Just saying “No” is not enough: a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis of anti-rape poster campaigns
- Böhmke, Werner, Bennie, Rachel, Minnie, Chantel, Moore, Sarah-Ann, Pilusa, Mikaylah, Pollock, James
- Authors: Böhmke, Werner , Bennie, Rachel , Minnie, Chantel , Moore, Sarah-Ann , Pilusa, Mikaylah , Pollock, James
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143727 , vital:38277 , https://ischp.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ischp_2015_abstract_booklet.pdf
- Description: Sexual violence is a serious social concern, especially in South Africa. Explanations for high levels of sexual violence often point to normative cultural expectations regarding gendered behaviour. Consequently, attempts to address sexual violence frequently take the form of public health initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of the problem, encouraging reporting and, much more recently, addressing the social attitudes believed to be held by perpetrators of this violence. A common format for such initiatives is anti-rape poster campaigns. This paper argues, through applying Foucauldian discourse analysis to a series of posters, that very often the messages conveyed by these initiatives are addressed at the prohibition of behaviours associated with sexual violence. The analysis shows that this strategy may not be sufficient, and instead argues that alternative strategies - aimed at inviting audiences to take up an ethical position - may be more effective at producing change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Böhmke, Werner , Bennie, Rachel , Minnie, Chantel , Moore, Sarah-Ann , Pilusa, Mikaylah , Pollock, James
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143727 , vital:38277 , https://ischp.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ischp_2015_abstract_booklet.pdf
- Description: Sexual violence is a serious social concern, especially in South Africa. Explanations for high levels of sexual violence often point to normative cultural expectations regarding gendered behaviour. Consequently, attempts to address sexual violence frequently take the form of public health initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of the problem, encouraging reporting and, much more recently, addressing the social attitudes believed to be held by perpetrators of this violence. A common format for such initiatives is anti-rape poster campaigns. This paper argues, through applying Foucauldian discourse analysis to a series of posters, that very often the messages conveyed by these initiatives are addressed at the prohibition of behaviours associated with sexual violence. The analysis shows that this strategy may not be sufficient, and instead argues that alternative strategies - aimed at inviting audiences to take up an ethical position - may be more effective at producing change.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
A comparative analysis of the low voter turnout in 2006 and 2011 municipal elections: Lukhanji municipality
- Authors: Jakuja, Noxolo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Elections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Voter turnout -- South Africa , Voter registration -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5995 , vital:21023
- Description: The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the low voter turnout of the 2006 and 2011 municipal elections in Lukhanji Municipality. The study came as a result of the researcher’s observations of the low voter turnout during the 2011 municipal elections across the country. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the previous municipal election of 2006 also experienced low voter turnout. However, this was not the case with national and provincial elections, because since the first election that took place in 1994, voter turnout has been high. Lukhanji Municipality, which is the area of residence for the researcher, was no different from the rest of South Africa, when it comes to low voter turnout for the municipal elections and high voter turnout for national and provincial elections. It was noted that there has never been a detailed research study conducted in Lukhanji Municipality regarding the subject in question, and also that there is a limited amount of literature that seeks to investigate voter turnout in local elections in South Africa. The large amount of available literature focuses on voter turnout during national and provincial elections in established democracies. The literature review extensively explored the determinants of voter turnout in all levels of elections. From those tested elsewhere, it was evident that no single factor can be the cause of low voting during an election, therefore it was fundamental to investigate the causes of low voter turnout of the municipal elections with special focus on Lukhanji Municipality. It became evident from the study, that indeed various factors may have led to low voter turnout during 2006 and 2011 municipal elections in Lukhanji Municipality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Jakuja, Noxolo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Elections -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Voter turnout -- South Africa , Voter registration -- South Africa , South Africa -- Politics and government
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5995 , vital:21023
- Description: The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the low voter turnout of the 2006 and 2011 municipal elections in Lukhanji Municipality. The study came as a result of the researcher’s observations of the low voter turnout during the 2011 municipal elections across the country. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the previous municipal election of 2006 also experienced low voter turnout. However, this was not the case with national and provincial elections, because since the first election that took place in 1994, voter turnout has been high. Lukhanji Municipality, which is the area of residence for the researcher, was no different from the rest of South Africa, when it comes to low voter turnout for the municipal elections and high voter turnout for national and provincial elections. It was noted that there has never been a detailed research study conducted in Lukhanji Municipality regarding the subject in question, and also that there is a limited amount of literature that seeks to investigate voter turnout in local elections in South Africa. The large amount of available literature focuses on voter turnout during national and provincial elections in established democracies. The literature review extensively explored the determinants of voter turnout in all levels of elections. From those tested elsewhere, it was evident that no single factor can be the cause of low voting during an election, therefore it was fundamental to investigate the causes of low voter turnout of the municipal elections with special focus on Lukhanji Municipality. It became evident from the study, that indeed various factors may have led to low voter turnout during 2006 and 2011 municipal elections in Lukhanji Municipality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Transnationalism as Process, Diaspora as Condition:
- Authors: Owen, Joy
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147983 , vital:38699 , https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jsda/article/view/136745
- Description: In 2004 I embarked on 15 months of ethnographic fieldwork that spanned a six year period with Congolese migrants in Muizenberg, Cape Town. During fieldwork it was necessary to identify these migrants either as diasporic or as a transnational community given the purchase of transnationalism in the migration field.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Owen, Joy
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/147983 , vital:38699 , https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jsda/article/view/136745
- Description: In 2004 I embarked on 15 months of ethnographic fieldwork that spanned a six year period with Congolese migrants in Muizenberg, Cape Town. During fieldwork it was necessary to identify these migrants either as diasporic or as a transnational community given the purchase of transnationalism in the migration field.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Stability of the money demand function and monetary inflation in the East African community
- Authors: Nsabimana, Adelit
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Monetary policy -- Africa, East , Inflation (Finance) -- Africa, East , Equilibrium (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9163 , vital:26470
- Description: This research attempts to evaluate the stability of money demand functions and estimate monetary inflation models in the East African Community (EAC), using quarterly aggregate data that range from 2000Q1 to 2012Q3. We used Johansen co-integration analysis to estimate and analyse the stability of the M3 money demand model for each country member of the EAC. From this estimation, we derived a country-specific measure of money overhang. We compared its forecasting power of future inflation with that of money stock growth, and money stock available in the economy. Regarding country-specific money demand functions, with the exception of Uganda, we identified a reasonable and stable country-specific M3 money demand model. Also, for predicting future inflation, the estimation results showed that M3 money stock growth is more reliable in Burundi and in Kenya, while M3 money overhang is preferable in Rwanda and M3 money stock in Tanzania. As both country-specific and regional (EAC area) information on monetary quantity growth and its impact on price level is important to know in a monetary union, we considered the EAC area as a single market and attempted to estimate the aggregate (EAC area) demand functions for broad money M2 and M3 using Johansen co-integration analysis. The estimated long-run aggregate money demand models M2 and M3 appeared to be stable over the sample period. However, the aggregate M2 and M3 at the EAC level were proven to be weakly exogenous, which should discard them for consideration at the EAC level as the intermediate targets variables in order to achieve the overall objective of price stability in the EAC region. Instead, short-term interest rate should be given a prominent role in monetary policy framework at the EAC level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Nsabimana, Adelit
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Monetary policy -- Africa, East , Inflation (Finance) -- Africa, East , Equilibrium (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9163 , vital:26470
- Description: This research attempts to evaluate the stability of money demand functions and estimate monetary inflation models in the East African Community (EAC), using quarterly aggregate data that range from 2000Q1 to 2012Q3. We used Johansen co-integration analysis to estimate and analyse the stability of the M3 money demand model for each country member of the EAC. From this estimation, we derived a country-specific measure of money overhang. We compared its forecasting power of future inflation with that of money stock growth, and money stock available in the economy. Regarding country-specific money demand functions, with the exception of Uganda, we identified a reasonable and stable country-specific M3 money demand model. Also, for predicting future inflation, the estimation results showed that M3 money stock growth is more reliable in Burundi and in Kenya, while M3 money overhang is preferable in Rwanda and M3 money stock in Tanzania. As both country-specific and regional (EAC area) information on monetary quantity growth and its impact on price level is important to know in a monetary union, we considered the EAC area as a single market and attempted to estimate the aggregate (EAC area) demand functions for broad money M2 and M3 using Johansen co-integration analysis. The estimated long-run aggregate money demand models M2 and M3 appeared to be stable over the sample period. However, the aggregate M2 and M3 at the EAC level were proven to be weakly exogenous, which should discard them for consideration at the EAC level as the intermediate targets variables in order to achieve the overall objective of price stability in the EAC region. Instead, short-term interest rate should be given a prominent role in monetary policy framework at the EAC level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The child support grant in the Mdantsane and Potsdam communities
- Authors: Rasi, Nondwe Yvonne
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Child support -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Child welfare -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public welfare -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5225 , vital:20822
- Description: Introduction and background to the study: This study investigates the impact of Child Support Grant on household access to food; education, and health care. The primary investigation is conducted between Mdantsane Township and Postdam communities, which are within Buffalo City Metro Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Rasi, Nondwe Yvonne
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Child support -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Child welfare -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public welfare -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5225 , vital:20822
- Description: Introduction and background to the study: This study investigates the impact of Child Support Grant on household access to food; education, and health care. The primary investigation is conducted between Mdantsane Township and Postdam communities, which are within Buffalo City Metro Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Impact of microfinance institutions on small business sustainability in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Mgoduka, Bulelwa Keitumetse
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Microfinance , Financial institutions -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8564 , vital:26407
- Description: The rise of microfinance in South Africa as a development trajectory has dismissed ideas that small business enterprises have no significant contribution to the economic growth and development of the country. The primary objective of the study is to assess the impact of microfinance service providers on the success and sustainability of small business enterprises in the Nelson Mandela Bay. By applying descriptive statistics, 2 ordinary least square regression analyses as well as correlation matrix; the results reveal that microfinance has a positive and significant impact on the success and sustainability on small business enterprises in the Nelson Mandela Bay. The research findings hold a variety of implications for Government and policymakers. The study recommends that the microfinance sector must be under good governance through the microfinance regulatory and supervisory structures, since the sector contributes a great deal towards one of the most important objectives of the Post-Apartheid Government. Further, small business entrepreneurs must be well exposed to the requirements, standards and norms which govern the financial sector. This is particularly important in terms of the National Credit Act provisions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Mgoduka, Bulelwa Keitumetse
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Microfinance , Financial institutions -- South Africa , Small business -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , MPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/8564 , vital:26407
- Description: The rise of microfinance in South Africa as a development trajectory has dismissed ideas that small business enterprises have no significant contribution to the economic growth and development of the country. The primary objective of the study is to assess the impact of microfinance service providers on the success and sustainability of small business enterprises in the Nelson Mandela Bay. By applying descriptive statistics, 2 ordinary least square regression analyses as well as correlation matrix; the results reveal that microfinance has a positive and significant impact on the success and sustainability on small business enterprises in the Nelson Mandela Bay. The research findings hold a variety of implications for Government and policymakers. The study recommends that the microfinance sector must be under good governance through the microfinance regulatory and supervisory structures, since the sector contributes a great deal towards one of the most important objectives of the Post-Apartheid Government. Further, small business entrepreneurs must be well exposed to the requirements, standards and norms which govern the financial sector. This is particularly important in terms of the National Credit Act provisions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Community engagement in practice? : an exploration of the relationship between the University of Fort Hare (Alice Campus) and the Ilima Agripark Project
- Authors: Jubera, Memory
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Community development--South Africa Universities and colleges--South Africa Sustainable development--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Sociology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17327 , vital:40956
- Description: Cooperatives have principles and goals that regulate their day-to-day operations. Their aim is to create jobs through carrying out income generating projects. This aim is usually difficult to achieve as ‘human’ factors sometimes obscure the projects’ progress. This study therefore explored the nature of relationship that exists between the University of Fort Hare (UFH) and the cooperative members involved in the project, which in this study are referred to as, Ilima Agripark Project (IAP) members. This relationship was investigated through the three particular forms (information, consultation and participation) of community engagement, their nature, meanings, the influence they possess and how IAP/UFH members comprehend these. Guided by her research matrix and interview guide, the researcher used the qualitative and interpretive approach method to collect data. The case study made use of document analysis, key informant interviews, direct observations, face to face interviews and focus group discussions to collect data. In order to validate her data, she also made use of a tape recorder and notebook. The study’s key finding is that the three particular community engagement forms are not fully utilised by the university. The study revealed that there is lack of transparency when it comes to information dissemination hence, the IAP members feel insecure and socially excluded.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Jubera, Memory
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Community development--South Africa Universities and colleges--South Africa Sustainable development--South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Sociology
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/17327 , vital:40956
- Description: Cooperatives have principles and goals that regulate their day-to-day operations. Their aim is to create jobs through carrying out income generating projects. This aim is usually difficult to achieve as ‘human’ factors sometimes obscure the projects’ progress. This study therefore explored the nature of relationship that exists between the University of Fort Hare (UFH) and the cooperative members involved in the project, which in this study are referred to as, Ilima Agripark Project (IAP) members. This relationship was investigated through the three particular forms (information, consultation and participation) of community engagement, their nature, meanings, the influence they possess and how IAP/UFH members comprehend these. Guided by her research matrix and interview guide, the researcher used the qualitative and interpretive approach method to collect data. The case study made use of document analysis, key informant interviews, direct observations, face to face interviews and focus group discussions to collect data. In order to validate her data, she also made use of a tape recorder and notebook. The study’s key finding is that the three particular community engagement forms are not fully utilised by the university. The study revealed that there is lack of transparency when it comes to information dissemination hence, the IAP members feel insecure and socially excluded.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Using risk mitigation approaches to define the requirements for software escrow
- Authors: Rode, Karl
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Escrows , Source code (Computer Science)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4714 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017936
- Description: Two or more parties entering into a contract for service or goods may make use of an escrow of the funds for payment to enable trust in the contract. In such an event the documents or financial instruments, the object(s) in escrow, are held in trust by a trusted third party (escrow provider) until the specified conditions are fulfilled. In the scenario of software escrow, the object of escrow is typically the source code, and the specified release conditions usually address potential scenarios wherein the software provider becomes unable to continue providing services (such as due to bankruptcy or a change in services provided, etc.) The subject of software escrow is not well documented in the academic body of work, with the largest information sources, active commentary and supporting papers provided by commercial software escrow providers, both in South Africa and abroad. This work maps the software escrow topic onto the King III compliance framework in South Africa. This is of value since any users of bespoke developed applications may require extended professional assistance to align with the King III guidelines. The supporting risk assessment model developed in this work will serve as a tool to evaluate and motivate for software escrow agreements. It will also provide an overview of the various escrow agreement types and will transfer the focus to the value proposition that they each hold. Initial research has indicated that current awareness of software escrow in industry is still very low. This was evidenced by the significant number of approached specialists that declined to participate in the survey due to their own admitted inexperience in applying the discipline of software escrow within their companies. Moreover, the participants that contributed to the research indicated that they only required software escrow for medium to highly critical applications. This proved the value of assessing the various risk factors that bespoke software development introduces, as well as the risk mitigation options available, through tools such as escrow, to reduce the actual and residual risk to a manageable level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Rode, Karl
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Escrows , Source code (Computer Science)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4714 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017936
- Description: Two or more parties entering into a contract for service or goods may make use of an escrow of the funds for payment to enable trust in the contract. In such an event the documents or financial instruments, the object(s) in escrow, are held in trust by a trusted third party (escrow provider) until the specified conditions are fulfilled. In the scenario of software escrow, the object of escrow is typically the source code, and the specified release conditions usually address potential scenarios wherein the software provider becomes unable to continue providing services (such as due to bankruptcy or a change in services provided, etc.) The subject of software escrow is not well documented in the academic body of work, with the largest information sources, active commentary and supporting papers provided by commercial software escrow providers, both in South Africa and abroad. This work maps the software escrow topic onto the King III compliance framework in South Africa. This is of value since any users of bespoke developed applications may require extended professional assistance to align with the King III guidelines. The supporting risk assessment model developed in this work will serve as a tool to evaluate and motivate for software escrow agreements. It will also provide an overview of the various escrow agreement types and will transfer the focus to the value proposition that they each hold. Initial research has indicated that current awareness of software escrow in industry is still very low. This was evidenced by the significant number of approached specialists that declined to participate in the survey due to their own admitted inexperience in applying the discipline of software escrow within their companies. Moreover, the participants that contributed to the research indicated that they only required software escrow for medium to highly critical applications. This proved the value of assessing the various risk factors that bespoke software development introduces, as well as the risk mitigation options available, through tools such as escrow, to reduce the actual and residual risk to a manageable level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Spatio-temporal variation in the phytobenthos and phytoplankton community structure and composition of particulate matter along a river-estuary continuum assessed using microscopic and stable isotope analyses
- Authors: Dalu, Tatenda
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54416 , vital:26563
- Description: Phytoplankton and phytobenthos communities play an important role in lotic systems as primary producers providing essential biomolecules to higher trophic oganisms and are important indicators for environmental or ecological change. In this thesis, field studies (observational and experimental) along a river–estuary continuum were conducted to assess the spatio-temporal variation and development of phytobenthos and phytoplankton communities using a combination of stable isotope and community analyses in a temperate southern African system across four study periods: September (early spring) and November/December (late spring) 2012, and February (summer) and May/June (winter) 2013. Additionally, the sources and composition of the particulate organic matter were also analysed using stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) analysis. The effects of substrate type and flood occurrence were assessed through experimental studies at an up- and downstream site of the river after a major flood event that occurred between October and November 2012. Common household tiles were used as artificial substrates to study the development/succession of phytobenthos communities after the flood disturbance. Distinct diatom communities were observed between upstream and downstream sites and at each site, community structure changed with time indicating succession. In addition to recording diatom characteristics on three natural substrates, namely; macrophytes, rocks and sediment, artificial substrates observations were also made on three different types of artificial substrates, namely; brick, brown clay and grey clay tiles. The natural (species richness 78) and artificial substrates (sp. richness 93) had different communities with the latter having greater species richness. Common phytobenthos taxa were not restricted to a single substrate but preference was generally high for the artificial substrates, especially brown tiles (mean sp. richness 47). Results of the redundancy analysis (RDA) analysis indicated that ammonium, conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity, pH, oxygen reduction potential, phosphate and water depth were the major determinants of the phytobenthos composition at the two sites. The spatio–temporal variation of phytoplankton and phytobenthos communities and allochthonous organic matter along the river–estuary continuum was assessed at 8 sites using a combination of community and stable isotope analyses. A total of 178 species belonging to 78 genera were recorded with diatoms being predominant, accounting for 81.9 % of the total abundance. The total chl-a concentration along the river-estuary continuum increased from spring to a high in summer before decreasing to a low in winter. Periphyton communities were observed to be significantly different across sites (p < 0.05) in terms of species richness, abundances and isotopically The high periphytic δ15N values (range 7.9–15.2 ‰) recorded at the downstream sites compared to the pristine upstream sites (δ15N values range 4–7 ‰) suggest nutrient enrichment most likely derived from anthropogenic sources. Overall, our results reveal general patterns of periphyton communities and stable isotopes and provide improved information in the use of periphyton δ15N as an excellent indicator of anthropogenic nitrogen pollution. Ecologists are interested in the factors that control, and the variability in, the contributions of different sources to mixed organic materials traveling through lotic systems. We hypothesized that the source matter fuelling mixed organic pools in a river-estuary continuum varies over space and time, with the upper reaches of a system characterized by allochthonous-dominated material and autochthonous contributions becoming more important in the lower reaches. Samples of the mixed organic pools and allochthonous and autochthonous source materials were collected during the four study periods. The C:N ratios of suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected during summer and winter indicated that the lower reaches of the system had similar organic matter contributions from the freshwater and terrestrial sources. Stable isotope analysis in R revealed that the contributions of autochthonous organic matter were high in SPM along the entire continuum, and aquatic macrophytes were significant contributors to SPM specifically in the upper reaches. The terrestrial leaves made major contributions to the SPM in the middle regions of the system (i.e. downstream sites of the river, particularly in early and late spring). Bulk detritus had large allochthonous matter components in the lower reaches (estuary), and the contributions of aquatic macrophytes and benthic algae to bulk detritus were high (> 50 %) in the upper to middle reaches (river), but low (< 20 %) in the lower reaches (estuary). The current investigation represents the first attempt to assess the validity of the River Continuum Concept (RCC) in a southern African temperate river. The phytoplankton and phytobenthos communities, and chl-a concentration followed a trend similar to that proposed for the river continuum concept (RCC). The middle reaches based on the phytobenthos or phytoplankton communities and chl-a concentrations which were employed as proxies for primary production, were the most productive, while the upper reaches were the least primary productive. The evaluation of organic matter contributions to the SPM and detritus along the river–estuary continuum provided a baseline assessment of the nature and sources of potential food for consumers inhabiting different locations during different times of the year. Incorporating such spatio-temporal variations in SPM and detritus into food web studies will improve our understanding of the flow of carbon through aquatic systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Dalu, Tatenda
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/54416 , vital:26563
- Description: Phytoplankton and phytobenthos communities play an important role in lotic systems as primary producers providing essential biomolecules to higher trophic oganisms and are important indicators for environmental or ecological change. In this thesis, field studies (observational and experimental) along a river–estuary continuum were conducted to assess the spatio-temporal variation and development of phytobenthos and phytoplankton communities using a combination of stable isotope and community analyses in a temperate southern African system across four study periods: September (early spring) and November/December (late spring) 2012, and February (summer) and May/June (winter) 2013. Additionally, the sources and composition of the particulate organic matter were also analysed using stable isotope (δ15N and δ13C) analysis. The effects of substrate type and flood occurrence were assessed through experimental studies at an up- and downstream site of the river after a major flood event that occurred between October and November 2012. Common household tiles were used as artificial substrates to study the development/succession of phytobenthos communities after the flood disturbance. Distinct diatom communities were observed between upstream and downstream sites and at each site, community structure changed with time indicating succession. In addition to recording diatom characteristics on three natural substrates, namely; macrophytes, rocks and sediment, artificial substrates observations were also made on three different types of artificial substrates, namely; brick, brown clay and grey clay tiles. The natural (species richness 78) and artificial substrates (sp. richness 93) had different communities with the latter having greater species richness. Common phytobenthos taxa were not restricted to a single substrate but preference was generally high for the artificial substrates, especially brown tiles (mean sp. richness 47). Results of the redundancy analysis (RDA) analysis indicated that ammonium, conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity, pH, oxygen reduction potential, phosphate and water depth were the major determinants of the phytobenthos composition at the two sites. The spatio–temporal variation of phytoplankton and phytobenthos communities and allochthonous organic matter along the river–estuary continuum was assessed at 8 sites using a combination of community and stable isotope analyses. A total of 178 species belonging to 78 genera were recorded with diatoms being predominant, accounting for 81.9 % of the total abundance. The total chl-a concentration along the river-estuary continuum increased from spring to a high in summer before decreasing to a low in winter. Periphyton communities were observed to be significantly different across sites (p < 0.05) in terms of species richness, abundances and isotopically The high periphytic δ15N values (range 7.9–15.2 ‰) recorded at the downstream sites compared to the pristine upstream sites (δ15N values range 4–7 ‰) suggest nutrient enrichment most likely derived from anthropogenic sources. Overall, our results reveal general patterns of periphyton communities and stable isotopes and provide improved information in the use of periphyton δ15N as an excellent indicator of anthropogenic nitrogen pollution. Ecologists are interested in the factors that control, and the variability in, the contributions of different sources to mixed organic materials traveling through lotic systems. We hypothesized that the source matter fuelling mixed organic pools in a river-estuary continuum varies over space and time, with the upper reaches of a system characterized by allochthonous-dominated material and autochthonous contributions becoming more important in the lower reaches. Samples of the mixed organic pools and allochthonous and autochthonous source materials were collected during the four study periods. The C:N ratios of suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected during summer and winter indicated that the lower reaches of the system had similar organic matter contributions from the freshwater and terrestrial sources. Stable isotope analysis in R revealed that the contributions of autochthonous organic matter were high in SPM along the entire continuum, and aquatic macrophytes were significant contributors to SPM specifically in the upper reaches. The terrestrial leaves made major contributions to the SPM in the middle regions of the system (i.e. downstream sites of the river, particularly in early and late spring). Bulk detritus had large allochthonous matter components in the lower reaches (estuary), and the contributions of aquatic macrophytes and benthic algae to bulk detritus were high (> 50 %) in the upper to middle reaches (river), but low (< 20 %) in the lower reaches (estuary). The current investigation represents the first attempt to assess the validity of the River Continuum Concept (RCC) in a southern African temperate river. The phytoplankton and phytobenthos communities, and chl-a concentration followed a trend similar to that proposed for the river continuum concept (RCC). The middle reaches based on the phytobenthos or phytoplankton communities and chl-a concentrations which were employed as proxies for primary production, were the most productive, while the upper reaches were the least primary productive. The evaluation of organic matter contributions to the SPM and detritus along the river–estuary continuum provided a baseline assessment of the nature and sources of potential food for consumers inhabiting different locations during different times of the year. Incorporating such spatio-temporal variations in SPM and detritus into food web studies will improve our understanding of the flow of carbon through aquatic systems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Primary maths teacher learning and identity within a numeracy in-service community of practice
- Authors: Pausigere, Peter
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa , Student-centered learning -- South Africa , Communities of practice -- South Africa , Educational change -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2019 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017183
- Description: This study focuses on the processes of primary maths teacher learning and how their identities and practices evolve in relation to participation in a primary maths focused in-service teacher education programme, called the Numeracy Inquiry Community of Leader Educators (NICLE).Additionally it investigates activities, relations and forms of participation within the Community of Practice (CoP) which enable or constrain evolving primary maths identities and practices and how these relate to the broader context. The study draws from the situative-participationists (Lave, 1996; Wenger, 1998; Sfard & Prusak, 2005; Wenger et al, 2002) theoretical framework supplemented by Bernstein’s (2000) pedagogic identity model. Using a qualitative educational interpretive approach I sampled 8 primary teachers drawn from NICLE and gathered data through participant observations, interactive interviews, document analysis and reflective journals. Analysing the key data themes that emerged from teacher learning stories, which I have called stelos, the study explains the nature of the primary maths teachers’ learning, transformation and participation experiences in NICLE using the synonyms reinvigoration and remediation and activation and relating these semantics to the teachers’ mathematical identities and histories. The study also explains the processes through which primary maths teacher identities evolve in relation to participation in an in-service CoP as ‘insiding’ and ‘outcropping’. Interpreting qualitative data from the empirical field indicates that teachers participating in NICLE mostly took-up into their maths classrooms key numeracy-domain concepts, resources and issues presented by primary maths experts which are informed by research and theory that link to practices. Teachers collaboratively and actively engaged in a range of activities that relate to classroom practices. Teacher learning was also enabled when teachers engaged in maths overlapping communities of practice, shared classroom experiences in friendly ways with fellow NICLE teachers and engaged with NICLE presenters who mutually respected and regarded them as professionals. Such affordances were said to enable teachers to engage learners in maths classes and improve their understanding of specific primary maths concepts. On the other hand teachers felt challenged by the travelling distance, limited time and also raised the tension of how to scale-up maths professional development initiatives to include schools from their community. The study makes a theoretical contribution by illustrating how Bernstein’s pedagogic identity model and its elaboration by Tyler (1999) provides analytical tools to interrogate macro educational changes and connect these to the micro processes and teacher identities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Pausigere, Peter
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa , Student-centered learning -- South Africa , Communities of practice -- South Africa , Educational change -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2019 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017183
- Description: This study focuses on the processes of primary maths teacher learning and how their identities and practices evolve in relation to participation in a primary maths focused in-service teacher education programme, called the Numeracy Inquiry Community of Leader Educators (NICLE).Additionally it investigates activities, relations and forms of participation within the Community of Practice (CoP) which enable or constrain evolving primary maths identities and practices and how these relate to the broader context. The study draws from the situative-participationists (Lave, 1996; Wenger, 1998; Sfard & Prusak, 2005; Wenger et al, 2002) theoretical framework supplemented by Bernstein’s (2000) pedagogic identity model. Using a qualitative educational interpretive approach I sampled 8 primary teachers drawn from NICLE and gathered data through participant observations, interactive interviews, document analysis and reflective journals. Analysing the key data themes that emerged from teacher learning stories, which I have called stelos, the study explains the nature of the primary maths teachers’ learning, transformation and participation experiences in NICLE using the synonyms reinvigoration and remediation and activation and relating these semantics to the teachers’ mathematical identities and histories. The study also explains the processes through which primary maths teacher identities evolve in relation to participation in an in-service CoP as ‘insiding’ and ‘outcropping’. Interpreting qualitative data from the empirical field indicates that teachers participating in NICLE mostly took-up into their maths classrooms key numeracy-domain concepts, resources and issues presented by primary maths experts which are informed by research and theory that link to practices. Teachers collaboratively and actively engaged in a range of activities that relate to classroom practices. Teacher learning was also enabled when teachers engaged in maths overlapping communities of practice, shared classroom experiences in friendly ways with fellow NICLE teachers and engaged with NICLE presenters who mutually respected and regarded them as professionals. Such affordances were said to enable teachers to engage learners in maths classes and improve their understanding of specific primary maths concepts. On the other hand teachers felt challenged by the travelling distance, limited time and also raised the tension of how to scale-up maths professional development initiatives to include schools from their community. The study makes a theoretical contribution by illustrating how Bernstein’s pedagogic identity model and its elaboration by Tyler (1999) provides analytical tools to interrogate macro educational changes and connect these to the micro processes and teacher identities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Business events for the citizens of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Bay
- Authors: Hastie, Dean
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Place marketing -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth. , Sightseeing business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7554 , vital:21810
- Description: The effective application of destination marketing strategies leads to increased business activity within a city. This in turn leads to higher attainment levels of social and economic development. It can therefore be said that destination marketing strategies are an essential factor in the growth and functioning of a city. The objective of destination marketing is the city’s image or identity which in turn is the starting point for developing the city’s brand. Cities require an identity. It is crucial that a city has a unique identity with which visitors, tourists and residents can relate to. Examples of these unique city identities are Los Angeles which is known as the City of Angels and Florence which is known as the City of Lilies. The image of a place influences people’s perceptions and choices when visiting, living and conducting business in a specific city. The city’s image and brand serves as a conduit for city residents to identify with their city. The essence of the brand must be discovered, identified, brought to the surface and not imagined, created or added from the outside through an artificial process. Cities that make use of effective destination marketing strategies have endured a considerable increase in business and leisure activities. Notably, business events are important attractions and drivers for activity in many destinations. Multiple parties designing a brand strategy for a city should thoroughly assess the resources and assets a city possesses. A city branding strategy can enable a city to leverage its ‘tangible and non-tangible assets‟. In order for business tourism to develop in South Africa, it is essential that players within the sector have a thorough understanding of international dynamics in order to capitalise on the opportunities that are provided in South Africa. Nelson Mandela Bay in South Africa is a city with vast potential. The city is ideal as a tourist destination as it is situated along the Sunshine coast of South Africa. It could be said of the city that it is on the threshold of rising eminence in the coming decades. This treatise investigates the approach and success factors for a successful rebranding of Nelson Mandela Bay through business events as part of a destination marketing strategy. The treatise will ascertain which business events residents of the Nelson Mandela Bay would require and support. A survey was conducted among citizens of Nelson Mandela Bay using a questionnaire from which 952 responses were received. The questionnaire measured the respondents’ attitudes to which types of business events they would require and support their feelings on the brand identity of the city as well as the communication medium they would like to receive communication through. The findings of this study indicate that residents of Nelson Mandela Bay are open to the use of business events as the main driver in terms of business event attendance and support. Furthermore, the residents have made it clear they will support exhibitions, conventions and tradeshows. Facebook and local radio are identified as being the preferred communication method for hearing about events.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Hastie, Dean
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Place marketing -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth. , Sightseeing business -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7554 , vital:21810
- Description: The effective application of destination marketing strategies leads to increased business activity within a city. This in turn leads to higher attainment levels of social and economic development. It can therefore be said that destination marketing strategies are an essential factor in the growth and functioning of a city. The objective of destination marketing is the city’s image or identity which in turn is the starting point for developing the city’s brand. Cities require an identity. It is crucial that a city has a unique identity with which visitors, tourists and residents can relate to. Examples of these unique city identities are Los Angeles which is known as the City of Angels and Florence which is known as the City of Lilies. The image of a place influences people’s perceptions and choices when visiting, living and conducting business in a specific city. The city’s image and brand serves as a conduit for city residents to identify with their city. The essence of the brand must be discovered, identified, brought to the surface and not imagined, created or added from the outside through an artificial process. Cities that make use of effective destination marketing strategies have endured a considerable increase in business and leisure activities. Notably, business events are important attractions and drivers for activity in many destinations. Multiple parties designing a brand strategy for a city should thoroughly assess the resources and assets a city possesses. A city branding strategy can enable a city to leverage its ‘tangible and non-tangible assets‟. In order for business tourism to develop in South Africa, it is essential that players within the sector have a thorough understanding of international dynamics in order to capitalise on the opportunities that are provided in South Africa. Nelson Mandela Bay in South Africa is a city with vast potential. The city is ideal as a tourist destination as it is situated along the Sunshine coast of South Africa. It could be said of the city that it is on the threshold of rising eminence in the coming decades. This treatise investigates the approach and success factors for a successful rebranding of Nelson Mandela Bay through business events as part of a destination marketing strategy. The treatise will ascertain which business events residents of the Nelson Mandela Bay would require and support. A survey was conducted among citizens of Nelson Mandela Bay using a questionnaire from which 952 responses were received. The questionnaire measured the respondents’ attitudes to which types of business events they would require and support their feelings on the brand identity of the city as well as the communication medium they would like to receive communication through. The findings of this study indicate that residents of Nelson Mandela Bay are open to the use of business events as the main driver in terms of business event attendance and support. Furthermore, the residents have made it clear they will support exhibitions, conventions and tradeshows. Facebook and local radio are identified as being the preferred communication method for hearing about events.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
'I always knew I would go to university': a social realist account of student agency: part 1
- Authors: Ellery, Karen , Baxen, Jean
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61207 , vital:27990
- Description: Academic development programmes at higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa are often underpinned by discourses that view students as deficit. Archer's social realist ontology offers a means of understanding reflexivities and agency of students in the higher education context. Using narrative data and drawing on Archer's (2003) theory of mediation between structure and agency through internal conversations, this study examined the socio-economic background of one particular student, Thando, and his agential journey to arrive at the academy. The analysis reveals Thando has a deliberate and determined stance towards achieving his project of obtaining a tertiary education in order to realise a better life for himself and his family. Despite what could be perceived as constraining socio-cultural conditions, Thando strategically circumvents such restrictions and acts in ways that help him pursue his project. It is argued that student agency needs to take a more central place within academic development programmes in higher education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Ellery, Karen , Baxen, Jean
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: article , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/61207 , vital:27990
- Description: Academic development programmes at higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa are often underpinned by discourses that view students as deficit. Archer's social realist ontology offers a means of understanding reflexivities and agency of students in the higher education context. Using narrative data and drawing on Archer's (2003) theory of mediation between structure and agency through internal conversations, this study examined the socio-economic background of one particular student, Thando, and his agential journey to arrive at the academy. The analysis reveals Thando has a deliberate and determined stance towards achieving his project of obtaining a tertiary education in order to realise a better life for himself and his family. Despite what could be perceived as constraining socio-cultural conditions, Thando strategically circumvents such restrictions and acts in ways that help him pursue his project. It is argued that student agency needs to take a more central place within academic development programmes in higher education.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The isolation, characterisation and chemotaxonomic significance of secondary metabolites from selected South African Laurencia spp. Rhodophyta
- Authors: Fakee, Jameel
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64696 , vital:28593
- Description: Bioprospection of marine organisms as a potential source for lead drugs is becoming increasingly popular. The secondary metabolome of these organisms consists of structurally diverse molecules possessing unprecedented carbon skeletons, the biosynthesis of which occurs via complex metabolomic pathways driven by specialist enzymes. This structural novelty is highly influential on the favourable bioactivity these compounds display. A prominent example of such a compound is trabectedin marketed as Yondelis®. Registered for the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas, this marine drug was developed from extracts of the tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata. South Africa is renowned for possessing a highly diverse marine biota including several endemic species of marine red algae belonging to the Laurencia sensu stricto genus, which falls within the Laurencia complex. Despite having a good reputation for fascinating secondary metabolites, the taxonomy of Laurencia natural products is proving challenging for reasons including the presence of cryptic species, as well as individual species displaying morphological variability. The aim of this study was thus to isolate secondary metabolites from various South African Laurencia spp. and subsequently assess their chemotaxonomic significance by analysis of a parallel plastid rbcL phylogeny study of Laurencia spp. This study reports the first phycochemical investigation into Laurencia natalensis Kylin, Laurencia cf. corymbosa J.Agardh, Laurencia complanata (Suhr) Kützing, Laurencia sodwaniensis Francis, Bolton, Mattio and Anderson submitted, Laurencia multiclavata Francis, Bolton, Mattio and Anderson submitted, and a South African specimen of Laurenciella marilzae Gil-Rodríguez, Sentíes, Díaz-Larrea, Cassano and M.T. Fujii (basionym: Laurencia marilzae) originally described from Spain. Additionally, the chemical profiles of previously explored species Laurencia flexuosa Kützing and Laurencia glomerata Kützing were re-investigated. The organic extracts of the above species afforded 31 compounds belonging to a wide array of structural classes including halo-chamigranes, linear C15 acetogenins, indole alkaloids, cuparanes and cyclic bromo-ethers. A new tri-cyclic keto-cuparane (4.4) was isolated from L.cf. corymbosa alongside the new cuparanes 4.1 and 4.7. Algoane (5.9), a unique marker compound isolated from L. natalensis, was previously only reported from a sea-hare. Such marker compounds which are exclusive to an individual algal species increase the ease of their subsequent identification. The feasibility of chemotaxonomy as an additional tool to classify Laurencia spp. Was established as broad predictions of a specimen’s phylogeny, based on representatives of its secondary metabolome, proved viable. The study specimens were shown to possess similar chemical profiles to their sister species e.g. L. complanata, L. sodwaniensis and L. multiclavata produced similar metabolites to their sister species as inferred by an rbcL phylogeny tree. Finally, a 1H NMR profiling study on the crude organic extracts of various Laurencia spp. generated distinctive, reproducible spectra, exposing the value of NMR spectroscopy as a rudimentary species discernment tool.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Fakee, Jameel
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/64696 , vital:28593
- Description: Bioprospection of marine organisms as a potential source for lead drugs is becoming increasingly popular. The secondary metabolome of these organisms consists of structurally diverse molecules possessing unprecedented carbon skeletons, the biosynthesis of which occurs via complex metabolomic pathways driven by specialist enzymes. This structural novelty is highly influential on the favourable bioactivity these compounds display. A prominent example of such a compound is trabectedin marketed as Yondelis®. Registered for the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas, this marine drug was developed from extracts of the tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata. South Africa is renowned for possessing a highly diverse marine biota including several endemic species of marine red algae belonging to the Laurencia sensu stricto genus, which falls within the Laurencia complex. Despite having a good reputation for fascinating secondary metabolites, the taxonomy of Laurencia natural products is proving challenging for reasons including the presence of cryptic species, as well as individual species displaying morphological variability. The aim of this study was thus to isolate secondary metabolites from various South African Laurencia spp. and subsequently assess their chemotaxonomic significance by analysis of a parallel plastid rbcL phylogeny study of Laurencia spp. This study reports the first phycochemical investigation into Laurencia natalensis Kylin, Laurencia cf. corymbosa J.Agardh, Laurencia complanata (Suhr) Kützing, Laurencia sodwaniensis Francis, Bolton, Mattio and Anderson submitted, Laurencia multiclavata Francis, Bolton, Mattio and Anderson submitted, and a South African specimen of Laurenciella marilzae Gil-Rodríguez, Sentíes, Díaz-Larrea, Cassano and M.T. Fujii (basionym: Laurencia marilzae) originally described from Spain. Additionally, the chemical profiles of previously explored species Laurencia flexuosa Kützing and Laurencia glomerata Kützing were re-investigated. The organic extracts of the above species afforded 31 compounds belonging to a wide array of structural classes including halo-chamigranes, linear C15 acetogenins, indole alkaloids, cuparanes and cyclic bromo-ethers. A new tri-cyclic keto-cuparane (4.4) was isolated from L.cf. corymbosa alongside the new cuparanes 4.1 and 4.7. Algoane (5.9), a unique marker compound isolated from L. natalensis, was previously only reported from a sea-hare. Such marker compounds which are exclusive to an individual algal species increase the ease of their subsequent identification. The feasibility of chemotaxonomy as an additional tool to classify Laurencia spp. Was established as broad predictions of a specimen’s phylogeny, based on representatives of its secondary metabolome, proved viable. The study specimens were shown to possess similar chemical profiles to their sister species e.g. L. complanata, L. sodwaniensis and L. multiclavata produced similar metabolites to their sister species as inferred by an rbcL phylogeny tree. Finally, a 1H NMR profiling study on the crude organic extracts of various Laurencia spp. generated distinctive, reproducible spectra, exposing the value of NMR spectroscopy as a rudimentary species discernment tool.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The relationship between organisational culture, transformational leadership and organisational change outcomes in private intensive care units
- Authors: Jordan, Portia Janine
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Corporate culture , Organizational change , Leadership , Organizational effectiveness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6401 , vital:21082
- Description: In order for organisations to grow and maintain their competitive advantage, change has become the norm. The healthcare industry and especially private healthcare organisations, is no exception. Organisational change often implies a change in organisational culture. The concept of culture refers to the ways of thinking, values and ideas of things rather than the concrete, objective and more visible part of the organisation. Organisational culture is not to be viewed in isolation as culture and leadership are intertwined. Leaders shape cultures and their fundamental role is affecting others and making changes that increase organisational efficiency and performance. Patient safety, cost-effective care based on the best available evidence and patient satisfaction are top priorities of healthcare organisations, especially intensive care units where critically ill patients are cared for. Alignment of the organisational culture and leadership with a hospital‘s vision, namely to deliver quality patient care, is thus essential. A positivistic research paradigm, with a quantitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual approach was used to conduct the study. The study explored whether transformational organisational culture, leadership and desired organisational change outcomes existed in private intensive care units in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan and East London areas. It aimed at exploring the relationship between selected demographic variables, culture, leadership and organisational change outcomes. Lastly, the relationship between organisational culture and leadership (independent variables) and organisational change outcomes (dependent variable) was explored. The sample comprised 130 professional nurses who were selected from all the adult intensive care units in the private healthcare industry in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan and East London areas. A structured questionnaire with a Cronbach‘s alpha of more than 0.8 was used to collect data. The empirical results indicated that transformational leadership and a conducive organisational culture existed in the private intensive care units sampled. However, it was found that innovation and innovative care practices could be improved. Care practices were not necessarily aligned with the latest, available innovative techniques, procedures and practices. Reflective practices and in-service training to improve care practices and encourage and promote innovative care practices were not always optimised. Recommendations related to the findings were made for managers, as well as for research, education and practice. Ethical principles were maintained throughout the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Jordan, Portia Janine
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Corporate culture , Organizational change , Leadership , Organizational effectiveness
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6401 , vital:21082
- Description: In order for organisations to grow and maintain their competitive advantage, change has become the norm. The healthcare industry and especially private healthcare organisations, is no exception. Organisational change often implies a change in organisational culture. The concept of culture refers to the ways of thinking, values and ideas of things rather than the concrete, objective and more visible part of the organisation. Organisational culture is not to be viewed in isolation as culture and leadership are intertwined. Leaders shape cultures and their fundamental role is affecting others and making changes that increase organisational efficiency and performance. Patient safety, cost-effective care based on the best available evidence and patient satisfaction are top priorities of healthcare organisations, especially intensive care units where critically ill patients are cared for. Alignment of the organisational culture and leadership with a hospital‘s vision, namely to deliver quality patient care, is thus essential. A positivistic research paradigm, with a quantitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual approach was used to conduct the study. The study explored whether transformational organisational culture, leadership and desired organisational change outcomes existed in private intensive care units in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan and East London areas. It aimed at exploring the relationship between selected demographic variables, culture, leadership and organisational change outcomes. Lastly, the relationship between organisational culture and leadership (independent variables) and organisational change outcomes (dependent variable) was explored. The sample comprised 130 professional nurses who were selected from all the adult intensive care units in the private healthcare industry in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan and East London areas. A structured questionnaire with a Cronbach‘s alpha of more than 0.8 was used to collect data. The empirical results indicated that transformational leadership and a conducive organisational culture existed in the private intensive care units sampled. However, it was found that innovation and innovative care practices could be improved. Care practices were not necessarily aligned with the latest, available innovative techniques, procedures and practices. Reflective practices and in-service training to improve care practices and encourage and promote innovative care practices were not always optimised. Recommendations related to the findings were made for managers, as well as for research, education and practice. Ethical principles were maintained throughout the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Representations of gender and agency in the Harry Potter series:
- Authors: Hunt, Sally
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/139269 , vital:37721 , ISBN 978-1-137-43173-8 , https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137431738_13
- Description: Gender is an all-pervasive and extremely influential construct in the lives of individuals (Taylor, 2003). In children’s literature, we find a reflection of the attitudes towards gender prevalent in a given society at a particular time (Peterson and Lach, 1990). Therefore the study of how gender is represented in children’s literature can make a useful contribution to our understanding of how choices in language use support particular discourses, ‘broad constitutive systems of meaning’ (Sunderland, 2004: 6) or ‘ways of seeing the world’ (op cit: 28). These representations in turn perpetuate prevailing gendered power relations in that society, as research into children’s literature has shown (Thompson and Sealey, 2007). Corpus Linguistics offers a degree of objectivity and efficiency not possible in manual ideological analysis, as well as a set of tools particularly useful for the lexical analysis of considerable quantities of text. In this chapter, I report on my analysis of gendered discourses in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, focussing on patterns around grammatical agency in the books.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Hunt, Sally
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/139269 , vital:37721 , ISBN 978-1-137-43173-8 , https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137431738_13
- Description: Gender is an all-pervasive and extremely influential construct in the lives of individuals (Taylor, 2003). In children’s literature, we find a reflection of the attitudes towards gender prevalent in a given society at a particular time (Peterson and Lach, 1990). Therefore the study of how gender is represented in children’s literature can make a useful contribution to our understanding of how choices in language use support particular discourses, ‘broad constitutive systems of meaning’ (Sunderland, 2004: 6) or ‘ways of seeing the world’ (op cit: 28). These representations in turn perpetuate prevailing gendered power relations in that society, as research into children’s literature has shown (Thompson and Sealey, 2007). Corpus Linguistics offers a degree of objectivity and efficiency not possible in manual ideological analysis, as well as a set of tools particularly useful for the lexical analysis of considerable quantities of text. In this chapter, I report on my analysis of gendered discourses in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, focussing on patterns around grammatical agency in the books.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Recent developments in banking supervision and the soundness of the financial system : a comparative study of South Africa, Brazil and China
- Authors: Gutu, Taurai Fortune
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Basel III (2010) , Bank management -- South Africa , Bank management -- Brazil , Bank management -- China , Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009 , Ratio analysis , Liquidity (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020892
- Description: While the 2008 financial crisis has come and gone, its effects on the global financial sector still show. Globalisation has since changed the way that banks do business, and increased competitiveness and with it the level of risk within the international banking community. Therefore, because of these prolonged effects of the financial crisis and the rise in the level of risk in banking, regulators deemed it fit to make the global financial sector safer and sounder. As a result, the BASEL III Capital Accord was introduced with tighter capital adequacy and liquidity ratio requirements; as well as also introducing the leverage ratio. In this paper, through the study of the rules and regulations on banks in South Africa, Brazil and China, it was discovered that all three countries have since begun the implementation of the new Accord as from January 2013. While preparatory measures may be different, there is a general sense of regulatory alignment among the three countries. By analysing the capital adequacy, liquidity and leverage ratios of the three countries, it was also established that these ratios are interconnected, with the capital adequacy ratio being the most important one. The study concludes that, with proper implementation of these ratios and effective management, countries implementing the BASEL III regulations would be in a stronger position to achieve soundness in their banking systems. , Gutu, Taurai Fortunate
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Gutu, Taurai Fortune
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Basel III (2010) , Bank management -- South Africa , Bank management -- Brazil , Bank management -- China , Global Financial Crisis, 2008-2009 , Ratio analysis , Liquidity (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020892
- Description: While the 2008 financial crisis has come and gone, its effects on the global financial sector still show. Globalisation has since changed the way that banks do business, and increased competitiveness and with it the level of risk within the international banking community. Therefore, because of these prolonged effects of the financial crisis and the rise in the level of risk in banking, regulators deemed it fit to make the global financial sector safer and sounder. As a result, the BASEL III Capital Accord was introduced with tighter capital adequacy and liquidity ratio requirements; as well as also introducing the leverage ratio. In this paper, through the study of the rules and regulations on banks in South Africa, Brazil and China, it was discovered that all three countries have since begun the implementation of the new Accord as from January 2013. While preparatory measures may be different, there is a general sense of regulatory alignment among the three countries. By analysing the capital adequacy, liquidity and leverage ratios of the three countries, it was also established that these ratios are interconnected, with the capital adequacy ratio being the most important one. The study concludes that, with proper implementation of these ratios and effective management, countries implementing the BASEL III regulations would be in a stronger position to achieve soundness in their banking systems. , Gutu, Taurai Fortunate
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The effect of leadership styles on cultural diversity management of employees in the workplace
- Authors: Khatywa, Ongeziwe
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/3110 , vital:28262
- Description: This study investigates the effect of leadership styles on cultural diversity management of employees in the workplace. The main objectives of this study were to explore the relationship between leadership styles and cultural diversity management; and to develop a deeper understanding of the nature and extent of the relationship between leadership styles and cultural diversity management. Results indicated positive correlation on effect of leadership styles on cultural diversity management of employees in the workplace. The majority of the correlational results found in the study add to a generally high level of support for most of the relationships found in the literature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Khatywa, Ongeziwe
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Degree
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/3110 , vital:28262
- Description: This study investigates the effect of leadership styles on cultural diversity management of employees in the workplace. The main objectives of this study were to explore the relationship between leadership styles and cultural diversity management; and to develop a deeper understanding of the nature and extent of the relationship between leadership styles and cultural diversity management. Results indicated positive correlation on effect of leadership styles on cultural diversity management of employees in the workplace. The majority of the correlational results found in the study add to a generally high level of support for most of the relationships found in the literature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Transnational habitus : Mariem Hassan as the transcultural representation of the relationship between Saharaui music and Nubenegra records
- Authors: Gimenez Amoros, Luis
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Hassan, Mariem, 1958- , Nubenegra Records , Sahrawi (African people) -- Music -- Cross-cultural studies , Sahrawi (African people) -- Music -- Foreign influences , Transnationalism , Cross-cultural studies -- Spain
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2697 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017819
- Description: This thesis expands on primary field research conducted for my MMus degree. Undertaken in the Saharaui refugee camps of southern Algeria (2004-2005) that research - based on ethnographic data and the analysis of Saharaui music, known as Haul ¹- focussed on the musical system, the social context of musical performance and the music culture in Saharaui refugee camps. This doctoral research examines Saharaui Haul music as practised in Spain and is particularly focussed on its entry, since 1998, into the global market by way of the World Music label, Nubenegra records. The encounter between Saharaui musicians and Nubenegra records has created a new type of Saharaui Haul which is different to that played in the refugee camps. This phenomenon has emerged as a result of western music producers compelling Saharaui musicians to introduce musical changes so that both parties may be considered as musical agents occupying different positions on a continuum of tradition and change. Nubenegra undertook the commodification of Saharaui music and disseminated it from the camps to the rest of the world. A musical and social analysis of the relationship between Nubenegra and Saharaui musicians living in Spain will form the basis of the research in this thesis. In particular, Mariem Hassan is an example of a musician who had her music disseminated through the relationship with Nubenegra and she is promoted as the music ambassador of the Western Sahara. I collaborated with her as a composer and performer on her last album, El Aaiun egdat (Aaiun in fire), in 2012² and gained first hand insight into the relationship between Mariem and Nubenegra. This thesis reflects on this relationship and my role in facilitating this encounter.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Gimenez Amoros, Luis
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Hassan, Mariem, 1958- , Nubenegra Records , Sahrawi (African people) -- Music -- Cross-cultural studies , Sahrawi (African people) -- Music -- Foreign influences , Transnationalism , Cross-cultural studies -- Spain
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2697 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017819
- Description: This thesis expands on primary field research conducted for my MMus degree. Undertaken in the Saharaui refugee camps of southern Algeria (2004-2005) that research - based on ethnographic data and the analysis of Saharaui music, known as Haul ¹- focussed on the musical system, the social context of musical performance and the music culture in Saharaui refugee camps. This doctoral research examines Saharaui Haul music as practised in Spain and is particularly focussed on its entry, since 1998, into the global market by way of the World Music label, Nubenegra records. The encounter between Saharaui musicians and Nubenegra records has created a new type of Saharaui Haul which is different to that played in the refugee camps. This phenomenon has emerged as a result of western music producers compelling Saharaui musicians to introduce musical changes so that both parties may be considered as musical agents occupying different positions on a continuum of tradition and change. Nubenegra undertook the commodification of Saharaui music and disseminated it from the camps to the rest of the world. A musical and social analysis of the relationship between Nubenegra and Saharaui musicians living in Spain will form the basis of the research in this thesis. In particular, Mariem Hassan is an example of a musician who had her music disseminated through the relationship with Nubenegra and she is promoted as the music ambassador of the Western Sahara. I collaborated with her as a composer and performer on her last album, El Aaiun egdat (Aaiun in fire), in 2012² and gained first hand insight into the relationship between Mariem and Nubenegra. This thesis reflects on this relationship and my role in facilitating this encounter.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The importance of Banting research and why withholding it costs us lives:
- Remsing, Sandra, Viljoen, Janet, Christie, Candice J
- Authors: Remsing, Sandra , Viljoen, Janet , Christie, Candice J
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143672 , vital:38272 , https://ischp.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ischp_2015_abstract_booklet.pdf
- Description: Increased attention is being paid to the low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet, (LCHF) or ‘Banting diet’, as an effective method of managing insulin resistance and type ll diabetes. Randomised controlled trials have shown benefit, and anecdotes support the need for further investigation. Considering the prevalence and severity of type ll diabetes, effective non-pharmaceutical treatment options, such as LCHF, are crucial. However, current guidelines do not include the LCHF lifestyle, and in fact this option is generally opposed by the medical profession. Given the evidence, ignoring an alternative treatment must be considered an injustice to patients. This paper will present the opposing theories for the lifestyle treatment of type II diabetes, in particular, and critically argue that medical and scientific opposition to research into and application of an alternative treatment for insulin resistant individuals may be harmful rather than helpful.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Remsing, Sandra , Viljoen, Janet , Christie, Candice J
- Date: 2015
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143672 , vital:38272 , https://ischp.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ischp_2015_abstract_booklet.pdf
- Description: Increased attention is being paid to the low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet, (LCHF) or ‘Banting diet’, as an effective method of managing insulin resistance and type ll diabetes. Randomised controlled trials have shown benefit, and anecdotes support the need for further investigation. Considering the prevalence and severity of type ll diabetes, effective non-pharmaceutical treatment options, such as LCHF, are crucial. However, current guidelines do not include the LCHF lifestyle, and in fact this option is generally opposed by the medical profession. Given the evidence, ignoring an alternative treatment must be considered an injustice to patients. This paper will present the opposing theories for the lifestyle treatment of type II diabetes, in particular, and critically argue that medical and scientific opposition to research into and application of an alternative treatment for insulin resistant individuals may be harmful rather than helpful.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Research and development of an intelligent AGV-based material handling system for industrial applications
- Authors: Ferreira, Tremaine Pierre
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Robotics -- Industrial applications Artificial intelligence , Mechatronics -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21711 , vital:29738
- Description: The use of autonomous robots in industrial applications is growing in popularity and possesses the following advantages: cost effectiveness, job efficiency and safety aspects. Despite the advantages, the major drawback to using autonomous robots is the cost involved to acquire such robots. It is the aim of GMSA to develop a low cost AGV capable of performing material handling in an industrial environment. Collective autonomous robots are often used to perform tasks, that is, more than one working together to achieve a common goal. The intelligent controller, responsible for establishing coordination between the individual robots, plays a key role in managing the tasks of each robot to achieve the common goal. This dissertation addresses the development of an AGV capable of such functionality. Key research areas include: the development of an autonomous coupling system, integration of key safety devices and the development of an intelligent control strategy that can be used to govern the operation of multiple AGVs in an area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Ferreira, Tremaine Pierre
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Robotics -- Industrial applications Artificial intelligence , Mechatronics -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEng
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21711 , vital:29738
- Description: The use of autonomous robots in industrial applications is growing in popularity and possesses the following advantages: cost effectiveness, job efficiency and safety aspects. Despite the advantages, the major drawback to using autonomous robots is the cost involved to acquire such robots. It is the aim of GMSA to develop a low cost AGV capable of performing material handling in an industrial environment. Collective autonomous robots are often used to perform tasks, that is, more than one working together to achieve a common goal. The intelligent controller, responsible for establishing coordination between the individual robots, plays a key role in managing the tasks of each robot to achieve the common goal. This dissertation addresses the development of an AGV capable of such functionality. Key research areas include: the development of an autonomous coupling system, integration of key safety devices and the development of an intelligent control strategy that can be used to govern the operation of multiple AGVs in an area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015