Local government reform in Western Australia: a case study on change readiness
- Authors: Van Heerden, Vicky
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Local government -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.) Local government -- Australia -- Subiaco (W.A.) Organizational change -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.) Local officials and employees -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.) Industrial relations -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.) Industrial management -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.) Corporate culture -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:776 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003897
- Description: The Western Australian State Government’s local government reform programme, initiated in February 2009, provides the context for this research. Nedlands, a local government in Perth’s western suburbs, resolved to participate in this reform programme and signed a Regional Transition Group Agreement with Subiaco local government in August 2010. The purpose of the Regional Transition Group was to prepare a business plan to investigate the potential benefits and viability of a Nedlands and Subiaco amalgamation. Whilst the local government of Nedlands is currently investigating the more operational and technical aspects of local government reform in the merger feasibility study, this research focused on employee readiness, more intangible but no less important. The difficulties of achieving success with organisational change initiatives are well documented. A number of models of planned organisational change have been developed to address these difficulties and support successful change and are outlined. This research highlights the value of the first phase of planned change, namely readiness for change, where organizational members are prepared for and become supporters of change. It also highlights the importance of change communication with respect to developing employee readiness. Definitions and some of the dimensions of ‘readiness for change’ are outlined. The five dimensions of readiness for change - discrepancy, appropriateness, principal support, efficacy and valence - provide the ‘lens’ through which readiness for change at Nedlands is explored. From this perspective, the documentation communicating local government reform at Nedlands was analysed. These dimensions were also used to ascertain, from the perspective of the Nedlands' managers, their level of readiness and the readiness of the employees of Nedlands for local government reform. The findings suggest that Nedlands local government has not consciously planned to ‘ready’ employees for local government reform. A number of management recommendations are made to strengthen the change readiness message communicated by the Nedlands local government and to support the development of the Nedlands employees’ readiness for change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Van Heerden, Vicky
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Local government -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.) Local government -- Australia -- Subiaco (W.A.) Organizational change -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.) Local officials and employees -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.) Industrial relations -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.) Industrial management -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.) Corporate culture -- Australia -- Nedlands (W.A.)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:776 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003897
- Description: The Western Australian State Government’s local government reform programme, initiated in February 2009, provides the context for this research. Nedlands, a local government in Perth’s western suburbs, resolved to participate in this reform programme and signed a Regional Transition Group Agreement with Subiaco local government in August 2010. The purpose of the Regional Transition Group was to prepare a business plan to investigate the potential benefits and viability of a Nedlands and Subiaco amalgamation. Whilst the local government of Nedlands is currently investigating the more operational and technical aspects of local government reform in the merger feasibility study, this research focused on employee readiness, more intangible but no less important. The difficulties of achieving success with organisational change initiatives are well documented. A number of models of planned organisational change have been developed to address these difficulties and support successful change and are outlined. This research highlights the value of the first phase of planned change, namely readiness for change, where organizational members are prepared for and become supporters of change. It also highlights the importance of change communication with respect to developing employee readiness. Definitions and some of the dimensions of ‘readiness for change’ are outlined. The five dimensions of readiness for change - discrepancy, appropriateness, principal support, efficacy and valence - provide the ‘lens’ through which readiness for change at Nedlands is explored. From this perspective, the documentation communicating local government reform at Nedlands was analysed. These dimensions were also used to ascertain, from the perspective of the Nedlands' managers, their level of readiness and the readiness of the employees of Nedlands for local government reform. The findings suggest that Nedlands local government has not consciously planned to ‘ready’ employees for local government reform. A number of management recommendations are made to strengthen the change readiness message communicated by the Nedlands local government and to support the development of the Nedlands employees’ readiness for change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Elements in global hospitality expansion
- Authors: Van Oudtshoorn, Clive Niel
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Hospitality industry , International business enterprises , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8838 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019970
- Description: This study reflects an investigation into four elements that could affect global expansion strategies within the hotel industry. In both emerging and developed economies, the increased growth within the services sector has become more apparent. There is considerable knowledge and literature available on the process of internationalisation, globalisation and expansion within the services sector and as this information is important to understand the internationalisation process itself, the decision to expand (cross border) presents a number of opportunities and challenges to the hotel industry. Hotels are comprised of a number of divisions and departments, which collectively offer unique services and facilities to various markets. Within this context, careful consideration is required with respect to an organisation‟s overall strategic objectives, the internal structure and how government and cultural influences and differences affect global expansion. Organisational matters such as strategic objectives as well as operational functions such as financial, marketing and sales, human resources and organisational design must also be considered as hotels require synergy within each of these various components in order to function optimally. When international or globalisation opportunities present themselves or are proactively sought, organisations need to ensure that various factors are clearly understood, analysed and identified. These include the most appropriate strategy required, the organisations own internal capacity levels, governmental influences and cultural dynamics. An in-depth literature review regarding the internationalisation process was conducted where-after a review was compiled and interviews set up with directors of hotel groups who are responsible for global expansion within their respective organisations. The sample included three local South African and two international hotel groups who either were contemplating or who had already expanded internationally. It is evident that hotel companies have a preference to non-equity based expansion either through management contracts or joint ventures. In addition, expansion into emerging markets required a different approach to that of developed markets and a unique understanding of the government and cultural influences of the host country was required.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Van Oudtshoorn, Clive Niel
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Hospitality industry , International business enterprises , Strategic planning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8838 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019970
- Description: This study reflects an investigation into four elements that could affect global expansion strategies within the hotel industry. In both emerging and developed economies, the increased growth within the services sector has become more apparent. There is considerable knowledge and literature available on the process of internationalisation, globalisation and expansion within the services sector and as this information is important to understand the internationalisation process itself, the decision to expand (cross border) presents a number of opportunities and challenges to the hotel industry. Hotels are comprised of a number of divisions and departments, which collectively offer unique services and facilities to various markets. Within this context, careful consideration is required with respect to an organisation‟s overall strategic objectives, the internal structure and how government and cultural influences and differences affect global expansion. Organisational matters such as strategic objectives as well as operational functions such as financial, marketing and sales, human resources and organisational design must also be considered as hotels require synergy within each of these various components in order to function optimally. When international or globalisation opportunities present themselves or are proactively sought, organisations need to ensure that various factors are clearly understood, analysed and identified. These include the most appropriate strategy required, the organisations own internal capacity levels, governmental influences and cultural dynamics. An in-depth literature review regarding the internationalisation process was conducted where-after a review was compiled and interviews set up with directors of hotel groups who are responsible for global expansion within their respective organisations. The sample included three local South African and two international hotel groups who either were contemplating or who had already expanded internationally. It is evident that hotel companies have a preference to non-equity based expansion either through management contracts or joint ventures. In addition, expansion into emerging markets required a different approach to that of developed markets and a unique understanding of the government and cultural influences of the host country was required.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Enhanced sensor-based interaction techniques for mobile map-based applications
- Authors: Van Tonder, Bradley Paul
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Cartography , User interfaces (Computer systems) -- Design , Digital mapping
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10483 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012995
- Description: Mobile phones are increasingly being equipped with a wide range of sensors which enable a variety of interaction techniques. Sensor-based interaction techniques are particularly promising for domains such as map-based applications, where the user is required to interact with a large information space on the small screen of a mobile phone. Traditional interaction techniques have several shortcomings for interacting with mobile map-based applications. Keypad interaction offers limited control over panning speed and direction. Touch-screen interaction is often a two-handed form of interaction and results in the display being occluded during interaction. Sensor-based interaction provides the potential to address many of these shortcomings, but currently suffers from several limitations. The aim of this research was to propose enhancements to address the shortcomings of sensor-based interaction, with a particular focus on tilt interaction. A comparative study between tilt and keypad interaction was conducted using a prototype mobile map-based application. This user study was conducted in order to identify shortcomings and opportunities for improving tilt interaction techniques in this domain. Several shortcomings, including controllability, mental demand and practicality concerns were highlighted. Several enhanced tilt interaction techniques were proposed to address these shortcomings. These techniques were the use of visual and vibrotactile feedback, attractors, gesture zooming, sensitivity adaptation and dwell-time selection. The results of a comparative user study showed that the proposed techniques achieved several improvements in terms of the problem areas identified earlier. The use of sensor fusion for tilt interaction was compared to an accelerometer-only approach which has been widely applied in existing research. This evaluation was motivated by advances in mobile sensor technology which have led to the widespread adoption of digital compass and gyroscope sensors. The results of a comparative user study between sensor fusion and accelerometer-only implementations of tilt interaction showed several advantages for the use of sensor fusion, particularly in a walking context of use. Modifications to sensitivity adaptation and the use of tilt to perform zooming were also investigated. These modifications were designed to address controllability shortcomings identified in earlier experimental work. The results of a comparison between tilt zooming and Summary gesture zooming indicated that tilt zooming offered better results, both in terms of performance and subjective user ratings. Modifications to the original sensitivity adaptation algorithm were only partly successful. Greater accuracy improvements were achieved for walking tasks, but the use of dynamic dampening factors was found to be confusing. The results of this research were used to propose a framework for mobile tilt interaction. This framework provides an overview of the tilt interaction process and highlights how the enhanced techniques proposed in this research can be integrated into the design of tilt interaction techniques. The framework also proposes an application architecture which was implemented as an Application Programming Interface (API). This API was successfully used in the development of two prototype mobile applications incorporating tilt interaction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Van Tonder, Bradley Paul
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Cartography , User interfaces (Computer systems) -- Design , Digital mapping
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10483 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012995
- Description: Mobile phones are increasingly being equipped with a wide range of sensors which enable a variety of interaction techniques. Sensor-based interaction techniques are particularly promising for domains such as map-based applications, where the user is required to interact with a large information space on the small screen of a mobile phone. Traditional interaction techniques have several shortcomings for interacting with mobile map-based applications. Keypad interaction offers limited control over panning speed and direction. Touch-screen interaction is often a two-handed form of interaction and results in the display being occluded during interaction. Sensor-based interaction provides the potential to address many of these shortcomings, but currently suffers from several limitations. The aim of this research was to propose enhancements to address the shortcomings of sensor-based interaction, with a particular focus on tilt interaction. A comparative study between tilt and keypad interaction was conducted using a prototype mobile map-based application. This user study was conducted in order to identify shortcomings and opportunities for improving tilt interaction techniques in this domain. Several shortcomings, including controllability, mental demand and practicality concerns were highlighted. Several enhanced tilt interaction techniques were proposed to address these shortcomings. These techniques were the use of visual and vibrotactile feedback, attractors, gesture zooming, sensitivity adaptation and dwell-time selection. The results of a comparative user study showed that the proposed techniques achieved several improvements in terms of the problem areas identified earlier. The use of sensor fusion for tilt interaction was compared to an accelerometer-only approach which has been widely applied in existing research. This evaluation was motivated by advances in mobile sensor technology which have led to the widespread adoption of digital compass and gyroscope sensors. The results of a comparative user study between sensor fusion and accelerometer-only implementations of tilt interaction showed several advantages for the use of sensor fusion, particularly in a walking context of use. Modifications to sensitivity adaptation and the use of tilt to perform zooming were also investigated. These modifications were designed to address controllability shortcomings identified in earlier experimental work. The results of a comparison between tilt zooming and Summary gesture zooming indicated that tilt zooming offered better results, both in terms of performance and subjective user ratings. Modifications to the original sensitivity adaptation algorithm were only partly successful. Greater accuracy improvements were achieved for walking tasks, but the use of dynamic dampening factors was found to be confusing. The results of this research were used to propose a framework for mobile tilt interaction. This framework provides an overview of the tilt interaction process and highlights how the enhanced techniques proposed in this research can be integrated into the design of tilt interaction techniques. The framework also proposes an application architecture which was implemented as an Application Programming Interface (API). This API was successfully used in the development of two prototype mobile applications incorporating tilt interaction.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Factors influencing the implementation of mathematical word problems in foundation phase classrooms: theory and practice
- Authors: Van Zyl, Marinda
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Education -- Curriculum planning -- Foundation phase
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9564 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015954
- Description: This treatise investigated mathematical word problems (MWPs) and their implementation in Foundation Phase classrooms. Factors influencing the implementation of MWPs, with specific reference to the teachers and learners involved, emerged. Direct and indirect factors influencing the implementation of MWPs were acknowledged. Student teachers‟ reflections on classroom practices experienced during their teaching practice training period for their initial teaching qualification inspired me as lecturer to embark on my own journey of inquiry and study the phenomenon above. As this study was undertaken in South Africa, the need arose to take into consideration the changes that have occurred since 1994. Observations of how democratic values and desires feature, or do not feature, when engaging with the phenomenon had to be considered. This study also aimed to emphasise inequalities in everyday practice. The discovery of “good practice” (Cooper 2010:170) contributed towards addressing the factors that emerged as influencing the implementation of MWPs. Jansens (2009:170) book Knowledge in the blood presents compelling reasons for disclosing the state of current practice and seeks alternatives to promote the required change in mathematics teaching, with one of the perspectives on mathematics education being the emphasis on implementing MWPs in the Foundation Phase. Teachers often extend their own preferences into practice and emphasise their “knowledge in the blood” as their view of good practice. Learners‟ needs and learner diversity are often overlooked. Learners‟ assessment scores, both nationally and internationally, have revealed more negative facts. These low scores have often been, and often still are, news flashes, contributing to a negative view of teachers and education. In order to address the widespread sentiment that there is “no hope for teachers” (Jansen 2011:19), and to avoid a recycling of negativity, “good practice” (Cooper 2010:170) is key to success. This study aimed to discover hope for teachers and learners.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Van Zyl, Marinda
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Education -- Curriculum planning -- Foundation phase
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9564 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015954
- Description: This treatise investigated mathematical word problems (MWPs) and their implementation in Foundation Phase classrooms. Factors influencing the implementation of MWPs, with specific reference to the teachers and learners involved, emerged. Direct and indirect factors influencing the implementation of MWPs were acknowledged. Student teachers‟ reflections on classroom practices experienced during their teaching practice training period for their initial teaching qualification inspired me as lecturer to embark on my own journey of inquiry and study the phenomenon above. As this study was undertaken in South Africa, the need arose to take into consideration the changes that have occurred since 1994. Observations of how democratic values and desires feature, or do not feature, when engaging with the phenomenon had to be considered. This study also aimed to emphasise inequalities in everyday practice. The discovery of “good practice” (Cooper 2010:170) contributed towards addressing the factors that emerged as influencing the implementation of MWPs. Jansens (2009:170) book Knowledge in the blood presents compelling reasons for disclosing the state of current practice and seeks alternatives to promote the required change in mathematics teaching, with one of the perspectives on mathematics education being the emphasis on implementing MWPs in the Foundation Phase. Teachers often extend their own preferences into practice and emphasise their “knowledge in the blood” as their view of good practice. Learners‟ needs and learner diversity are often overlooked. Learners‟ assessment scores, both nationally and internationally, have revealed more negative facts. These low scores have often been, and often still are, news flashes, contributing to a negative view of teachers and education. In order to address the widespread sentiment that there is “no hope for teachers” (Jansen 2011:19), and to avoid a recycling of negativity, “good practice” (Cooper 2010:170) is key to success. This study aimed to discover hope for teachers and learners.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Morphological variation and species diversity of South African Estuarine macrophytes
- Veldkornet, Dimitri Allastair
- Authors: Veldkornet, Dimitri Allastair
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Estuarine ecology -- South Africa , Aquatic plants -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10635 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013001
- Description: Studies on morphological variation are important as it can depict the relationship with environmental factors clearly and convey an understanding of the manner, mechanism and factors influencing plant adaptation and evolution. Although many studies have been conducted on South African salt marsh plant physiology and phytosociology there are at present very few morphological studies on estuarine plants. The aim of this study was to compare the morphological variation of estuarine macrophytes in three different estuary types in the warm temperate biogeographic zone of South Africa and to compare characters used in the taxonomic descriptions of species with those measured in the field. Permanently open estuaries investigated were Ngqusi (WC), Kowie (KW) and Swartkops (SW) estuaries. The Knysna Estuary (KN) was the estuarine bay investigated and the temporarily open/ closed estuaries (TOCEs) were the East Kleinemonde (EK) and Great Brak (GB) estuaries. Macrophytes were morphologically different across different estuary types. This suggests that there were different factors operating between these estuary types that would directly influence the morphology of species. The variation of plant height with different estuary types can be attributed to the fact that smaller salt marshes also have smaller habitat ranges compared to larger ones. The variation in morphological characteristics such as plant height can also be attributed to biogeographical range. Most morphological characteristics measured in the field fall within previously published ranges, and so these characters are useful in delimiting species. There were significant relationships between phenotypic variables and multivariate environmental variables. The most important of these variables were soil electrical conductivity, soil organic content and soil water content. Specifically, plant height increased with water content and decreased with salinity, flower stalk length had strong significant positive correlations with moisture content, organic content and pH while there were strong significant correlations with redox potential and electrical conductivity. Salt marshes are considered ideal for studying variation of species due to the explicit environmental gradients and plants occurring in salt marshes are halophytes that exhibit a range of morphological traits that allows for growth and reproduction under the stressful and extreme conditions. Considering recent climate change predictions and the consequent effects on South African estuaries this study provides significant information with regard to the response of species to a changing environment. The study was also aimed at updating the existing botanical database for South African estuaries in terms of species occurrence in South African estuaries, taxonomic name changes of existing species, new species, common names and habitats. Species diversity indices were also calculated for different estuaries, estuary types and biogeographic zones and diagnostic descriptions of the dominant salt marsh species were developed. The objective of this was that these data should provide baseline information for determining habitat richness and plant species diversity of South African estuaries which in turn should be used in determining priority estuaries for conservation and management. The identification key, developed using the DELTA software, would also aid researchers, managers and laymen in identifying salt marsh species. Results showed that the total number of macrophyte species, including intraspecific taxa and macroalgae, was 242 in 53 estuaries that were updated . There was an increase in the number of taxa recorded in the database primarily due to 1) research focus and full taxonomic surveys on larger estuaries and the big research projects has led to the identification of more species, 2) the addition of species that are not characteristically known as estuarine species, 3) the addition of 50 macroalgal taxa and 4) minor changes due to taxonomic revisions of species and the addition of newly described species. The Shannon diversity index showed that greater species diversity was found in the Berg (Groot) Estuary (4.220) and the Uilkraals Estuary (4.025). The cool temperate bioregion was the most diverse in the number of taxa (58) with the highest Shannon index (4.736). Permanently open estuaries were the most diverse in the number of unique taxa (56) with the highest Shannon index (4.867). Estuarine managers need to be aware of the species diversity in different estuarine types as well as the associated impacts on them. Conservation planning must therefore include species. Diagnostic features of INTKEY indicated that all 57 taxa were distinguishable from each other. Contrary to expectations plant height and not floral morphology was the best diagnostic characteristic. Ecological information such as the estuarine habitat, where different life forms occur, was important in delimiting species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Veldkornet, Dimitri Allastair
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Estuarine ecology -- South Africa , Aquatic plants -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10635 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013001
- Description: Studies on morphological variation are important as it can depict the relationship with environmental factors clearly and convey an understanding of the manner, mechanism and factors influencing plant adaptation and evolution. Although many studies have been conducted on South African salt marsh plant physiology and phytosociology there are at present very few morphological studies on estuarine plants. The aim of this study was to compare the morphological variation of estuarine macrophytes in three different estuary types in the warm temperate biogeographic zone of South Africa and to compare characters used in the taxonomic descriptions of species with those measured in the field. Permanently open estuaries investigated were Ngqusi (WC), Kowie (KW) and Swartkops (SW) estuaries. The Knysna Estuary (KN) was the estuarine bay investigated and the temporarily open/ closed estuaries (TOCEs) were the East Kleinemonde (EK) and Great Brak (GB) estuaries. Macrophytes were morphologically different across different estuary types. This suggests that there were different factors operating between these estuary types that would directly influence the morphology of species. The variation of plant height with different estuary types can be attributed to the fact that smaller salt marshes also have smaller habitat ranges compared to larger ones. The variation in morphological characteristics such as plant height can also be attributed to biogeographical range. Most morphological characteristics measured in the field fall within previously published ranges, and so these characters are useful in delimiting species. There were significant relationships between phenotypic variables and multivariate environmental variables. The most important of these variables were soil electrical conductivity, soil organic content and soil water content. Specifically, plant height increased with water content and decreased with salinity, flower stalk length had strong significant positive correlations with moisture content, organic content and pH while there were strong significant correlations with redox potential and electrical conductivity. Salt marshes are considered ideal for studying variation of species due to the explicit environmental gradients and plants occurring in salt marshes are halophytes that exhibit a range of morphological traits that allows for growth and reproduction under the stressful and extreme conditions. Considering recent climate change predictions and the consequent effects on South African estuaries this study provides significant information with regard to the response of species to a changing environment. The study was also aimed at updating the existing botanical database for South African estuaries in terms of species occurrence in South African estuaries, taxonomic name changes of existing species, new species, common names and habitats. Species diversity indices were also calculated for different estuaries, estuary types and biogeographic zones and diagnostic descriptions of the dominant salt marsh species were developed. The objective of this was that these data should provide baseline information for determining habitat richness and plant species diversity of South African estuaries which in turn should be used in determining priority estuaries for conservation and management. The identification key, developed using the DELTA software, would also aid researchers, managers and laymen in identifying salt marsh species. Results showed that the total number of macrophyte species, including intraspecific taxa and macroalgae, was 242 in 53 estuaries that were updated . There was an increase in the number of taxa recorded in the database primarily due to 1) research focus and full taxonomic surveys on larger estuaries and the big research projects has led to the identification of more species, 2) the addition of species that are not characteristically known as estuarine species, 3) the addition of 50 macroalgal taxa and 4) minor changes due to taxonomic revisions of species and the addition of newly described species. The Shannon diversity index showed that greater species diversity was found in the Berg (Groot) Estuary (4.220) and the Uilkraals Estuary (4.025). The cool temperate bioregion was the most diverse in the number of taxa (58) with the highest Shannon index (4.736). Permanently open estuaries were the most diverse in the number of unique taxa (56) with the highest Shannon index (4.867). Estuarine managers need to be aware of the species diversity in different estuarine types as well as the associated impacts on them. Conservation planning must therefore include species. Diagnostic features of INTKEY indicated that all 57 taxa were distinguishable from each other. Contrary to expectations plant height and not floral morphology was the best diagnostic characteristic. Ecological information such as the estuarine habitat, where different life forms occur, was important in delimiting species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Assessing the role of cooperatives in poverty alleviation in the Eastern Cape: a the case of Amathole district municipality
- Authors: Vellem, Babalwa Faith
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cooperative societies -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11669 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007113 , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cooperative societies -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The study Assess the role of Cooperatives in Poverty Alleviation in the Eastern Cape Case Study of Amathole District Municipality how cooperatives are conducted in the Amathole District Municipality and establishes the perceptions of staff and members of the public about the service rendered by the municipality, and developing the mechanisms that can be used to identify cooperatives activities and how to improve the services rendered by the municipality, and if there are any challenges, they must be resolved. The research was also to look at how the support from government and other government agencies are used to enhance the cooperatives governance. Lastly, the research was to find the best model for cooperative development and what needs to be done to enhance the capacity of the cooperatives. The literature indicates that staff must be equipped with necessary skills; however it is evident that training and development is essential for the members of the cooperative. Questionnaires and interviews were used as a method of collecting data from the respondents. In this study, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyse the data. The research assumption was that cooperative development is a viable tool for economic development of the rural areas. This can help many South Africans and many communities come out of poverty. However, there are limitations that were caused by the inability of government to co-ordinate cooperative development. Despite the role that cooperatives play in South Africa, cooperatives still experience a number of challenges. These challenges are, amongst others, lack of access to finance, lack of access to market, lack of business skills, lack of infrastructural facilities and lack of knowledge about the cooperative. In view of the challenges facing the cooperatives, the government instituted a number of state departments and parastatals for funding and other necessary support. These are DTI, DEDEA (in the Eastern Cape), ECDC, South African Development Agency (SEDA), Department of Labour and municipalities. The objectives of these support institutions are to provide necessary support needed by cooperatives and to ensure that cooperative development is sustainable.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Vellem, Babalwa Faith
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cooperative societies -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11669 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007113 , Poverty -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Cooperative societies -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Human services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- In-service training -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Economic development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The study Assess the role of Cooperatives in Poverty Alleviation in the Eastern Cape Case Study of Amathole District Municipality how cooperatives are conducted in the Amathole District Municipality and establishes the perceptions of staff and members of the public about the service rendered by the municipality, and developing the mechanisms that can be used to identify cooperatives activities and how to improve the services rendered by the municipality, and if there are any challenges, they must be resolved. The research was also to look at how the support from government and other government agencies are used to enhance the cooperatives governance. Lastly, the research was to find the best model for cooperative development and what needs to be done to enhance the capacity of the cooperatives. The literature indicates that staff must be equipped with necessary skills; however it is evident that training and development is essential for the members of the cooperative. Questionnaires and interviews were used as a method of collecting data from the respondents. In this study, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyse the data. The research assumption was that cooperative development is a viable tool for economic development of the rural areas. This can help many South Africans and many communities come out of poverty. However, there are limitations that were caused by the inability of government to co-ordinate cooperative development. Despite the role that cooperatives play in South Africa, cooperatives still experience a number of challenges. These challenges are, amongst others, lack of access to finance, lack of access to market, lack of business skills, lack of infrastructural facilities and lack of knowledge about the cooperative. In view of the challenges facing the cooperatives, the government instituted a number of state departments and parastatals for funding and other necessary support. These are DTI, DEDEA (in the Eastern Cape), ECDC, South African Development Agency (SEDA), Department of Labour and municipalities. The objectives of these support institutions are to provide necessary support needed by cooperatives and to ensure that cooperative development is sustainable.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Feeding dynamics of suspension-feeders in the nearshore marine environment adjacent to two contrasting estuaries in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Vermeulen, Ilke
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Suspension feeders -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Suspension feeders -- Food -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Coastal organisms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Streamflow -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Tetraclitidae -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mexilhao mussel -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Polychaeta -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine health -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuaries -- Freshwater inflow -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5916 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016242
- Description: Coastal transition zones form important interlinking regions where marine ecosystems, rivers and estuarine environments significantly influence each other. Coastal rocky shores are key habitats that sustain a variety of primary producers and invertebrates and due to the dynamic nature of coastal ecosystems, suspension-feeders on rocky shores can be influenced by an array of autochthonous and allochthonous food sources. Fatty acid and stable isotope trophic markers were employed to distinguish between regional and temporal changes in the potential food sources to rocky shore suspension-feeders in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The primary aim was to assess the spatial and temporal influences of contrasting river flows on the available food sources to three indigenous coastal suspensionfeeders, namely the volcano barnacle Tetraclita serrata, brown mussel Perna perna and tubebuilding polychaete Gunnarea capensis. This was done by examining the intra- and interspecific changes in the fatty acid and stable isotope signatures of the barnacles, mussels and polychaetes in the adjacent marine environment of a freshwater-restricted (Kariega) and freshwater-dominated (Great Fish) estuary during austral summer and winter. Multivariate and Kruskal-Wallis analyses of variance on the fatty acid and isotopic signatures, respectively, identified significant regional changes in the barnacles and mussels, while only stable isotopes distinguished between the Kariega and Great Fish polychaetes (P < 0.05). In addition, significant temporal changes were observed in consumer fatty acids and isotope values in both regions (P < 0.05). Bacterial sources, detritus and phytoplankton assemblages, which are influenced by hydrology and vegetation, differed between regions and were mainly responsible for the regional and temporal separations. Principal component analyses on the consumer fatty acid signatures distinguished between animals situated upstream (i.e. north) and downstream (i.e. south) of the Kariega Estuary mouth in summer. The north/south separation was mainly due to greater contributions of diatoms to northernlocated animals and dinoflagellates and detritus to southern-located consumers. In addition, the south-flowing Agulhas Current on the eastern shores of southern Africa appeared to influence the north/south separation in the Kariega region, as water leaving the estuary was probably entrained into the south-easterly flowing currents, thereby depositing estuarinederived detritus to southern populations. In general, diatoms and detritus were essential food sources to the filter-feeders in summer, and flagellates, diatoms, zooplankton and detritus were important in winter. Coastal macroalgae was a key food source in the Kariega and Great Fish regions during both seasons. Consistently large levels of diatom markers (16:1n-7 and 20:5n-3) and dinoflagellate markers (22:6n-3) in consumer tissues in the Kariega and Great Fish regions identified that phytoplankton was their dominant food source. The barnacles, mussels and polychaetes had similar fatty acid markers and a fairly narrow δ¹³C range (-16.5 to -14.4 ‰), suggesting that they probably consumed similar food. Carbon isotope analyses, however, separated the suspension-feeders into slightly depleted (barnacles; -16.5 to -16.1 ‰), intermediate (mussels; -15.8 to -15.0 ‰) and enriched (polychaetes; -15.0 to -14.4 ‰) consumers, but did not provide conclusive evidence of their preferences for specific phytoplankton. Conversely, fatty acid analyses highlighted that barnacles and mussels had greater proportions of dinoflagellate markers (22:6n-3; 7.0-15.3 % TFA), while polychaetes had larger diatom levels (20:5n-3; 15.1-22.2 % TFA). In addition, all three species had consistently large contributions from bacterial fatty acids (15:0, i-16:0, 17:0 and i-18:0; 4.2-13.6 % TFA) in summer and winter, and large proportions of saturated fatty acids (33.3-53.1 % TFA) including those with 14 to 18 carbons, indicating that bacterial and detritus food sources played an important role in their diets. Barnacles had small levels of terrestrial markers (18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3; <2.5 % TFA) and demonstrated increased omnivorous feeding compared with the other suspension-feeders [increased levels of 20:1n-11 and 20:1n-9, higher 18:1n-9/18:1n-7 ratios at ~2.1, enriched δ¹⁵N values at ~10.6 ‰; zooplankton (potentially including microzooplankton, larvae and protists) contribution of up to 61 % of the diet]. Mussels contained significant proportions of the terrestrial markers (18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3; >2.5 % TFA) and exhibited intermediate omnivory (intermediate levels of 20:1n-11 and 20:1n-9, intermediate 18:1n-9/18:1n-7 ratios at ~1.3, less enriched δ¹⁵N values at ~7.9 ‰; zooplankton contribution of 10-15 % of the diet). The more depleted nitrogen signatures in the mussels relative to the barnacles and polychaetes possibly illustrated a stronger preference for autotrophic food. Polychaetes mainly consumed plant food sources (i.e. microalgae, macroalgae and detritus; high levels of i-18:0, 18:1n-9, 18:4n-3 and 20:5n-3) and displayed little omnivory (low levels of 20:1n-11 and 20:1n-9, low 18:1n-9/18:1n-7 ratios at ~0.4, intermediate δ¹⁵N values at ~9.1 ‰; zooplankton contribution of <10 % of the diet). The barnacles, mussels and polychaetes are all suspension-feeders, originally presumed to consume the same food sources. The variations observed among the species, therefore, may result from differences in the proportional contributions of the various food sources to their diets as well as distinctions in metabolism. The distinct changes in the fatty acid and stable isotope signatures in all three filter-feeders in the Kariega and Great Fish regions are likely influenced by the diversity in regional vegetation and hydrology in the different systems, combined with interspecific differences in resource partitioning among the species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Vermeulen, Ilke
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Suspension feeders -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Suspension feeders -- Food -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Coastal organisms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Streamflow -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Tetraclitidae -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Mexilhao mussel -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Polychaeta -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine health -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuaries -- Freshwater inflow -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5916 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1016242
- Description: Coastal transition zones form important interlinking regions where marine ecosystems, rivers and estuarine environments significantly influence each other. Coastal rocky shores are key habitats that sustain a variety of primary producers and invertebrates and due to the dynamic nature of coastal ecosystems, suspension-feeders on rocky shores can be influenced by an array of autochthonous and allochthonous food sources. Fatty acid and stable isotope trophic markers were employed to distinguish between regional and temporal changes in the potential food sources to rocky shore suspension-feeders in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The primary aim was to assess the spatial and temporal influences of contrasting river flows on the available food sources to three indigenous coastal suspensionfeeders, namely the volcano barnacle Tetraclita serrata, brown mussel Perna perna and tubebuilding polychaete Gunnarea capensis. This was done by examining the intra- and interspecific changes in the fatty acid and stable isotope signatures of the barnacles, mussels and polychaetes in the adjacent marine environment of a freshwater-restricted (Kariega) and freshwater-dominated (Great Fish) estuary during austral summer and winter. Multivariate and Kruskal-Wallis analyses of variance on the fatty acid and isotopic signatures, respectively, identified significant regional changes in the barnacles and mussels, while only stable isotopes distinguished between the Kariega and Great Fish polychaetes (P < 0.05). In addition, significant temporal changes were observed in consumer fatty acids and isotope values in both regions (P < 0.05). Bacterial sources, detritus and phytoplankton assemblages, which are influenced by hydrology and vegetation, differed between regions and were mainly responsible for the regional and temporal separations. Principal component analyses on the consumer fatty acid signatures distinguished between animals situated upstream (i.e. north) and downstream (i.e. south) of the Kariega Estuary mouth in summer. The north/south separation was mainly due to greater contributions of diatoms to northernlocated animals and dinoflagellates and detritus to southern-located consumers. In addition, the south-flowing Agulhas Current on the eastern shores of southern Africa appeared to influence the north/south separation in the Kariega region, as water leaving the estuary was probably entrained into the south-easterly flowing currents, thereby depositing estuarinederived detritus to southern populations. In general, diatoms and detritus were essential food sources to the filter-feeders in summer, and flagellates, diatoms, zooplankton and detritus were important in winter. Coastal macroalgae was a key food source in the Kariega and Great Fish regions during both seasons. Consistently large levels of diatom markers (16:1n-7 and 20:5n-3) and dinoflagellate markers (22:6n-3) in consumer tissues in the Kariega and Great Fish regions identified that phytoplankton was their dominant food source. The barnacles, mussels and polychaetes had similar fatty acid markers and a fairly narrow δ¹³C range (-16.5 to -14.4 ‰), suggesting that they probably consumed similar food. Carbon isotope analyses, however, separated the suspension-feeders into slightly depleted (barnacles; -16.5 to -16.1 ‰), intermediate (mussels; -15.8 to -15.0 ‰) and enriched (polychaetes; -15.0 to -14.4 ‰) consumers, but did not provide conclusive evidence of their preferences for specific phytoplankton. Conversely, fatty acid analyses highlighted that barnacles and mussels had greater proportions of dinoflagellate markers (22:6n-3; 7.0-15.3 % TFA), while polychaetes had larger diatom levels (20:5n-3; 15.1-22.2 % TFA). In addition, all three species had consistently large contributions from bacterial fatty acids (15:0, i-16:0, 17:0 and i-18:0; 4.2-13.6 % TFA) in summer and winter, and large proportions of saturated fatty acids (33.3-53.1 % TFA) including those with 14 to 18 carbons, indicating that bacterial and detritus food sources played an important role in their diets. Barnacles had small levels of terrestrial markers (18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3; <2.5 % TFA) and demonstrated increased omnivorous feeding compared with the other suspension-feeders [increased levels of 20:1n-11 and 20:1n-9, higher 18:1n-9/18:1n-7 ratios at ~2.1, enriched δ¹⁵N values at ~10.6 ‰; zooplankton (potentially including microzooplankton, larvae and protists) contribution of up to 61 % of the diet]. Mussels contained significant proportions of the terrestrial markers (18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3; >2.5 % TFA) and exhibited intermediate omnivory (intermediate levels of 20:1n-11 and 20:1n-9, intermediate 18:1n-9/18:1n-7 ratios at ~1.3, less enriched δ¹⁵N values at ~7.9 ‰; zooplankton contribution of 10-15 % of the diet). The more depleted nitrogen signatures in the mussels relative to the barnacles and polychaetes possibly illustrated a stronger preference for autotrophic food. Polychaetes mainly consumed plant food sources (i.e. microalgae, macroalgae and detritus; high levels of i-18:0, 18:1n-9, 18:4n-3 and 20:5n-3) and displayed little omnivory (low levels of 20:1n-11 and 20:1n-9, low 18:1n-9/18:1n-7 ratios at ~0.4, intermediate δ¹⁵N values at ~9.1 ‰; zooplankton contribution of <10 % of the diet). The barnacles, mussels and polychaetes are all suspension-feeders, originally presumed to consume the same food sources. The variations observed among the species, therefore, may result from differences in the proportional contributions of the various food sources to their diets as well as distinctions in metabolism. The distinct changes in the fatty acid and stable isotope signatures in all three filter-feeders in the Kariega and Great Fish regions are likely influenced by the diversity in regional vegetation and hydrology in the different systems, combined with interspecific differences in resource partitioning among the species.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Characterising the structural integrity of mechanical formed low carbon steel
- Authors: Victor, Ngea Njoume
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Carbon steel , Structural analysis (Engineering) , Steel, Structural
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9627 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012089 , Carbon steel , Structural analysis (Engineering) , Steel, Structural
- Description: The contribution of the clamping force in the technique used in this study to stretch-bend low carbon steel samples was investigated to support the subsequent changes in the microstructure and properties of the formed material with regard to parent material. Although plastic deformation by cold working is known to induce texture or preferred orientation to the grains of a formed material while decreasing its ductility and increasing the strength, as well as inducing residual stress, it is not known how the different directions (rolling, transverse and oblique/45°) of the sheet steel will respond to this stretch bending technique. The first part of the research work involved a thorough literature review on sheet metal forming processes and their effect on the formed material with interest on the above mentioned directions of the sheet. It became clear from the literature overview that cold working of a material will induce strain-hardening which varies with the magnitude of cold work, resulting in changes in the strength and ductility of the material. Besides, when plastic deformation is not uniform (e.g., tensile and compressive) throughout the entire cross section of the formed part, residual stresses remain in the material with the grains been elongated along the direction of the maximum strain. The main parameters that were considered and controlled in this study are as follows: strain experienced / stress induced into the form sample, the sample direction, the stroke length and the clamping torque, the generated radius of curvature. The chapters that follow the literature review, deal with the set-up of the different equipment used in this study, the specimen preparation as well as the recording, the calculation and interpretation of the results. It was found that the stress magnitude that generated the different radii of curvature (120 mm, 150 mm and 185 mm) was between 1 percent & 13 percent higher than the parent material’s yield strength with the lower stress been associated to the smaller radius of curvature and the higher stress to the higher radius. The stress induced into the sample during forming was not only proportional to the stroke length but also to the distance between the punch’s tip and the sample and the sample to the die’s nadir. The clamping torque adopted was restricted to the manual capacity of the operator who used a preset torque wrench to fasten the plate sample into the jig. Plate samples of low carbon steel were cut to angles of 0°, 45°, and 90° to the rolling direction of the sheet material and stretch-bent on a single-action mechanical press to 120 mm, 150 mm, and 185 mm radii of curvature. The preliminary results indicate that stretch-bent samples had increased hardness to the parent plate, in particular below the surface layers up to around 1.1 mm depth. Since there is a well established relationship between hardness, yield and tensile strengths for steel, the yield and tensile strengths of the formed material were estimated using the Nobre et al [34] incremental relation, which relates the linearity between relative increments of hardness and yield strength. Changes were not noticeable at the microstructural level of the formed samples. Meanwhile, samples from which higher plastic deformation stress values were calculated were not those absorbing higher impact energy when Charpy specimen cut from plate and stretch-bent samples were tested. The maximum relieved residual stress in the parent material was predominantly compressive and represents in magnitude approximately 12 percent (average for the three directions) of its original yield strength. In the stretch-bent samples, the relieved residual stress was compressive in the outer curved section with a magnitude about 50 percent of the parent material yield strength and tensile in the inner curved section with a magnitude approximately 25 percent of the parent material yield strength.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Victor, Ngea Njoume
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Carbon steel , Structural analysis (Engineering) , Steel, Structural
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9627 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012089 , Carbon steel , Structural analysis (Engineering) , Steel, Structural
- Description: The contribution of the clamping force in the technique used in this study to stretch-bend low carbon steel samples was investigated to support the subsequent changes in the microstructure and properties of the formed material with regard to parent material. Although plastic deformation by cold working is known to induce texture or preferred orientation to the grains of a formed material while decreasing its ductility and increasing the strength, as well as inducing residual stress, it is not known how the different directions (rolling, transverse and oblique/45°) of the sheet steel will respond to this stretch bending technique. The first part of the research work involved a thorough literature review on sheet metal forming processes and their effect on the formed material with interest on the above mentioned directions of the sheet. It became clear from the literature overview that cold working of a material will induce strain-hardening which varies with the magnitude of cold work, resulting in changes in the strength and ductility of the material. Besides, when plastic deformation is not uniform (e.g., tensile and compressive) throughout the entire cross section of the formed part, residual stresses remain in the material with the grains been elongated along the direction of the maximum strain. The main parameters that were considered and controlled in this study are as follows: strain experienced / stress induced into the form sample, the sample direction, the stroke length and the clamping torque, the generated radius of curvature. The chapters that follow the literature review, deal with the set-up of the different equipment used in this study, the specimen preparation as well as the recording, the calculation and interpretation of the results. It was found that the stress magnitude that generated the different radii of curvature (120 mm, 150 mm and 185 mm) was between 1 percent & 13 percent higher than the parent material’s yield strength with the lower stress been associated to the smaller radius of curvature and the higher stress to the higher radius. The stress induced into the sample during forming was not only proportional to the stroke length but also to the distance between the punch’s tip and the sample and the sample to the die’s nadir. The clamping torque adopted was restricted to the manual capacity of the operator who used a preset torque wrench to fasten the plate sample into the jig. Plate samples of low carbon steel were cut to angles of 0°, 45°, and 90° to the rolling direction of the sheet material and stretch-bent on a single-action mechanical press to 120 mm, 150 mm, and 185 mm radii of curvature. The preliminary results indicate that stretch-bent samples had increased hardness to the parent plate, in particular below the surface layers up to around 1.1 mm depth. Since there is a well established relationship between hardness, yield and tensile strengths for steel, the yield and tensile strengths of the formed material were estimated using the Nobre et al [34] incremental relation, which relates the linearity between relative increments of hardness and yield strength. Changes were not noticeable at the microstructural level of the formed samples. Meanwhile, samples from which higher plastic deformation stress values were calculated were not those absorbing higher impact energy when Charpy specimen cut from plate and stretch-bent samples were tested. The maximum relieved residual stress in the parent material was predominantly compressive and represents in magnitude approximately 12 percent (average for the three directions) of its original yield strength. In the stretch-bent samples, the relieved residual stress was compressive in the outer curved section with a magnitude about 50 percent of the parent material yield strength and tensile in the inner curved section with a magnitude approximately 25 percent of the parent material yield strength.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Electrocatalytic behavior of cobalt phthalocyanine complexes immobilized on glassy carbon electrode towards the reduction of dicrotophos pesticide
- Vilakazi, Sibulelo, Nyokong, Tebello, Fukuda, Takamitsu, Kobayashi, Nagao
- Authors: Vilakazi, Sibulelo , Nyokong, Tebello , Fukuda, Takamitsu , Kobayashi, Nagao
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/245832 , vital:51409 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424612501040"
- Description: Electrocatalytic properties of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc), cobalt tetra-carboxy phthalocyanine (CoTCPc) and cobalt octa-carboxy (CoOCPc), towards the detection of dicrotophos have been studied. Catalytic behavior towards the reduction of dicrotophos was found to be dependent on the pH, as well as the substitution on the phthalocyanine ring. Strong electron withdrawing groups on the phthalocyanine ring yielded best catalysis as evidenced by the enhancement of the reduction peak current, (~5 fold) compared to the bare glassy carbon electrode. The analysis gave a good detection limit of 1.25 × 10-7 M, and good linearity for the studied concentration range. A high Tafel slope value was obtained, indicating a strong interaction between dicrotophos and the cobalt phthalocyanine complex.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Vilakazi, Sibulelo , Nyokong, Tebello , Fukuda, Takamitsu , Kobayashi, Nagao
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/245832 , vital:51409 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424612501040"
- Description: Electrocatalytic properties of cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc), cobalt tetra-carboxy phthalocyanine (CoTCPc) and cobalt octa-carboxy (CoOCPc), towards the detection of dicrotophos have been studied. Catalytic behavior towards the reduction of dicrotophos was found to be dependent on the pH, as well as the substitution on the phthalocyanine ring. Strong electron withdrawing groups on the phthalocyanine ring yielded best catalysis as evidenced by the enhancement of the reduction peak current, (~5 fold) compared to the bare glassy carbon electrode. The analysis gave a good detection limit of 1.25 × 10-7 M, and good linearity for the studied concentration range. A high Tafel slope value was obtained, indicating a strong interaction between dicrotophos and the cobalt phthalocyanine complex.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Of ants and cicadas: thinking and doing
- Authors: Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:588 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018948
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Villet, Martin H
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:588 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018948
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Shaking a hornets' nest: pitfalls of abortion counselling in a secular constitutional order–a view from South Africa
- Authors: Vincent, Louise
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141521 , vital:37982 , DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2011.627469
- Description: There exists an enormous gulf between the aspirations of South Africa's abortion legislation – among the most liberal in the world – and its implementation. One weakness in the provision of abortion services in South Africa is the absence of comprehensive abortion counselling services. On the face of it, the idea that counselling ought, as a matter of course, to be a significant component of a country's termination of pregnancy service provision, seems both straightforwardly sensible and politically innocent. This paper describes how abortion counselling has historically, in many different contexts, been saturated with questionable assumptions about women and their bodies. Counselling has more often than not been deployed, either as the formal policy of states or through informal mechanisms, as a means of curbing the right to abortion rather than deepening the meaning of that right. Differing approaches to counselling emerge as a reflection of contestations over reproductive and gender politics. Specifying an appropriate model for the provision of state-sponsored abortion counselling in the public health sector of a secular constitutional state provokes more of a hornet's nest of dilemmas than is sometimes supposed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Vincent, Louise
- Date: 2011
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141521 , vital:37982 , DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2011.627469
- Description: There exists an enormous gulf between the aspirations of South Africa's abortion legislation – among the most liberal in the world – and its implementation. One weakness in the provision of abortion services in South Africa is the absence of comprehensive abortion counselling services. On the face of it, the idea that counselling ought, as a matter of course, to be a significant component of a country's termination of pregnancy service provision, seems both straightforwardly sensible and politically innocent. This paper describes how abortion counselling has historically, in many different contexts, been saturated with questionable assumptions about women and their bodies. Counselling has more often than not been deployed, either as the formal policy of states or through informal mechanisms, as a means of curbing the right to abortion rather than deepening the meaning of that right. Differing approaches to counselling emerge as a reflection of contestations over reproductive and gender politics. Specifying an appropriate model for the provision of state-sponsored abortion counselling in the public health sector of a secular constitutional state provokes more of a hornet's nest of dilemmas than is sometimes supposed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Impact of social media on the brand image of a higher education institution
- Authors: Visser, Ilze
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Branding (Marketing) , Social media
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9292 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011274 , Branding (Marketing) , Social media
- Description: Social media is an unexplored and new area, for both businesses and academia. Many institutions are not confident on how to improve their business through the use of social media, neither for internal or external purposes. Social media is nevertheless immense among private persons (Wikström & Wigmo 2010:1) and to ignore this would be a critical mistake by marketing communicators, regardless of the economic sector in which they operate. Therefore, this study intended to expand on the current limited knowledge and information available relating to the use of social media by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to improve their brand image. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate and empirically test the impact of selected Brand identity variables (Brand reputation, Brand relevance, Brand personality, Brand performance and Brand relationship) on the Brand image of a HEI, through the use of social media. The focus was on the impact of social media (Facebook) on the brand image of a Higher Education Institution (HEI), namely the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), which was used as the sample for this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Visser, Ilze
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Branding (Marketing) , Social media
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:9292 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011274 , Branding (Marketing) , Social media
- Description: Social media is an unexplored and new area, for both businesses and academia. Many institutions are not confident on how to improve their business through the use of social media, neither for internal or external purposes. Social media is nevertheless immense among private persons (Wikström & Wigmo 2010:1) and to ignore this would be a critical mistake by marketing communicators, regardless of the economic sector in which they operate. Therefore, this study intended to expand on the current limited knowledge and information available relating to the use of social media by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to improve their brand image. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate and empirically test the impact of selected Brand identity variables (Brand reputation, Brand relevance, Brand personality, Brand performance and Brand relationship) on the Brand image of a HEI, through the use of social media. The focus was on the impact of social media (Facebook) on the brand image of a Higher Education Institution (HEI), namely the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), which was used as the sample for this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Effects of a gymnasium-based resistance training programme on selected physical fitness components in sub-elite martial artists
- Von der Marwitz, Reiner Keith
- Authors: Von der Marwitz, Reiner Keith
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Martial arts , Training , Physical fitness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10110 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020822
- Description: The aim of the study was to explore, describe and compare the impact of a 12-week intervention on selected physical fitness variables in sub-elite martial artists. The experimental group (expG) participated in a combination of alternating dojo and gymnasium-based resistance training, each bi-weekly, with the comparison group (comG) exclusively undergoing four conventional dojo training sessions weekly. The variables measured included; anthropometric measures (height, body mass and percentage body fat); functional core muscular endurance; hamstring flexibility; upper body muscular strength and endurance; lower body muscle strength; and static balance. A quasi-experimental research design was employed, with pre - and post - test assessments after a 12 week intervention period. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed from existing dojo’s in Port Elizabeth, with a randomised allocation of participants into two groups. The gymnasium-based training programme was designed according to the national conditioning and strength association (NCSA) principles of resistance training. The identified variables were tested at a 95% level of probability (p < 0.05). Similar trends in performance improvement were evident for both the expG and compG in of the majority of the selected physical fitness variables. One-way, two-sample and independent t-tests analysis found no statistical significant intra- group or inter-group differences in any of the selected dependant variables for both groups. Thus, the supplemental resistance training programme was not superior to that of the conventional dojo training programme in improving aforementioned variables. Despite the lack of statistical significance, these results indicate that a structured and supervised resistance training programme in a gymnasium may serve as an alternative method of intervention for improving physical fitness in sub-elite mixed martial artists. The resistance training programme should be specifically adapted according to the individual practitioner’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as to the type of martial art being practised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Von der Marwitz, Reiner Keith
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Martial arts , Training , Physical fitness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10110 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020822
- Description: The aim of the study was to explore, describe and compare the impact of a 12-week intervention on selected physical fitness variables in sub-elite martial artists. The experimental group (expG) participated in a combination of alternating dojo and gymnasium-based resistance training, each bi-weekly, with the comparison group (comG) exclusively undergoing four conventional dojo training sessions weekly. The variables measured included; anthropometric measures (height, body mass and percentage body fat); functional core muscular endurance; hamstring flexibility; upper body muscular strength and endurance; lower body muscle strength; and static balance. A quasi-experimental research design was employed, with pre - and post - test assessments after a 12 week intervention period. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were employed from existing dojo’s in Port Elizabeth, with a randomised allocation of participants into two groups. The gymnasium-based training programme was designed according to the national conditioning and strength association (NCSA) principles of resistance training. The identified variables were tested at a 95% level of probability (p < 0.05). Similar trends in performance improvement were evident for both the expG and compG in of the majority of the selected physical fitness variables. One-way, two-sample and independent t-tests analysis found no statistical significant intra- group or inter-group differences in any of the selected dependant variables for both groups. Thus, the supplemental resistance training programme was not superior to that of the conventional dojo training programme in improving aforementioned variables. Despite the lack of statistical significance, these results indicate that a structured and supervised resistance training programme in a gymnasium may serve as an alternative method of intervention for improving physical fitness in sub-elite mixed martial artists. The resistance training programme should be specifically adapted according to the individual practitioner’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as to the type of martial art being practised.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The influence of copreneurial relationships on the restaurant industry : a study in the Nelson Mandela Metropole
- Von Hoffman, Ethen Langeford
- Authors: Von Hoffman, Ethen Langeford
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Couple-owned business enterprises -- Management , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8839 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020003
- Description: Entrepreneurship plays an important role in the South African economy, especially in light of the recent global recession. For family businesses, namely copreneurs in the restaurant industry, to be afforded a better opportunity to perform better and be viable and sustainable, a deeper understanding and insight into their dynamics is required. Researching and implementing strategies or recommendations to improve the influence of copreneurial relationships in the restaurant industry is fundamentally important to the growth and sustainability of restaurants in the hospitality industry, in the Nelson Mandela Metropole (NMM). However, no known studies have been performed in this area of copreneurship. This study sought to present exploratory research in the rapidly expanding and critically important sector family business, namely copreneurships specifically in the restaurant industry in the NMM, in South Africa. The primary research objective of this study is to gain a deeper understanding and insight into the influence of copreneurial relationships in the restaurant industry in the NMM. A phenomenological, or qualitative, research paradigm, through the use of focused one-on-one interviews, was employed to probe and analyse relational factors of copreneurial relationships. A qualifying questionnaire was constructed to determine the most effective sample for the study followed by an extensive questionnaire constructed to probe into the demographics and the specifically identified relational factors of the ten qualifying copreneurships. The collected data was then analysed and inferences were derived from the findings of the study. The findings revealed that what restaurant copreneurships perceive to be the most important relationship factors are very closely linked to the relationship factors perceived important to personally work on and improve. Of the relational factors considered for this study, namely: Commitment, communication, conflict, division of labour, emotional attachment, relationship bond, respect, spousal harmony, trust and the spousal values system, several factors stood out as those baring greatest influence on copreneurial relationships and their business. This study, from an analysis of the collected interview data and subsequent findings, determined communication to stand out above all other factors as being the most critical to copreneurial relationships. All other factors emanated as important but division of labour, values system, respect and relationship bond were revealed as extremely important, just behind communication. In light of these findings, as well as the discovery of other affecting factors, the study concluded that the viability and sustainability of restaurant copreneurships is of paramount significance. In order to facilitate this, copreneurial couples must cherish their relationships with each other, understand the dynamics of the relational factors affecting their relationships, invoke relational improvements for their viability and sustainability, not neglect family responsibilities and preservation in light of business needs and work together as a team.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Von Hoffman, Ethen Langeford
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Couple-owned business enterprises -- Management , Entrepreneurship -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8839 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020003
- Description: Entrepreneurship plays an important role in the South African economy, especially in light of the recent global recession. For family businesses, namely copreneurs in the restaurant industry, to be afforded a better opportunity to perform better and be viable and sustainable, a deeper understanding and insight into their dynamics is required. Researching and implementing strategies or recommendations to improve the influence of copreneurial relationships in the restaurant industry is fundamentally important to the growth and sustainability of restaurants in the hospitality industry, in the Nelson Mandela Metropole (NMM). However, no known studies have been performed in this area of copreneurship. This study sought to present exploratory research in the rapidly expanding and critically important sector family business, namely copreneurships specifically in the restaurant industry in the NMM, in South Africa. The primary research objective of this study is to gain a deeper understanding and insight into the influence of copreneurial relationships in the restaurant industry in the NMM. A phenomenological, or qualitative, research paradigm, through the use of focused one-on-one interviews, was employed to probe and analyse relational factors of copreneurial relationships. A qualifying questionnaire was constructed to determine the most effective sample for the study followed by an extensive questionnaire constructed to probe into the demographics and the specifically identified relational factors of the ten qualifying copreneurships. The collected data was then analysed and inferences were derived from the findings of the study. The findings revealed that what restaurant copreneurships perceive to be the most important relationship factors are very closely linked to the relationship factors perceived important to personally work on and improve. Of the relational factors considered for this study, namely: Commitment, communication, conflict, division of labour, emotional attachment, relationship bond, respect, spousal harmony, trust and the spousal values system, several factors stood out as those baring greatest influence on copreneurial relationships and their business. This study, from an analysis of the collected interview data and subsequent findings, determined communication to stand out above all other factors as being the most critical to copreneurial relationships. All other factors emanated as important but division of labour, values system, respect and relationship bond were revealed as extremely important, just behind communication. In light of these findings, as well as the discovery of other affecting factors, the study concluded that the viability and sustainability of restaurant copreneurships is of paramount significance. In order to facilitate this, copreneurial couples must cherish their relationships with each other, understand the dynamics of the relational factors affecting their relationships, invoke relational improvements for their viability and sustainability, not neglect family responsibilities and preservation in light of business needs and work together as a team.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Transgressive Christian iconography in post-apartheid South African art
- Authors: Von Veh, Karen Elaine
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Art -- South Africa -- 20th century Art -- South Africa -- 21st century Christian art and symbolism Apartheid in art Art and society -- South Africa -- History -- 20th century Art and society -- South Africa -- History -- 21st century Parody in art
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2424 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002220
- Description: In this study I propose that transgressive interpretations of Christian iconography provide a valuable strategy for contemporary artists to engage with perceived social inequalities in postapartheid South Africa. Working in light of Michel Foucault’s idea of an “ontology of the present”, I investigate the ways in which religious iconography has been implicated in the regulation of society. Parodic reworking of Christian imagery in the selected examples is investigated as a strategy to expose these controls and offer a critique of mechanisms which produce normative ‘truths’. I also consider how such imagery has been received and the factors accounting for that reception. The study is contextualized by a brief, literary based, historical overview of Christian religious imagery to explain the strength of feeling evinced by religious images. This includes a review of the conflation of religion and state control of the masses, an analysis of the sovereign controls and disciplinary powers that they wield, and an explication of their illustration in religious iconography. I also identify reasons why such imagery may have seemed compelling to artists working in a post-apartheid context. By locating recent works in terms of those made elsewhere or South African examples prior to the period that is my focus, the works discussed are explored in terms of broader orientations in post-apartheid South African art. Artworks that respond to specific Christian iconography are discussed, including Adam and Eve, The Virgin Mary, Christ, and various saints and sinners. The selected artists whose works form the focus of this study are Diane Victor, Christine Dixie, Majak Bredell, Tracey Rose, Wim Botha, Conrad Botes, Johannes Phokela and Lawrence Lemaoana. Through transgressive depictions of Christian icons these artists address current inequalities in society. The content of their works analysed here includes (among others): the construction of both female and male identities; sexual roles, social roles, and racial identity; the social expectations of contemporary motherhood; repressive role models; Afrikaner heritage; political and social change and its effects; colonial power; sacrifice; murder, rape, and violence in South Africa; abuses of power by role models and politicians; rugby; heroism; and patricide. Christian iconography is a useful communicative tool because it has permeated many cultures over centuries, and the meanings it carries are thus accessible to large numbers of people. Religious imagery is often held sacred or is regarded with a degree of reverence, thus ensuring an emotive response when iconoclasm or transgression of any sort is identified. This study argues that by parodying sacred imagery these artists are able to disturb complacent viewing and encourage viewers to engage critically with some of its underlying implications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Von Veh, Karen Elaine
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Art -- South Africa -- 20th century Art -- South Africa -- 21st century Christian art and symbolism Apartheid in art Art and society -- South Africa -- History -- 20th century Art and society -- South Africa -- History -- 21st century Parody in art
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2424 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002220
- Description: In this study I propose that transgressive interpretations of Christian iconography provide a valuable strategy for contemporary artists to engage with perceived social inequalities in postapartheid South Africa. Working in light of Michel Foucault’s idea of an “ontology of the present”, I investigate the ways in which religious iconography has been implicated in the regulation of society. Parodic reworking of Christian imagery in the selected examples is investigated as a strategy to expose these controls and offer a critique of mechanisms which produce normative ‘truths’. I also consider how such imagery has been received and the factors accounting for that reception. The study is contextualized by a brief, literary based, historical overview of Christian religious imagery to explain the strength of feeling evinced by religious images. This includes a review of the conflation of religion and state control of the masses, an analysis of the sovereign controls and disciplinary powers that they wield, and an explication of their illustration in religious iconography. I also identify reasons why such imagery may have seemed compelling to artists working in a post-apartheid context. By locating recent works in terms of those made elsewhere or South African examples prior to the period that is my focus, the works discussed are explored in terms of broader orientations in post-apartheid South African art. Artworks that respond to specific Christian iconography are discussed, including Adam and Eve, The Virgin Mary, Christ, and various saints and sinners. The selected artists whose works form the focus of this study are Diane Victor, Christine Dixie, Majak Bredell, Tracey Rose, Wim Botha, Conrad Botes, Johannes Phokela and Lawrence Lemaoana. Through transgressive depictions of Christian icons these artists address current inequalities in society. The content of their works analysed here includes (among others): the construction of both female and male identities; sexual roles, social roles, and racial identity; the social expectations of contemporary motherhood; repressive role models; Afrikaner heritage; political and social change and its effects; colonial power; sacrifice; murder, rape, and violence in South Africa; abuses of power by role models and politicians; rugby; heroism; and patricide. Christian iconography is a useful communicative tool because it has permeated many cultures over centuries, and the meanings it carries are thus accessible to large numbers of people. Religious imagery is often held sacred or is regarded with a degree of reverence, thus ensuring an emotive response when iconoclasm or transgression of any sort is identified. This study argues that by parodying sacred imagery these artists are able to disturb complacent viewing and encourage viewers to engage critically with some of its underlying implications.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The feeding and spatial ecology of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and lions (Panthera leo) in the Little Karoo, South Africa
- Authors: Vorster, Paul Hendrik
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Sanbona Wildlife Reserve , Cheetah -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Cheetah -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Cheetah -- Food -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- Food -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Spatial behavior in animals , Predation (Biology) , Game reserves -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5693 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005379 , Sanbona Wildlife Reserve , Cheetah -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Cheetah -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Cheetah -- Food -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- Food -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Spatial behavior in animals , Predation (Biology) , Game reserves -- Management
- Description: The re-introduction of large carnivores into relatively small conservation areas that fall within the historic distribution range of the species is becoming an increasingly common occurrence. The success of such re-introductions depends very much on the quality of the information that is available to guide management decisions, but in many cases, little information is available. The re-introduction of lions and cheetahs to Sanbona created the opportunity to monitor the behaviour of re-introduced predators to a relatively large system that was characterised by a low ungulate stocking density and little standing water. The broad aims were to study the feeding and spatial ecologies of the lions and cheetahs, to collect standard base-line data, and to examine the effects of the low prey density and limited standing water on habitat selection, range size and diet. The diet (data collected from direct observation and faecal analysis) was similar to that reported in previous studies, and lions and cheetahs preferred greater kudu, black wildebeest and springbok. Lions preferred medium to large prey items, and cheetahs preferred medium to small prey items. The hilly and mountainous terrain of much of the reserve meant that only 50% of the total space was available to the predators. Home ranges of most of the predators were focused around the single large body of standing water. This is likely to have been a response to the water, the vegetation, and the prey that was attracted to these. Habitat selection was also influenced by inter and intra-specific interactions at least for a solitary male lion and female cheetahs. Range sizes were larger than on some other reserves and it is suggested that this was a result of the low prey density. These results form the basis for management recommendations including the importance of continuing to monitor the system and opening up additional parts of the reserve to the predators.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Vorster, Paul Hendrik
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Sanbona Wildlife Reserve , Cheetah -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Cheetah -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Cheetah -- Food -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- Food -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Spatial behavior in animals , Predation (Biology) , Game reserves -- Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5693 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005379 , Sanbona Wildlife Reserve , Cheetah -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Cheetah -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- Behavior -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Cheetah -- Food -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Lion -- Food -- South Africa -- Little Karoo , Spatial behavior in animals , Predation (Biology) , Game reserves -- Management
- Description: The re-introduction of large carnivores into relatively small conservation areas that fall within the historic distribution range of the species is becoming an increasingly common occurrence. The success of such re-introductions depends very much on the quality of the information that is available to guide management decisions, but in many cases, little information is available. The re-introduction of lions and cheetahs to Sanbona created the opportunity to monitor the behaviour of re-introduced predators to a relatively large system that was characterised by a low ungulate stocking density and little standing water. The broad aims were to study the feeding and spatial ecologies of the lions and cheetahs, to collect standard base-line data, and to examine the effects of the low prey density and limited standing water on habitat selection, range size and diet. The diet (data collected from direct observation and faecal analysis) was similar to that reported in previous studies, and lions and cheetahs preferred greater kudu, black wildebeest and springbok. Lions preferred medium to large prey items, and cheetahs preferred medium to small prey items. The hilly and mountainous terrain of much of the reserve meant that only 50% of the total space was available to the predators. Home ranges of most of the predators were focused around the single large body of standing water. This is likely to have been a response to the water, the vegetation, and the prey that was attracted to these. Habitat selection was also influenced by inter and intra-specific interactions at least for a solitary male lion and female cheetahs. Range sizes were larger than on some other reserves and it is suggested that this was a result of the low prey density. These results form the basis for management recommendations including the importance of continuing to monitor the system and opening up additional parts of the reserve to the predators.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Network analysis of trophic linkages in two sub-tropical estuaries along the South-East coast of South Africa
- Authors: Vosloo, Mathys Christiaan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine ecology , Network analysis (Planning)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10708 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010966 , Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine ecology , Network analysis (Planning)
- Description: Estuaries are some of the most productive yet threatened ecosystems in the world. Despite their importance they face significant threats through changes to river flow, eutrophication, rapid population growth long the caost and harvesting of natural resources. A number of international studies have been conducted investigating the structure and functioning of an array of ecosystems using ecological network analysis. Energy flow networks have been contsructed for coastal, lagoonal, intertidial and, most notably, permantently open estuaries. Despite the valualble insights contributed by these and other studies, a lack of information on the majority of estuarine ecosystems exists.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Vosloo, Mathys Christiaan
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine ecology , Network analysis (Planning)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10708 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010966 , Estuaries -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Estuarine ecology , Network analysis (Planning)
- Description: Estuaries are some of the most productive yet threatened ecosystems in the world. Despite their importance they face significant threats through changes to river flow, eutrophication, rapid population growth long the caost and harvesting of natural resources. A number of international studies have been conducted investigating the structure and functioning of an array of ecosystems using ecological network analysis. Energy flow networks have been contsructed for coastal, lagoonal, intertidial and, most notably, permantently open estuaries. Despite the valualble insights contributed by these and other studies, a lack of information on the majority of estuarine ecosystems exists.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Finite element analysis of the heat transfer in friction stir welding with experimental validation
- Authors: Vosloo, Natalie
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Finite element method , Heat -- Transmission , Friction welding
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10511 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019981
- Description: Friction stir welding is a relatively new joining process. The heat transfer involved is crucial in determining the quality of the weld. Experimenrtal data, though important, does not provide enough information about the heat transfer process and experiments can be costly and time consuming. A numerical model, using the finite element method, was developed to stimulate the heat transfer in the workpiece in which the heat generation due to friction and plastic deformation was modelled as a surface heat flux boundary condition. This model was applied to Aluminium AL6082-T6 and Titanium Ti6A1-4V for different welding condiitions. Results were validated with experimental results. The model was shown to give better predictions of the maximum temperatures at locations in the workpiece than the overall temperature trend. A parametric study was also performed on the Aluminium model in order o predict temperature fields of the workpiece for welding conditions that were additional to those undertaken experimentally. It was found that rotational speed had a larger effect on the change in temperature than the feed rate. From the parametric study it was also clear that lower rotational speeds (300 to 660 rpm) had a greater effect on the change in temperature than the higher rotational speeds (840 to 1200 rpm). It was concluded that the model was well suited for the estimation of temperatures involved in the FSw of Aluminium Al6082-T6 but was not as accurate when applied to the FSW of Titanium.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Vosloo, Natalie
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Finite element method , Heat -- Transmission , Friction welding
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10511 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019981
- Description: Friction stir welding is a relatively new joining process. The heat transfer involved is crucial in determining the quality of the weld. Experimenrtal data, though important, does not provide enough information about the heat transfer process and experiments can be costly and time consuming. A numerical model, using the finite element method, was developed to stimulate the heat transfer in the workpiece in which the heat generation due to friction and plastic deformation was modelled as a surface heat flux boundary condition. This model was applied to Aluminium AL6082-T6 and Titanium Ti6A1-4V for different welding condiitions. Results were validated with experimental results. The model was shown to give better predictions of the maximum temperatures at locations in the workpiece than the overall temperature trend. A parametric study was also performed on the Aluminium model in order o predict temperature fields of the workpiece for welding conditions that were additional to those undertaken experimentally. It was found that rotational speed had a larger effect on the change in temperature than the feed rate. From the parametric study it was also clear that lower rotational speeds (300 to 660 rpm) had a greater effect on the change in temperature than the higher rotational speeds (840 to 1200 rpm). It was concluded that the model was well suited for the estimation of temperatures involved in the FSw of Aluminium Al6082-T6 but was not as accurate when applied to the FSW of Titanium.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Modelling and mapping the suitability of land for crop production using a combination of GIS and remote sensing in the Eastern Cape: a case study of Mbashe and Mquma local municipalities-South Africa
- Authors: Vuso, Solly
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geographic Information System)
- Identifier: vital:11534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019872
- Description: In order to achieve sustainable agriculture, decision makers require appropriate and fully detailed spatial information on land resources. Crop-land suitability analysis is a prerequisite to achieve optimum utilization of the available land resources for sustainable agriculture rural production (T.R. Nisar Ahamed et al., 2000). It is indeed of paramount importance to identify suitable land for cropping while causing minimum impact to the environment. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 1976), recommended an approach of land suitability evaluation for crops in terms of suitable land based on climatic and terrain data and soil properties. In this study, an attempt was made to identify suitable areas for massive crop production using remote sensing and GIS methodologies and the knowledge from extension officers. The primary method aims at generating land cover data using SPOT 5 satellite imagery and modeling with the existing land capability. The research purpose was to map the map the number hectares suitable areas for crop production number hectares suitable areas for crop production number hectares suitable areas for crop production number hectares suitable areas for crop production. Spatial modeling techniques were utilized to model land suitability model in an effective and efficiently way. The spatial modeling extension from ESRI product was used to model the crop suitability areas. The model run on ArcGIS platform and due to the fact that modeling only uses raster formats, all the data sets were projected and converted to raster format. The weighted overlay model was used to create land suitability map. The model results revealed that 4046251.79 hectares were suitable for cropping in the study area. The final outputs of suitable areas were calculated and each ward was given a value of suitable area as well as unsuitable area. The validation of the final maps compliments the 500 000 hectares that were mapped by Dept of Agriculture EC using 8% slope as the best potential areas. The method provides a cheap, effective and efficient way to map suitable areas over a large area and it also uses remote sensing data. It is hoped that decision makers will make use of the information produced in this paper as the whole world is in crisis of food security.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Vuso, Solly
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Geographic Information System)
- Identifier: vital:11534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019872
- Description: In order to achieve sustainable agriculture, decision makers require appropriate and fully detailed spatial information on land resources. Crop-land suitability analysis is a prerequisite to achieve optimum utilization of the available land resources for sustainable agriculture rural production (T.R. Nisar Ahamed et al., 2000). It is indeed of paramount importance to identify suitable land for cropping while causing minimum impact to the environment. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 1976), recommended an approach of land suitability evaluation for crops in terms of suitable land based on climatic and terrain data and soil properties. In this study, an attempt was made to identify suitable areas for massive crop production using remote sensing and GIS methodologies and the knowledge from extension officers. The primary method aims at generating land cover data using SPOT 5 satellite imagery and modeling with the existing land capability. The research purpose was to map the map the number hectares suitable areas for crop production number hectares suitable areas for crop production number hectares suitable areas for crop production number hectares suitable areas for crop production. Spatial modeling techniques were utilized to model land suitability model in an effective and efficiently way. The spatial modeling extension from ESRI product was used to model the crop suitability areas. The model run on ArcGIS platform and due to the fact that modeling only uses raster formats, all the data sets were projected and converted to raster format. The weighted overlay model was used to create land suitability map. The model results revealed that 4046251.79 hectares were suitable for cropping in the study area. The final outputs of suitable areas were calculated and each ward was given a value of suitable area as well as unsuitable area. The validation of the final maps compliments the 500 000 hectares that were mapped by Dept of Agriculture EC using 8% slope as the best potential areas. The method provides a cheap, effective and efficient way to map suitable areas over a large area and it also uses remote sensing data. It is hoped that decision makers will make use of the information produced in this paper as the whole world is in crisis of food security.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
An evaluation of a motor retail organisation's lead management system
- Authors: Waddell, Alda
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Barloworld Motor Retail Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa Product management -- South Africa Automobiles -- Marketing -- South Africa Internet marketing -- South Africa Consumer behavior -- South Africa Customer services -- South Africa Automobile dealers -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:779 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003900
- Description: This research was motivated by the lack of systems and methodologies in the automotive retail business sector to adequately monitor and analyse prospective customers' behaviours as a basis for developing sales. The objective of this research was to determine if lead scoring would indeed represent a good investment of time and resources for Barloworld Motor Retail. The real value for Barloworld Motor Retail is in the proven methodology for properly managing leads and the sales process. Lead scoring should have sales teams more focused because of the qualified opportunities. The sales cycle can also be efficiently managed from introduction to closure. What is Lead Scoring? In short, lead scoring identifies or measures the value of a lead to determine to which extent a lead could result in a sale. The aim of the lead scoring process is to gather as much information as possible from the prospective customer. Once information has been acquired, it is important to hand over the hot leads to sales while the warm and cold leads remain with marketing to be nurtured. A lead is a potential customer who wants to learn more about what a company has to offer, and who has acknowledged having a requirement or need that a company could help satisfy. Where this position is coupled with elements of the ideal or desired customer profile, a meaningful lead definition emerges. When a salesperson receives a lead as depicted in Figure 1, the decision must be made as to whether to promote the lead into an opportunity or recycle it back to marketing. The crucial determination would be whether the prospect is ready to enter a buying cycle, or not. Figure 1 also illustrates the lead scoring "evaluation" process. The researcher used the Barloworld Automotive www.mywheels.co.za Webpage to obtain information for this research project. The results obtained from this measurement were compared with the results obtained from other marketing initiatives and practices in the automotive industry to describe the value of lead scoring. This research is undertaken under two main headings, namely marketing and evaluating a lead management system by introducing lead scoring. In reference to marketing, Albee (2010) says that lead scoring is based on marketing that can automate the ability to know exactly when the leads in the nurturing program are sales ready and then transition them to the sales force without delay. Chekitan and Schultz (2005), introduced the notion of SIVA which stands for Solution, Information, Value, and Access. This is basically the four p's of the marketing mix, namely product, promotion, price and placement Kotler (2000) renamed and reworded to provide a customer focus. Marketing managers use this model to generate the best possible response from the target market by blending four or more combinations in the best way. The elements of the marketing mix are all controllable variables. The marketing mix can be adjusted on a frequent basis to meet the changing needs of the target market and the other dynamics of the marketing environment. The study of internet consumer behaviour is a fundamental part of the gathering of information related to lead scoring. To an extent it is also relevant to the formulation of a leads nurturing model that will positively influence buyer perceptions and help to trigger the purchase decision. With regard to the purchasing of motor vehicles, consumers will seldom make a purchase decision without personal exposure by way of sensory explanation (look, feel and touch). Internet marketing connects the physically remote consumer with the product benefits through a process of abstract positioning, and focuses on obtaining "hits" from consumers who are competent and enabled to make a positive purchase decision. Internet marketing refers to the strategies that companies use to market their products or services online. The marketing concept remains the guiding concept for companies wishing to design and implement an effective leads scoring system. Lead scoring is the process that involves the following activities: • Lead identification; • Lead collection and consolidation; • Predictive analysis of lead scoring; • Lead nurturing; • Lead distribution.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Waddell, Alda
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Barloworld Motor Retail Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa Product management -- South Africa Automobiles -- Marketing -- South Africa Internet marketing -- South Africa Consumer behavior -- South Africa Customer services -- South Africa Automobile dealers -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:779 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003900
- Description: This research was motivated by the lack of systems and methodologies in the automotive retail business sector to adequately monitor and analyse prospective customers' behaviours as a basis for developing sales. The objective of this research was to determine if lead scoring would indeed represent a good investment of time and resources for Barloworld Motor Retail. The real value for Barloworld Motor Retail is in the proven methodology for properly managing leads and the sales process. Lead scoring should have sales teams more focused because of the qualified opportunities. The sales cycle can also be efficiently managed from introduction to closure. What is Lead Scoring? In short, lead scoring identifies or measures the value of a lead to determine to which extent a lead could result in a sale. The aim of the lead scoring process is to gather as much information as possible from the prospective customer. Once information has been acquired, it is important to hand over the hot leads to sales while the warm and cold leads remain with marketing to be nurtured. A lead is a potential customer who wants to learn more about what a company has to offer, and who has acknowledged having a requirement or need that a company could help satisfy. Where this position is coupled with elements of the ideal or desired customer profile, a meaningful lead definition emerges. When a salesperson receives a lead as depicted in Figure 1, the decision must be made as to whether to promote the lead into an opportunity or recycle it back to marketing. The crucial determination would be whether the prospect is ready to enter a buying cycle, or not. Figure 1 also illustrates the lead scoring "evaluation" process. The researcher used the Barloworld Automotive www.mywheels.co.za Webpage to obtain information for this research project. The results obtained from this measurement were compared with the results obtained from other marketing initiatives and practices in the automotive industry to describe the value of lead scoring. This research is undertaken under two main headings, namely marketing and evaluating a lead management system by introducing lead scoring. In reference to marketing, Albee (2010) says that lead scoring is based on marketing that can automate the ability to know exactly when the leads in the nurturing program are sales ready and then transition them to the sales force without delay. Chekitan and Schultz (2005), introduced the notion of SIVA which stands for Solution, Information, Value, and Access. This is basically the four p's of the marketing mix, namely product, promotion, price and placement Kotler (2000) renamed and reworded to provide a customer focus. Marketing managers use this model to generate the best possible response from the target market by blending four or more combinations in the best way. The elements of the marketing mix are all controllable variables. The marketing mix can be adjusted on a frequent basis to meet the changing needs of the target market and the other dynamics of the marketing environment. The study of internet consumer behaviour is a fundamental part of the gathering of information related to lead scoring. To an extent it is also relevant to the formulation of a leads nurturing model that will positively influence buyer perceptions and help to trigger the purchase decision. With regard to the purchasing of motor vehicles, consumers will seldom make a purchase decision without personal exposure by way of sensory explanation (look, feel and touch). Internet marketing connects the physically remote consumer with the product benefits through a process of abstract positioning, and focuses on obtaining "hits" from consumers who are competent and enabled to make a positive purchase decision. Internet marketing refers to the strategies that companies use to market their products or services online. The marketing concept remains the guiding concept for companies wishing to design and implement an effective leads scoring system. Lead scoring is the process that involves the following activities: • Lead identification; • Lead collection and consolidation; • Predictive analysis of lead scoring; • Lead nurturing; • Lead distribution.
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- Date Issued: 2012