one of the primary school curricula, an AIDS curriculum which all Grades 4 to 7 teachers in Zimbabwe’s primary schools mandatorily implement with a view to contributing towards the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS among the young primary school learners. The purpose of this research was to explore and describe teachers’ understanding and implementation of Zimbabwe’s primary school AIDS curriculum regarding the ways in which they articulated teaching practices and processes in their classrooms. The study also aimed to elicit the teachers’ views on how personal and contextual factors impact their adaptation and enactment of the curriculum. The study also sought to establish teachers’ perceptions of their practical experiences with the implementation of Zimbabwe’s primary school AIDS curriculum and their suggestions for improving practice. The study follows a qualitative case study design with minimal quantitative results. It involved three purposively selected primary school grade six teachers (n=3) each of whom was asked to teach five lessons while being observed over a period of three months. Each teacher availed his or her teaching scheme/plan to the researcher who conducted document analysis to glean their symbolic conceptualisation of actual classroom practice of the curriculum. This was followed by three semi-structured interviews with each participating teacher to elicit their perceptions. A content analysis using ideas borrowed from the grounded theory approach was employed resulting in thematic findings. The findings of the study confirm and enhance the theoretical significance of the phenomenological-adaptive perspective of educational change and Honig’s (people, policy, places) and cognition model for describing teacher implementation of the mandatory AIDS curriculum. The findings also confirm the complex ways in which human-generated personal and contextual factors played out in framing and shaping teachers’ personal adaptation of the mandatory AIDS curriculum. The study confirms the adaptation claim that as cognitive sense-makers, teachers mutate and enact a curriculum according to their personal subjective interpretations in the context of unique use-setting implementation realities. Although one of the participants’ understanding and practice displayed considerable comprehension of the requirements of the curriculum, the other teachers displayed an understanding of this curriculum in a superficial way, and experienced few positive experiences and several conceptual and operational constraints in its implementation. Drawing on their practical experiences with the implementation of the curriculum, teachers offered suggestions for transforming the implementation proficiency of this curriculum, which formed part of the conceptual strategy I developed for improving practice. Thus the resultant achievement of the study was a conceptual strategy that was constructed from the key findings of the study to provide educational change leaders with nuanced ideas and insights for improving practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Determinants of internet banking adoption by banks in Ghana
- Authors: Bart-Williams, Edem
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Internet banking -- Ghana , Banks and banking -- Ghana , Banks and banking -- Automation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3715 , vital:20457
- Description: Growth in information and communication technology (ICT) is drastically changing the way businesses, especially in the service industries, are conducted. The financial services industry and banking in particular, is not excluded from this technology explosion. Internet banking, even though not new in advanced countries, is a new transaction channel being used by banks in some parts of Africa, especially Ghana, to offer various products and services to their customers. However, this medium has not been fully exploited by these banks as there are many hurdles the banks must triumph over. In deploying this technology and these systems, there are several factors which banks must take into consideration before fully deploying such a system to their customers, hence the motivation for this study. The absence of suitable and sufficient knowledge on this topic also exposes a “rhetoric versus reality” argument of whether the intention to adopt Internet banking is critical to the strategies and ultimate success of banks in Ghana. For banks to stay ahead of competition as well as to attract and maintain their clientele, it is of paramount importance to gather and link the perspectives of both clients and bank managers in order for banks to ensure that they perform according to the needs and expectations of their clients. In order to achieve the intended results, an empirical study was conducted by taking into consideration the viewpoints of both bank clients and bank managers in determining the factors that customers take into consideration before adopting the Internet banking medium. The primary aim of this study was to quantify significant relationships between the selected variables. Therefore the positivism research paradigm was used, while the phenomenological paradigm was employed for the measuring instruments. Because multiple sources of data were used, from the perspectives of banking clients and managers in Ghana, methodological triangulation was adopted for this study. The results of the empirical investigation showed that both groups (clients and managers) considered the variables of market share, technology acceptance, diffusion of innovation, organisational variables, organisational efficiency, and business strategy to have direct influence on the adoption of Internet banking. However, they differed in opinion concerning the degree of influence of these variables. The bank managers’ responses leaned more towards strong agreement with the importance of these variables than did those of the bank clients. Thus, for bank clients to readily adopt the Internet banking medium for their banking transactions, bank managers must take a closer look at these determinant factors described in the study. The study showed that the population group, educational and income levels exerted an influence on the perceptions clients have regarding Internet banking adoption factors. It was found that the higher the education and income levels of the clients, the easier it was for them to adopt Internet banking. Also, the male group dominated the use of the Internet banking. This is supported by the fact that there is a growing middle class in Ghana that falls within this category of banking clients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Bart-Williams, Edem
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Internet banking -- Ghana , Banks and banking -- Ghana , Banks and banking -- Automation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3715 , vital:20457
- Description: Growth in information and communication technology (ICT) is drastically changing the way businesses, especially in the service industries, are conducted. The financial services industry and banking in particular, is not excluded from this technology explosion. Internet banking, even though not new in advanced countries, is a new transaction channel being used by banks in some parts of Africa, especially Ghana, to offer various products and services to their customers. However, this medium has not been fully exploited by these banks as there are many hurdles the banks must triumph over. In deploying this technology and these systems, there are several factors which banks must take into consideration before fully deploying such a system to their customers, hence the motivation for this study. The absence of suitable and sufficient knowledge on this topic also exposes a “rhetoric versus reality” argument of whether the intention to adopt Internet banking is critical to the strategies and ultimate success of banks in Ghana. For banks to stay ahead of competition as well as to attract and maintain their clientele, it is of paramount importance to gather and link the perspectives of both clients and bank managers in order for banks to ensure that they perform according to the needs and expectations of their clients. In order to achieve the intended results, an empirical study was conducted by taking into consideration the viewpoints of both bank clients and bank managers in determining the factors that customers take into consideration before adopting the Internet banking medium. The primary aim of this study was to quantify significant relationships between the selected variables. Therefore the positivism research paradigm was used, while the phenomenological paradigm was employed for the measuring instruments. Because multiple sources of data were used, from the perspectives of banking clients and managers in Ghana, methodological triangulation was adopted for this study. The results of the empirical investigation showed that both groups (clients and managers) considered the variables of market share, technology acceptance, diffusion of innovation, organisational variables, organisational efficiency, and business strategy to have direct influence on the adoption of Internet banking. However, they differed in opinion concerning the degree of influence of these variables. The bank managers’ responses leaned more towards strong agreement with the importance of these variables than did those of the bank clients. Thus, for bank clients to readily adopt the Internet banking medium for their banking transactions, bank managers must take a closer look at these determinant factors described in the study. The study showed that the population group, educational and income levels exerted an influence on the perceptions clients have regarding Internet banking adoption factors. It was found that the higher the education and income levels of the clients, the easier it was for them to adopt Internet banking. Also, the male group dominated the use of the Internet banking. This is supported by the fact that there is a growing middle class in Ghana that falls within this category of banking clients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The impact of gain-sharing on employee job satisfaction at a manufacturing company in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Mbotshelwa, Sipo Victor
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Gain sharing -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Employee loyalty -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11691 , vital:26955
- Description: In this economically challenging era, companies have got to find the best system that can help to enhance productivity. A very important method is by encouraging takeholders through various forms of incentives. The gain-sharing incentive has been adopted by many organisations today to enhance staff loyalty and productivity. A gain-sharing programme ensures that both the organisation and team members benefit from the expected performances, rather than an individual or group incentive which is given based on a specific finite goal which could be achieved at the cost of other key critical business need. A couple of years ago Autocast Aluminium decided to enhance employee performance by initiating the gain-sharing incentive programme. After the programme was rolled out, the organisation is yet to examine the extent to which it enhances job satisfaction in the organisation. The primary objective or aim of the study is to examine the extent to which gain-sharing at Autocast meets the purpose for which it was created. The sample of the study was 176 of the employees at Autocast Aluminium; however 130 questionnaires were distributed. A total of 88 questionnaires were returned, of which 80 were usable, whilst eight were scrapped due to more half of the questionnaire having missing data. This resulted in a 68 % response rate. A framework has been developed to measure to what extent does the programme enable employees to feel satisfied with their jobs. The empirical results revealed that out of six independent variables tested: fair payment, involvement, personal growth, communication, job security and leadership style, only three that plays significant role on employee job satisfaction. These are fair payment, communication and leadership style.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Mbotshelwa, Sipo Victor
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Gain sharing -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Employee loyalty -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Job satisfaction -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/11691 , vital:26955
- Description: In this economically challenging era, companies have got to find the best system that can help to enhance productivity. A very important method is by encouraging takeholders through various forms of incentives. The gain-sharing incentive has been adopted by many organisations today to enhance staff loyalty and productivity. A gain-sharing programme ensures that both the organisation and team members benefit from the expected performances, rather than an individual or group incentive which is given based on a specific finite goal which could be achieved at the cost of other key critical business need. A couple of years ago Autocast Aluminium decided to enhance employee performance by initiating the gain-sharing incentive programme. After the programme was rolled out, the organisation is yet to examine the extent to which it enhances job satisfaction in the organisation. The primary objective or aim of the study is to examine the extent to which gain-sharing at Autocast meets the purpose for which it was created. The sample of the study was 176 of the employees at Autocast Aluminium; however 130 questionnaires were distributed. A total of 88 questionnaires were returned, of which 80 were usable, whilst eight were scrapped due to more half of the questionnaire having missing data. This resulted in a 68 % response rate. A framework has been developed to measure to what extent does the programme enable employees to feel satisfied with their jobs. The empirical results revealed that out of six independent variables tested: fair payment, involvement, personal growth, communication, job security and leadership style, only three that plays significant role on employee job satisfaction. These are fair payment, communication and leadership style.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Knowledge and understanding of radiographers regarding supraspinatus outlet projection for shoulder impingement syndrome
- Authors: Willians, Razana
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Radiography, Medical , Diagnosis, Radioscopic , Shoulder , Diagnostic imaging
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4456 , vital:20602
- Description: The shoulder is a complex anatomical structure and imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of shoulder conditions. The complexity of the shoulder’s anatomy has led to the development of multiple radiographic projections and techniques within plain film imaging with each projection intended to demonstrate specific aspects of the anatomy of the shoulder. However, reproducing the required projections can be difficult especially if radiographers are not familiar with the projections and their evaluation criteria. Literature has revealed the importance of a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of anatomy, patient positioning, beam direction and centring point, and evaluation criteria to ensure a quality projection for accurate diagnoses. The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge and understanding of radiographers with regard to the supraspinatus outlet projection (SOP) for shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) and its evaluation criteria. The inferences derived from the research findings were used to develop guidelines for a structured in-service training programme for practising radiographers to optimise their knowledge and understanding of the supraspinatus outlet projection in shoulder impingement syndrome. The proposed study followed a quantitative approach. Furthermore, a descriptive, exploratory, contextual design was employed. The research population consisted of practising radiographers working in the public and private hospitals of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The data were collected by means of a structured self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised of three sections. The first section requested demographic information from the participants. The second section assessed their knowledge and understanding regarding the scapular ‘Y’ and the supraspinatus outlet projections and shoulder impingement syndrome. The third section assessed their knowledge and understanding of anatomy and image evaluation/critiquing. The reliability and validity of the data collection instrument was ensured by conducting a pilot study and comparing the results with those of the main study. In addition, the expertise and guidance of a radiographer experienced in the clinical training of radiographers, the supervisor (who has twenty years’ experience in the teaching of radiographers) and a statistician was obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed by means of a statistical programme and with the guidance of a statistician. The researcher ensured that the study was conducted in an ethical manner by adhering to the ethical principles of beneficence, justice and respect for persons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Willians, Razana
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Radiography, Medical , Diagnosis, Radioscopic , Shoulder , Diagnostic imaging
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4456 , vital:20602
- Description: The shoulder is a complex anatomical structure and imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of shoulder conditions. The complexity of the shoulder’s anatomy has led to the development of multiple radiographic projections and techniques within plain film imaging with each projection intended to demonstrate specific aspects of the anatomy of the shoulder. However, reproducing the required projections can be difficult especially if radiographers are not familiar with the projections and their evaluation criteria. Literature has revealed the importance of a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of anatomy, patient positioning, beam direction and centring point, and evaluation criteria to ensure a quality projection for accurate diagnoses. The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge and understanding of radiographers with regard to the supraspinatus outlet projection (SOP) for shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS) and its evaluation criteria. The inferences derived from the research findings were used to develop guidelines for a structured in-service training programme for practising radiographers to optimise their knowledge and understanding of the supraspinatus outlet projection in shoulder impingement syndrome. The proposed study followed a quantitative approach. Furthermore, a descriptive, exploratory, contextual design was employed. The research population consisted of practising radiographers working in the public and private hospitals of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The data were collected by means of a structured self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised of three sections. The first section requested demographic information from the participants. The second section assessed their knowledge and understanding regarding the scapular ‘Y’ and the supraspinatus outlet projections and shoulder impingement syndrome. The third section assessed their knowledge and understanding of anatomy and image evaluation/critiquing. The reliability and validity of the data collection instrument was ensured by conducting a pilot study and comparing the results with those of the main study. In addition, the expertise and guidance of a radiographer experienced in the clinical training of radiographers, the supervisor (who has twenty years’ experience in the teaching of radiographers) and a statistician was obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed by means of a statistical programme and with the guidance of a statistician. The researcher ensured that the study was conducted in an ethical manner by adhering to the ethical principles of beneficence, justice and respect for persons.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Agriculture as a contributor to local economic development (LED) in Nkonkobe Local Municipality
- Authors: Rali, Jongikhaya
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape. , Job creation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9201 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020402
- Description: Africa while being underdeveloped in terms of industry and infrastructure has much rural land and therefore has significant potential to provide global food security. This study investigates agriculture as a contributor to economic development of Nkonkobe Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. While the potential of agriculture, in Nkonkobe Local Municipality is high, this sector has not been fully developed to the benefit of the community and the municipality at large. The results of this study have pointed out that the Eastern Cape, Nkonkobe Local Municipality in particular is where communal farming is practiced on the largest scale and where further growth can take place. This study is informed by the goals of reconstruction and development, as expressed in the Government’s Reconstruction and Development Programme (1995) tabled to meet the basic needs of the people, develop its human resources and to build the local economy. This study aims to transform Nkonkobe Local Municipality into an economically developed area of Amathole District Municipality, by improving the area’s agricultural contribution to the Local Economic Development (LED) of the area. This study supports entrepreneurship and innovation, job creation, raising the quality of basic services to the poorest citizens of Nkonkobe Local Municipality, and increasing the distribution of agricultural land to small holders. This study promotes the development of agricultural sector, which will enable it to absorb more low skilled labour which will assist in poverty alleviation, and promote LED initiatives. This study also develops and promotes the sustainable contribution of agriculture to LED programmes, and improves the participation of local communities in these programmes. The study was conducted using qualitative research methodology. The findings of the study reveal that agricultural infrastructure in support of LED in Nkonkobe Local Municipality must be established and improved. Such infrastructure should include the reticulation of services, such as irrigation schemes, big dams, farming equipment, tractors, laboratories, cold storages and communication links. These services are currently inadequate in the area, and hamper development and progress that the area clearly has great potential to add in terms of global food security and poverty alleviation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Rali, Jongikhaya
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Poverty -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape. , Job creation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9201 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020402
- Description: Africa while being underdeveloped in terms of industry and infrastructure has much rural land and therefore has significant potential to provide global food security. This study investigates agriculture as a contributor to economic development of Nkonkobe Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. While the potential of agriculture, in Nkonkobe Local Municipality is high, this sector has not been fully developed to the benefit of the community and the municipality at large. The results of this study have pointed out that the Eastern Cape, Nkonkobe Local Municipality in particular is where communal farming is practiced on the largest scale and where further growth can take place. This study is informed by the goals of reconstruction and development, as expressed in the Government’s Reconstruction and Development Programme (1995) tabled to meet the basic needs of the people, develop its human resources and to build the local economy. This study aims to transform Nkonkobe Local Municipality into an economically developed area of Amathole District Municipality, by improving the area’s agricultural contribution to the Local Economic Development (LED) of the area. This study supports entrepreneurship and innovation, job creation, raising the quality of basic services to the poorest citizens of Nkonkobe Local Municipality, and increasing the distribution of agricultural land to small holders. This study promotes the development of agricultural sector, which will enable it to absorb more low skilled labour which will assist in poverty alleviation, and promote LED initiatives. This study also develops and promotes the sustainable contribution of agriculture to LED programmes, and improves the participation of local communities in these programmes. The study was conducted using qualitative research methodology. The findings of the study reveal that agricultural infrastructure in support of LED in Nkonkobe Local Municipality must be established and improved. Such infrastructure should include the reticulation of services, such as irrigation schemes, big dams, farming equipment, tractors, laboratories, cold storages and communication links. These services are currently inadequate in the area, and hamper development and progress that the area clearly has great potential to add in terms of global food security and poverty alleviation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Assessing the role of leadership in strategic planning
- Authors: Solomon, Wesley Anthony
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Leadership , Strategic planning , Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8758 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/609 , Leadership , Strategic planning , Management
- Description: Effective leadership is one of the most important factors that influence the performance of an organization. Effective leadership together with supervision are similar in terms of their influence on others towards achieving the goals of the organization. Therefore, effective leadership and supervision are principal activities through which organizational goals and objectives are achieved.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
- Authors: Solomon, Wesley Anthony
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Leadership , Strategic planning , Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8758 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/609 , Leadership , Strategic planning , Management
- Description: Effective leadership is one of the most important factors that influence the performance of an organization. Effective leadership together with supervision are similar in terms of their influence on others towards achieving the goals of the organization. Therefore, effective leadership and supervision are principal activities through which organizational goals and objectives are achieved.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
A comparative analysis of factors affecting the purchasing decisions of cleaning rag buyers in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Shearer, David Charcles
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Purchasing -- Decision making , Consumer behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8898 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020928
- Description: The objectives of this research project were to identify and compare factors that influence the purchasing decisions of Multifibres’ customers active in each channel. Multifibres manufactures and distributes industrial cleaning rags to three channels or client categories, these being industrial resellers, industrial end-users and the walk-in customers. An extensive literature review revealed that purchasing decisions are influenced by, amongst other factors, the buyer’s role, the internal cognitive processes of the buyer, as well as factors present in the buyer’s business and external environment. An empirical study was conducted utilising in-depth interviews. The most prevalent, emergent themes that buyers attached the greatest weight to when purchasing cleaning rags were: price; quality; service; relationships; and, convenience. These factors were probed, analysed and compared, based on each buyer category’s unique set of characteristics. When motivating their purchasing preferences, resellers emphasised the importance of the business relationship and trust as being paramount, while end-users viewed price and service as the most important factors. Walk-in customers valued the combination of price and convenience as the most important reasons influencing their purchasing decisions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Shearer, David Charcles
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Purchasing -- Decision making , Consumer behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8898 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020928
- Description: The objectives of this research project were to identify and compare factors that influence the purchasing decisions of Multifibres’ customers active in each channel. Multifibres manufactures and distributes industrial cleaning rags to three channels or client categories, these being industrial resellers, industrial end-users and the walk-in customers. An extensive literature review revealed that purchasing decisions are influenced by, amongst other factors, the buyer’s role, the internal cognitive processes of the buyer, as well as factors present in the buyer’s business and external environment. An empirical study was conducted utilising in-depth interviews. The most prevalent, emergent themes that buyers attached the greatest weight to when purchasing cleaning rags were: price; quality; service; relationships; and, convenience. These factors were probed, analysed and compared, based on each buyer category’s unique set of characteristics. When motivating their purchasing preferences, resellers emphasised the importance of the business relationship and trust as being paramount, while end-users viewed price and service as the most important factors. Walk-in customers valued the combination of price and convenience as the most important reasons influencing their purchasing decisions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012