Critical reflections on the war on terrorism from an international human rights perspective
- Fabbriciani, Antonio Antonino
- Authors: Fabbriciani, Antonio Antonino
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Human rights , War on Terrorism, 2001-2009 , Civil rights , International law
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9041 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1205 , Human rights , War on Terrorism, 2001-2009 , Civil rights , International law
- Description: This study explored the balancing out of the rights associated with terrorist and counter-terrorist attacks by using descriptive case studies of the US 9/11 attacks; and the counter-terrorist attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq. The research was conducted within a critical theory paradigm, drawing on the ideas of Habermas and other Critical Theorists. The research design was influenced by the securitive and ideological nature of the topic and it was decided that an extensive review of literature would be more suitable than a field study. A small number of interviews added to the richness of the data. Human rights, needs and international relations were investigated to serve as a theoretical starting-point for the study (Chapter 2). The case studies were subsequently explored against the background of this theoretical approach. This thesis therefore assessed the impact of human rights law on terrorism and counter-terrorism attacks under the Human Rights Act (1998). It considered how the provisions of the Human Rights Act have influenced the formulation and interpretation of anti-terrorism laws, and it examined the role of the judiciary in adjudicating disputes between the individual and the state. It further discussed human needs and the progress on human rights, terrorist attacks, as well as counter-terrorism attacks. Extensive data was gathered on the 9/11 attacks, and it was concluded that these attacks fall within the definition of crimes against humanity under international human rights jurisprudence. To bring about a truly secure world we must adopt a new paradigm that shifts priority to the security of the individuals and of communities to achieving human security, the honouring of human rights, and respect for the rule of law. This will obviously require a renewed commitment by all individuals and a shared sense of responsibility for all people, all over the world. What we need now is a major course correction – a new iii A. Fabbriciani approach which begins with a broader understanding of what defines human rights and the rule of law (Wilson, 2007). The study also focuses on counter-terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq (Chapters 3 and 4). It was shown that counter-terrorist attacks had an effect on the global economic system and development policies, which have been dominated by ideological strategies for many years. However, resistance has come from Islamic states, which have realised that new-liberal economic practices are incompatible with their theological and economic traditions. This has caused a situation to rethink global development programmes by political leaders, and to move away from new-liberal schemes towards true global development strategies. One of the main findings of the study was that the crimes of persecution and torture on the basis of political or religious views have been perpetrated by both parties, namely Al-Qaeda, and the US and its allies. It has been shown that the explored acts of terrorism and counter-attacks represent crimes against humanity, as defined by the relevant provisions of international law.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Fabbriciani, Antonio Antonino
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Human rights , War on Terrorism, 2001-2009 , Civil rights , International law
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: vital:9041 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1205 , Human rights , War on Terrorism, 2001-2009 , Civil rights , International law
- Description: This study explored the balancing out of the rights associated with terrorist and counter-terrorist attacks by using descriptive case studies of the US 9/11 attacks; and the counter-terrorist attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq. The research was conducted within a critical theory paradigm, drawing on the ideas of Habermas and other Critical Theorists. The research design was influenced by the securitive and ideological nature of the topic and it was decided that an extensive review of literature would be more suitable than a field study. A small number of interviews added to the richness of the data. Human rights, needs and international relations were investigated to serve as a theoretical starting-point for the study (Chapter 2). The case studies were subsequently explored against the background of this theoretical approach. This thesis therefore assessed the impact of human rights law on terrorism and counter-terrorism attacks under the Human Rights Act (1998). It considered how the provisions of the Human Rights Act have influenced the formulation and interpretation of anti-terrorism laws, and it examined the role of the judiciary in adjudicating disputes between the individual and the state. It further discussed human needs and the progress on human rights, terrorist attacks, as well as counter-terrorism attacks. Extensive data was gathered on the 9/11 attacks, and it was concluded that these attacks fall within the definition of crimes against humanity under international human rights jurisprudence. To bring about a truly secure world we must adopt a new paradigm that shifts priority to the security of the individuals and of communities to achieving human security, the honouring of human rights, and respect for the rule of law. This will obviously require a renewed commitment by all individuals and a shared sense of responsibility for all people, all over the world. What we need now is a major course correction – a new iii A. Fabbriciani approach which begins with a broader understanding of what defines human rights and the rule of law (Wilson, 2007). The study also focuses on counter-terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq (Chapters 3 and 4). It was shown that counter-terrorist attacks had an effect on the global economic system and development policies, which have been dominated by ideological strategies for many years. However, resistance has come from Islamic states, which have realised that new-liberal economic practices are incompatible with their theological and economic traditions. This has caused a situation to rethink global development programmes by political leaders, and to move away from new-liberal schemes towards true global development strategies. One of the main findings of the study was that the crimes of persecution and torture on the basis of political or religious views have been perpetrated by both parties, namely Al-Qaeda, and the US and its allies. It has been shown that the explored acts of terrorism and counter-attacks represent crimes against humanity, as defined by the relevant provisions of international law.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
A leadership development model to enhance ethical governance in South Africa
- Authors: Els, Ryno Juan
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa , Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects Corporate governance Business ethics -- South Africa Africa Professional ethics Organizational behavior -- Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39863 , vital:35489
- Description: From the United States of America’s White House to the Vatican in Vatican City, from Harare, Zimbabwe to the Union buildings in South Africa, to large organisations like Volkswagen, BP and KPMG, leadership failures are prolific. Globalised and local leadership failures and scandals are plagued by narcissistic, toxic, corrupt and dishonest behaviour by heads of state, CEOs and clergy. The effect of executive leadership failures is that they set the tone for a corrupt culture that spirals negatively down to grass-roots level. Unethical leadership in organisations manifests in various ways including misconduct, deception and cheating. Apart from regular exposés of leadership scandals globally, there has been a notable increase in ethical leadership derailments caused by unethical behaviour. The question is why leaders, who are considered to understand value-based morality, engage in unethical behaviour when confronted with the opportunity. In recent, empirical research in behavioural ethics and moral psychology, it was found that morally sound leaders often indulge in unethical behaviour. Unethical leadership behaviour includes misdemeanours in tax returns, overstating performance, inflating business expense accounts, involvement in corruption, counter-productive work behaviour, being morally disengaged and being untruthful during negotiations. Recent research indicates that unethical leadership leads to an increase in poor governance and propels vicious cycles that have a negative impact on human development, economic growth and the environment. This research study includes traditional and contemporary leadership theories that have been evaluated as well as an in-depth discussion of the necessity and importance of ethical governance. An innovative, ethical leadership development model has been designed and aligned with servant, ethical, authentic and integrated leadership styles where spiritual, cultural and emotional intelligences play a significant role in leadership maturity. A fresh perspective on the King IV Report (2016) as an international benchmark together with other authoritative literature and case studies of unethical governance have been discussed to shed light on the latest leadership theories and ethics in the 21st century. The findings of this study have been tested statistically by means of structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings confirmed empirically that accountability, stakeholders’ interests and the regulatory environment need to be implemented by ethical leaders in order to enhance ethical governance. The lack of a practical, outcome-based, leadership development model provided an opportunity to develop an ethical leadership development model that would have a positive impact on ethical governance, thereby contributing to the body of knowledge.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Els, Ryno Juan
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa , Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects Corporate governance Business ethics -- South Africa Africa Professional ethics Organizational behavior -- Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39863 , vital:35489
- Description: From the United States of America’s White House to the Vatican in Vatican City, from Harare, Zimbabwe to the Union buildings in South Africa, to large organisations like Volkswagen, BP and KPMG, leadership failures are prolific. Globalised and local leadership failures and scandals are plagued by narcissistic, toxic, corrupt and dishonest behaviour by heads of state, CEOs and clergy. The effect of executive leadership failures is that they set the tone for a corrupt culture that spirals negatively down to grass-roots level. Unethical leadership in organisations manifests in various ways including misconduct, deception and cheating. Apart from regular exposés of leadership scandals globally, there has been a notable increase in ethical leadership derailments caused by unethical behaviour. The question is why leaders, who are considered to understand value-based morality, engage in unethical behaviour when confronted with the opportunity. In recent, empirical research in behavioural ethics and moral psychology, it was found that morally sound leaders often indulge in unethical behaviour. Unethical leadership behaviour includes misdemeanours in tax returns, overstating performance, inflating business expense accounts, involvement in corruption, counter-productive work behaviour, being morally disengaged and being untruthful during negotiations. Recent research indicates that unethical leadership leads to an increase in poor governance and propels vicious cycles that have a negative impact on human development, economic growth and the environment. This research study includes traditional and contemporary leadership theories that have been evaluated as well as an in-depth discussion of the necessity and importance of ethical governance. An innovative, ethical leadership development model has been designed and aligned with servant, ethical, authentic and integrated leadership styles where spiritual, cultural and emotional intelligences play a significant role in leadership maturity. A fresh perspective on the King IV Report (2016) as an international benchmark together with other authoritative literature and case studies of unethical governance have been discussed to shed light on the latest leadership theories and ethics in the 21st century. The findings of this study have been tested statistically by means of structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings confirmed empirically that accountability, stakeholders’ interests and the regulatory environment need to be implemented by ethical leaders in order to enhance ethical governance. The lack of a practical, outcome-based, leadership development model provided an opportunity to develop an ethical leadership development model that would have a positive impact on ethical governance, thereby contributing to the body of knowledge.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Emotional intelligence training model for executive leadership in South Africa
- Authors: Els, Deon André
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Development leadership -- South Africa , Executives -- Training of -- South Africa , Emotional intelligence -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7398 , vital:21350
- Description: Global leadership crises and increasing executive leadership failures necessitate a new approach to executive leadership development. Globalisation results in new leadership challenges that affect people, the planet and peace across the world. Critical issues include increasing extremism and terrorism, displaced migrants fleeing to stable countries, earth warming and economic decline. The role of the individual executive leader cannot be isolated from human development challenges. Various executive leadership failures and examples of unethical leadership practises, both internationally and in South Africa, place the focus on ethical governance and emotionally matured leadership development. This study follows a nexus, based on a three-stranded cordial link between human development, emotional intelligence and executive leadership. The central themes of the United Nations Human Development’s (UNDP) reports of 1990 to 2009 as well as the Post-United Nations Human Development Report of 2015 form a framework for evaluating the relationship between human development and executive leadership. Although economic growth is central to human development, the development of people through building human capabilities and active participation to improve their lives, are the main goals of the UNDP-2015. The role of executive leadership, leadership derailment and required executive proficiencies and attributes are investigated by evaluating traditional leadership theories and approaches as a lens for investigating leadership development. The positive effect of globalisation is that it affords new approaches and opportunities for executive leadership development. Emotional intelligence-based leadership, including the role of neuro-leadership, is evaluated and an integrative approach that involves the new paradigm of leadership as a response to human development challenges and globalisation is presented. The new paradigm of integrative leadership approaches includes empirical-based authentic leadership, shared leadership and gender-based leadership. The integrative leadership models of Hatala and Passmore are selected as a framework to propose a theoretical emotional intelligence leadership model for this study. New opportunities to develop emotionally intelligent executive leaders include technology-based training, iLeadership and eLeadership in an environment without boundaries. Time constraints are identified as a key obstacle for leadership development. Various training and executive coaching strategies are evaluated and proposed to accelerate leadership development. The link between human development and executive leadership development is proposed by collective leadership approaches towards Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) above entrepreneurial acumen and stakeholder involvement. A positivist approach based on quantitative research using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is used. The primary research problem is formulated to investigate the multidimensional and complex nature of factors that influence the success of developing emotionally intelligent executive leaders in South Africa. A conceptual theoretical model comprising of factors that influence Human Development and the perceived success of Emotional Intelligence Training is developed. A total of ten independent variables that influence the two mentioned dependent variables are identified. The proposed model and envisaged hypotheses are empirically tested. The study consists of a 73-itemed questionnaire with 360 participants. The sourced data are statically analysed by means of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to assess the discriminate validity of the research instrument and to confirm underlying dimensions of the constructs. Cronbach-alpha coefficients are calculated for each of the identified factors by using SEM. The significance of the hypothesised relationships in the revised model is tested. The value of this study’s contribution to the body of knowledge lies within the findings, the proposed Integrative Emotional Intelligence Leadership Model and recommendations for future research. The proposed model identifies practical training approaches to accelerate executive leadership against a background of serious leadership failures in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Els, Deon André
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Development leadership -- South Africa , Executives -- Training of -- South Africa , Emotional intelligence -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7398 , vital:21350
- Description: Global leadership crises and increasing executive leadership failures necessitate a new approach to executive leadership development. Globalisation results in new leadership challenges that affect people, the planet and peace across the world. Critical issues include increasing extremism and terrorism, displaced migrants fleeing to stable countries, earth warming and economic decline. The role of the individual executive leader cannot be isolated from human development challenges. Various executive leadership failures and examples of unethical leadership practises, both internationally and in South Africa, place the focus on ethical governance and emotionally matured leadership development. This study follows a nexus, based on a three-stranded cordial link between human development, emotional intelligence and executive leadership. The central themes of the United Nations Human Development’s (UNDP) reports of 1990 to 2009 as well as the Post-United Nations Human Development Report of 2015 form a framework for evaluating the relationship between human development and executive leadership. Although economic growth is central to human development, the development of people through building human capabilities and active participation to improve their lives, are the main goals of the UNDP-2015. The role of executive leadership, leadership derailment and required executive proficiencies and attributes are investigated by evaluating traditional leadership theories and approaches as a lens for investigating leadership development. The positive effect of globalisation is that it affords new approaches and opportunities for executive leadership development. Emotional intelligence-based leadership, including the role of neuro-leadership, is evaluated and an integrative approach that involves the new paradigm of leadership as a response to human development challenges and globalisation is presented. The new paradigm of integrative leadership approaches includes empirical-based authentic leadership, shared leadership and gender-based leadership. The integrative leadership models of Hatala and Passmore are selected as a framework to propose a theoretical emotional intelligence leadership model for this study. New opportunities to develop emotionally intelligent executive leaders include technology-based training, iLeadership and eLeadership in an environment without boundaries. Time constraints are identified as a key obstacle for leadership development. Various training and executive coaching strategies are evaluated and proposed to accelerate leadership development. The link between human development and executive leadership development is proposed by collective leadership approaches towards Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) above entrepreneurial acumen and stakeholder involvement. A positivist approach based on quantitative research using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is used. The primary research problem is formulated to investigate the multidimensional and complex nature of factors that influence the success of developing emotionally intelligent executive leaders in South Africa. A conceptual theoretical model comprising of factors that influence Human Development and the perceived success of Emotional Intelligence Training is developed. A total of ten independent variables that influence the two mentioned dependent variables are identified. The proposed model and envisaged hypotheses are empirically tested. The study consists of a 73-itemed questionnaire with 360 participants. The sourced data are statically analysed by means of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to assess the discriminate validity of the research instrument and to confirm underlying dimensions of the constructs. Cronbach-alpha coefficients are calculated for each of the identified factors by using SEM. The significance of the hypothesised relationships in the revised model is tested. The value of this study’s contribution to the body of knowledge lies within the findings, the proposed Integrative Emotional Intelligence Leadership Model and recommendations for future research. The proposed model identifies practical training approaches to accelerate executive leadership against a background of serious leadership failures in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Promoting leader integrity through the human resource management value chain
- Authors: De Villiers, Bridget
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa , Leadership -- South Africa -- Moral and ethical aspects Business ethics Professional ethics Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50469 , vital:42197
- Description: Ethical breaches in the public and private sector in South Africa are prevalent and the effects thereof pervasive on the economy and within broader society. These ethical breaches include corruption, bribery, and the mismanagement of resources and may be attributed to poor decision-making on the part of organisational leaders. The complexity of the circumstances in which organisations operate in the 21st century requires that leaders effectively navigate moral dilemmas while considering the broad range of interests represented by many organisational stakeholders. Leaders need to act in a manner that is ethically sound to avoid the negative consequences associated with unethical organisational conduct, including a loss of profit, credibility and reputation. Ethical leadership is central to moral organisational governance, as compliance with rules and regulations alone is ineffective in building and sustaining an ethical organisation. Literature points to the centrality of leader integrity to the notion of ethical leadership and that an ethical organisational culture is sustained by leaders who possess integrity. In promoting leader integrity studies highlight management interventions and organisational success factors that promote an ethical organisation. Within the context of this study these management interventions and success factors were identified as promoting leader integrity. Further, the literature identified the important role of leaders in supporting these interventions and creating the conditions necessary to foster the success factors. These management interventions are offered through and the success factors are linked to the human resource management value chain. The main aim of this study was to explore the promotion of leader integrity through the human resource management value chain in South African organisations. The main aim of the study led to the development of several theoretical and empirical sub-objectives that were addressed through the following actions: A literature study was conducted examining the nature of ethical leadership and leader integrity and included a consideration of the dark side of leadership. The literature was further examined in relation to the nature of an ethical organisation and organisational integrity, the role of the leader in promoting an ethical organisational culture, and regarding the management interventions and success factors that were seen to promote leader integrity. The insights gained from the literature review assisted in the compilation of a survey questionnaire, this being the Management Interventions and Success Factors Scale. This scale, together with an existing scale, The Perceived Leader Integrity Scale (version 1.2), were used in the empirical study to determine the perceptions of employees as to whether specific management interventions and success factors were seen to promote leader integrity, and the extent to which their managers were seen to act with integrity. These employees worked in the public and private sectors across South Africa, and a final sample size of 606 respondents was achieved. The empirical results of the study revealed that management interventions and success factors were seen to promote leader integrity. However, due to high levels of inconsistency in the responses received it was recommended that a clearer link needs to be created in terms of how the success factors and interventions promote leader integrity. The empirical study further revealed that South African leaders were seen to act with integrity, more especially not to engage in acts of extreme negative deviance such as theft or sabotage, but that there was room for improvement as there were employees who reported moderate and low levels of integrity among their managers. Together with the literature review the empirical study contributed towards the development of a model and a framework for the promotion of leader integrity across the HRM value chain. South African leaders have a crucial role to play in promoting not only the moral fibre of the organisations that they represent, but also in contributing positively to moral regeneration at both a national and a global level through effective and integrity-based organisational governance. This is achieved through adopting an integrated, strategic and holistic approach to the promotion of leader integrity as proposed in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: De Villiers, Bridget
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Leadership -- South Africa , Leadership -- South Africa -- Moral and ethical aspects Business ethics Professional ethics Personnel management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50469 , vital:42197
- Description: Ethical breaches in the public and private sector in South Africa are prevalent and the effects thereof pervasive on the economy and within broader society. These ethical breaches include corruption, bribery, and the mismanagement of resources and may be attributed to poor decision-making on the part of organisational leaders. The complexity of the circumstances in which organisations operate in the 21st century requires that leaders effectively navigate moral dilemmas while considering the broad range of interests represented by many organisational stakeholders. Leaders need to act in a manner that is ethically sound to avoid the negative consequences associated with unethical organisational conduct, including a loss of profit, credibility and reputation. Ethical leadership is central to moral organisational governance, as compliance with rules and regulations alone is ineffective in building and sustaining an ethical organisation. Literature points to the centrality of leader integrity to the notion of ethical leadership and that an ethical organisational culture is sustained by leaders who possess integrity. In promoting leader integrity studies highlight management interventions and organisational success factors that promote an ethical organisation. Within the context of this study these management interventions and success factors were identified as promoting leader integrity. Further, the literature identified the important role of leaders in supporting these interventions and creating the conditions necessary to foster the success factors. These management interventions are offered through and the success factors are linked to the human resource management value chain. The main aim of this study was to explore the promotion of leader integrity through the human resource management value chain in South African organisations. The main aim of the study led to the development of several theoretical and empirical sub-objectives that were addressed through the following actions: A literature study was conducted examining the nature of ethical leadership and leader integrity and included a consideration of the dark side of leadership. The literature was further examined in relation to the nature of an ethical organisation and organisational integrity, the role of the leader in promoting an ethical organisational culture, and regarding the management interventions and success factors that were seen to promote leader integrity. The insights gained from the literature review assisted in the compilation of a survey questionnaire, this being the Management Interventions and Success Factors Scale. This scale, together with an existing scale, The Perceived Leader Integrity Scale (version 1.2), were used in the empirical study to determine the perceptions of employees as to whether specific management interventions and success factors were seen to promote leader integrity, and the extent to which their managers were seen to act with integrity. These employees worked in the public and private sectors across South Africa, and a final sample size of 606 respondents was achieved. The empirical results of the study revealed that management interventions and success factors were seen to promote leader integrity. However, due to high levels of inconsistency in the responses received it was recommended that a clearer link needs to be created in terms of how the success factors and interventions promote leader integrity. The empirical study further revealed that South African leaders were seen to act with integrity, more especially not to engage in acts of extreme negative deviance such as theft or sabotage, but that there was room for improvement as there were employees who reported moderate and low levels of integrity among their managers. Together with the literature review the empirical study contributed towards the development of a model and a framework for the promotion of leader integrity across the HRM value chain. South African leaders have a crucial role to play in promoting not only the moral fibre of the organisations that they represent, but also in contributing positively to moral regeneration at both a national and a global level through effective and integrity-based organisational governance. This is achieved through adopting an integrated, strategic and holistic approach to the promotion of leader integrity as proposed in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A business model for medical subspecialty training in South Africa
- Dalmeyer, Johannes Paulus Franciscus
- Authors: Dalmeyer, Johannes Paulus Franciscus
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Health care teams -- Training of -- South Africa , Medical care -- Needs assessment -- South Africa , Evidence-based medicine -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3508 , vital:20437
- Description: The shortage of healthcare workers and doctors in the developing world compared to the developed world is a problem, and will continue to be so, due to the continual migration of qualified professionals and the inability of the state to remedy these shortfalls. A shortage of healthcare workers and specialist doctors will seriously hamper the Government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) plan, as well as the sustainability of the private health care sector. In addition, the duration of medical training in South Africa is exceptionally long. The three major hospital groups and other private corporates have over the last number of years taken limited initiative to fund education projects in conjunction with the academic institutions. However, these projects have been poorly focused and have been managed in an unstructured and detached manner. There is a desire from the private sector to get involved in these projects on a much larger scale through more formalised structures. Given this background, the primary objective of this research is to develop a business model for medical subspecialty training to complement the current academic subspecialty training in South Africa. A trial model for training subspecialists in reproductive medicine was developed as a first attempt to address the threatening shortages and training duration. This trial programme is the basis of this research. A two-phased process was used in collecting data. In Phase 1 data was collected from stakeholder groups. The results of this survey assisted in generating variables to include in the measuring instrument for the survey in Phase 2. In Phase 2 the perceptions and expectations of sub-specialists (reproductive subspecialists and cardiologists) regarding sub-specialty training was collected. The results of the demographic variables confirm the aging profile of subspecialist and the need to ensure succession. The results further showed that cardiologists and reproductive subspecialist expectations of the training of subspecialists are very similar except for their expectations on the training duration. Reproductive subspecialist respondents agreed more than cardiology subspecialist respondents that the training duration is too long. The biggest gap between perceptions and expectations is also with the factor training. The results showed that the expectations of subspecialists are not met for training. From these results a business model for the training of medical subspecialists is proposed. This proposed business model can play a complementary role to the existing state controlled system and form the bases of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in medical training. This proposed business model will fit a developing country were the focus is on primary healthcare, with financial and capacity constraints. The proposed model would require role players to bring about change to accommodate a larger scale Public Private Partnership (PPP) to ensure the implementation of the model. The proposed decentralised business model for training subspecialists would allow the trainee subspecialist to practise as a specialist thus maintaining an acceptable income, and enable an expedited completion and lead to a wider dissemination of medical expertise that can be delivered in a wider national foot print. It further will provide for a structured Public Private Partnership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Dalmeyer, Johannes Paulus Franciscus
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Health care teams -- Training of -- South Africa , Medical care -- Needs assessment -- South Africa , Evidence-based medicine -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3508 , vital:20437
- Description: The shortage of healthcare workers and doctors in the developing world compared to the developed world is a problem, and will continue to be so, due to the continual migration of qualified professionals and the inability of the state to remedy these shortfalls. A shortage of healthcare workers and specialist doctors will seriously hamper the Government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) plan, as well as the sustainability of the private health care sector. In addition, the duration of medical training in South Africa is exceptionally long. The three major hospital groups and other private corporates have over the last number of years taken limited initiative to fund education projects in conjunction with the academic institutions. However, these projects have been poorly focused and have been managed in an unstructured and detached manner. There is a desire from the private sector to get involved in these projects on a much larger scale through more formalised structures. Given this background, the primary objective of this research is to develop a business model for medical subspecialty training to complement the current academic subspecialty training in South Africa. A trial model for training subspecialists in reproductive medicine was developed as a first attempt to address the threatening shortages and training duration. This trial programme is the basis of this research. A two-phased process was used in collecting data. In Phase 1 data was collected from stakeholder groups. The results of this survey assisted in generating variables to include in the measuring instrument for the survey in Phase 2. In Phase 2 the perceptions and expectations of sub-specialists (reproductive subspecialists and cardiologists) regarding sub-specialty training was collected. The results of the demographic variables confirm the aging profile of subspecialist and the need to ensure succession. The results further showed that cardiologists and reproductive subspecialist expectations of the training of subspecialists are very similar except for their expectations on the training duration. Reproductive subspecialist respondents agreed more than cardiology subspecialist respondents that the training duration is too long. The biggest gap between perceptions and expectations is also with the factor training. The results showed that the expectations of subspecialists are not met for training. From these results a business model for the training of medical subspecialists is proposed. This proposed business model can play a complementary role to the existing state controlled system and form the bases of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in medical training. This proposed business model will fit a developing country were the focus is on primary healthcare, with financial and capacity constraints. The proposed model would require role players to bring about change to accommodate a larger scale Public Private Partnership (PPP) to ensure the implementation of the model. The proposed decentralised business model for training subspecialists would allow the trainee subspecialist to practise as a specialist thus maintaining an acceptable income, and enable an expedited completion and lead to a wider dissemination of medical expertise that can be delivered in a wider national foot print. It further will provide for a structured Public Private Partnership.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The relationship between language and xenophobia: a developmental perspective
- Authors: Chikanda, Flora
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Xenophobia -- South Africa , Xenophobia in language , Immigrants -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4942 , vital:20768
- Description: Modernisation, globalisation, neoliberalism and the increase in immigration have morphed into xenophobia, as they have resulted in structures that increased inequalities and competition for scarce resources, although there are other factors such as the global recession that is deepening inequalities and social classes. In South Africa, xenophobia is a topical matter, with chronic violent outbursts. The study addresses the gap in knowledge in the relationship between language and xenophobia. Language is central to human communication and to human socialisation and is not neutral but is embedded in ideologies that favour specific interest groups. The neoliberal ideology compels people as human capital to develop linguistic capital. The paradox is that globalisation transcends the national to transnational, while at the same time being conscious of the local or the indigenous language. Globalisation promotes hybridity and diversity, while at the same time promoting homogeneity or Westernisation, which is contrary to the nationalist ideology to protect the cultural heritage of the locals. This thesis is guided by a range of classical and more contemporary development theories. It includes the use of Marxist theory with regard to ownership and unequal distribution of resources. The culture of violence that manifests in xenophobia in South Africa can also be related to the violence of the colonial and apartheid periods. This thesis is also guided by the post-colonial theory. It also looks at theories of modernity and of globalisation, suggesting that a truly ‘modern’ society should be transformed in all spheres and should value multifaceted human well-being (and not only in terms of economic ‘growth’). A primary objective of this study is to explore the role of language in social institutions such as education in order to understand how matters of language exacerbate xenophobia and to document the challenges related to language that ‘foreigners’ from other parts of Africa face in South Africa. Questions asked include whether they can survive/thrive without knowledge of local languages, whether they are victims of crime because they cannot speak the local languages and whether and how they are being assimilated into South African society. This research therefore, recommends that language planning in South Africa should maintain a balance in the use of the English language as a lingua franca and the use of the indigenous languages so as to avoid the language endangerment of the indigenous languages and monolingualism, as well as subtractive bilingualism. This research is against institutional discrimination of foreigners by use of language as a gate keeper or an entry fee into the higher domains. The results of this research lead to the recommendation on language planning that leads to economic opportunity, higher economic productivity, educational development, enrichment in the sense of creativity innovation, cognitive flexibility, and more effective social integration, while restoring citizens’ sense of self-worth and their experience of emotional and social security, and also promoting social integrity and nation-building. Good language planning should be a crucial aspect of development planning. This research contributes to the field of Development Studies in that it analyses the conflicting issues within language and xenophobia in South Africa, while using the complexity theory to restore a modernised society with modern values that are not xenophobic but open to the global society. It also contributes to the politics of culture by keeping a balance between the endogenous culture versus the exogenous culture; a localised culture versus a globalised culture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Chikanda, Flora
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Xenophobia -- South Africa , Xenophobia in language , Immigrants -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4942 , vital:20768
- Description: Modernisation, globalisation, neoliberalism and the increase in immigration have morphed into xenophobia, as they have resulted in structures that increased inequalities and competition for scarce resources, although there are other factors such as the global recession that is deepening inequalities and social classes. In South Africa, xenophobia is a topical matter, with chronic violent outbursts. The study addresses the gap in knowledge in the relationship between language and xenophobia. Language is central to human communication and to human socialisation and is not neutral but is embedded in ideologies that favour specific interest groups. The neoliberal ideology compels people as human capital to develop linguistic capital. The paradox is that globalisation transcends the national to transnational, while at the same time being conscious of the local or the indigenous language. Globalisation promotes hybridity and diversity, while at the same time promoting homogeneity or Westernisation, which is contrary to the nationalist ideology to protect the cultural heritage of the locals. This thesis is guided by a range of classical and more contemporary development theories. It includes the use of Marxist theory with regard to ownership and unequal distribution of resources. The culture of violence that manifests in xenophobia in South Africa can also be related to the violence of the colonial and apartheid periods. This thesis is also guided by the post-colonial theory. It also looks at theories of modernity and of globalisation, suggesting that a truly ‘modern’ society should be transformed in all spheres and should value multifaceted human well-being (and not only in terms of economic ‘growth’). A primary objective of this study is to explore the role of language in social institutions such as education in order to understand how matters of language exacerbate xenophobia and to document the challenges related to language that ‘foreigners’ from other parts of Africa face in South Africa. Questions asked include whether they can survive/thrive without knowledge of local languages, whether they are victims of crime because they cannot speak the local languages and whether and how they are being assimilated into South African society. This research therefore, recommends that language planning in South Africa should maintain a balance in the use of the English language as a lingua franca and the use of the indigenous languages so as to avoid the language endangerment of the indigenous languages and monolingualism, as well as subtractive bilingualism. This research is against institutional discrimination of foreigners by use of language as a gate keeper or an entry fee into the higher domains. The results of this research lead to the recommendation on language planning that leads to economic opportunity, higher economic productivity, educational development, enrichment in the sense of creativity innovation, cognitive flexibility, and more effective social integration, while restoring citizens’ sense of self-worth and their experience of emotional and social security, and also promoting social integrity and nation-building. Good language planning should be a crucial aspect of development planning. This research contributes to the field of Development Studies in that it analyses the conflicting issues within language and xenophobia in South Africa, while using the complexity theory to restore a modernised society with modern values that are not xenophobic but open to the global society. It also contributes to the politics of culture by keeping a balance between the endogenous culture versus the exogenous culture; a localised culture versus a globalised culture.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
Antecedents and influence of the union-management relationship on employee relationships in the automotive, component and metal industries in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole
- Authors: Bowler, Jennifer
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Industrial relations, South Africa , Psychology, Industrial Work environment Industrial relations Labor unions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/37150 , vital:34126
- Description: South Africa is consistently portrayed as having uncooperative union-management relationships which negatively impact competitiveness. However, the post-1994 labour legislation was specifically crafted with the intention of positioning the adversarial wealth distribution phase of the union-management relationship within centralised bargaining forums and promoting cooperative relationships within workplaces. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether within the South Africa context of global competitiveness, the employment relations institutions of centralised and decentralised collective bargaining, employee participation and involvement, in the context of organisational justice, have contributed to management, shop stewards and production employees developing effective1 collective and individual employment relationships positively associated with competitive individual and company performance. The targeted population were companies within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Area that were registered with one of the four bargaining councils, Automotive (NBF), Automotive component (MIBCO), New Tyre (NTMIBC) and Metal and Engineering (MEIBC). In addition, since the National Union of Metal Workers was the dominant union in all four of these councils, an additional criterion for potential participation was at least one NUMSA shop steward. Fourteen companies agreed to participate. In total 63 shop stewards, 82 managers and 660 production employees were surveyed using self-administered questionnaires. The results of the study identified that the three major stakeholders hold significantly different perceptions regarding the quality of the management-shop steward relationship, with management the most positive and production employees the least. Further, investigating the factors that influence the perceptions that management and shop stewards have of their relationship, it was identified that for management the most influential factor was their beliefs regarding the interdependent nature of the relationship. For the shop stewards the situation was more nuanced with beliefs regarding interdependence, the perceptions of shop steward-management climate within the bargaining council, satisfaction 1 Definition of an effective employment relationship: An effective employment relationship is one in which the parties successfully resolve issues arising from their conflicting interests and successfully pursue joint gains where they share common interests (Kochan & Katz, 1988) with bargaining council agreements and workplace human resource practices and procedural fairness all contributing factors to the quality of the shop steward-management relationship. The model tested for production employees investigated the relationship between the factors human resource practices, procedural fairness, the standardisation of work, the employees’ perception of the shop steward-management relationship and the relationship of the employees with both their supervisor and the organisation. The primary finding was that the perception that the production employees held regarding the shop steward-management relationship fully mediated the employees’ relationship with the organisation and partially mediated that with the supervisor. These findings confirm the mediating position occupied by shop stewards within unionised companies and without derogating the importance of supervisory-employee relationships, indicated the central importance of the management-shop steward relations in forging strong employee-manager and employee-organisational bonds. While the original purpose of the study included investigating the link between the key employment relationships, namely, shop steward-management, employee-supervisor and employee-organisation relationships, and company competitiveness, unfortunately due to the limited number of companies that participated, it was not possible to test a company level model that included company performance. However, tentative support was found for relationships between the shop steward-management relationship and company performance. This remains an area for further study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Bowler, Jennifer
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Industrial relations, South Africa , Psychology, Industrial Work environment Industrial relations Labor unions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/37150 , vital:34126
- Description: South Africa is consistently portrayed as having uncooperative union-management relationships which negatively impact competitiveness. However, the post-1994 labour legislation was specifically crafted with the intention of positioning the adversarial wealth distribution phase of the union-management relationship within centralised bargaining forums and promoting cooperative relationships within workplaces. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether within the South Africa context of global competitiveness, the employment relations institutions of centralised and decentralised collective bargaining, employee participation and involvement, in the context of organisational justice, have contributed to management, shop stewards and production employees developing effective1 collective and individual employment relationships positively associated with competitive individual and company performance. The targeted population were companies within the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Area that were registered with one of the four bargaining councils, Automotive (NBF), Automotive component (MIBCO), New Tyre (NTMIBC) and Metal and Engineering (MEIBC). In addition, since the National Union of Metal Workers was the dominant union in all four of these councils, an additional criterion for potential participation was at least one NUMSA shop steward. Fourteen companies agreed to participate. In total 63 shop stewards, 82 managers and 660 production employees were surveyed using self-administered questionnaires. The results of the study identified that the three major stakeholders hold significantly different perceptions regarding the quality of the management-shop steward relationship, with management the most positive and production employees the least. Further, investigating the factors that influence the perceptions that management and shop stewards have of their relationship, it was identified that for management the most influential factor was their beliefs regarding the interdependent nature of the relationship. For the shop stewards the situation was more nuanced with beliefs regarding interdependence, the perceptions of shop steward-management climate within the bargaining council, satisfaction 1 Definition of an effective employment relationship: An effective employment relationship is one in which the parties successfully resolve issues arising from their conflicting interests and successfully pursue joint gains where they share common interests (Kochan & Katz, 1988) with bargaining council agreements and workplace human resource practices and procedural fairness all contributing factors to the quality of the shop steward-management relationship. The model tested for production employees investigated the relationship between the factors human resource practices, procedural fairness, the standardisation of work, the employees’ perception of the shop steward-management relationship and the relationship of the employees with both their supervisor and the organisation. The primary finding was that the perception that the production employees held regarding the shop steward-management relationship fully mediated the employees’ relationship with the organisation and partially mediated that with the supervisor. These findings confirm the mediating position occupied by shop stewards within unionised companies and without derogating the importance of supervisory-employee relationships, indicated the central importance of the management-shop steward relations in forging strong employee-manager and employee-organisational bonds. While the original purpose of the study included investigating the link between the key employment relationships, namely, shop steward-management, employee-supervisor and employee-organisation relationships, and company competitiveness, unfortunately due to the limited number of companies that participated, it was not possible to test a company level model that included company performance. However, tentative support was found for relationships between the shop steward-management relationship and company performance. This remains an area for further study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A framework for price tariffs in the costing structures of South African private hospitals
- Authors: Botha, Gideon
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Medical care, Cost of -- South Africa , Medical economics -- South Africa Medical care -- South Africa -- Cost control Cost accounting
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50432 , vital:42167
- Description: The increase of South African health care costs can be extrapolated into the global healthcare cost challenge, with various factors contributing to this problem. One of the factors viewed as being central to the rising cost of health care is the inability of health care provider organisations to accurately measure unit costs of resources used to treat a patient for their medical condition and patient outcomes. The measurement of an accurate unit cost and patient outcomes is imperative to improving value, which is seen as an improvement in outcomes for every rand spent. The determination of price tariffs and the price tariff payment model used to onward bill the price tariff for medical services have also been identified as having a central role in improving value in health care. In order for price tariffs to improve value, they should be reflective and be based on an accurate unit cost that reflects the cost of resources used to provide efficient and effective care for a patient’s medical condition. For the price tariff payment model to improve value, it needs to reward providers for delivering superior patient outcomes at a lower cost by making price tariffs contingent on achieving specified outcomes as well as incorporating performance payments or holdbacks based on outcomes achieved. This study provides a framework for price tariffs in the costing structures of South African private hospitals. Secondary research was conducted in the form of a comprehensive literature search in order to do an interpretative analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the various combinations of unit costing models and price tariff payment models used to determine prices in private hospitals. The literature review was followed by primary research that involved three phases, all of which used a qualitative research approach. In Phase 1, primary data were collected using unobtrusive measures that consisted of a data request first, followed by unstructured interviews with representatives of Hospital A and Hospital B to obtain an analysis of the combinations of unit costing model and price tariff payment model used for a laparoscopic appendectomy. In Phase 2, data were collected by means of an unstructured interview with a surgeon describing a laparoscopic appendectomy procedure in detail and based on this process description, the approximate costs for the various resources that were sourced from different suppliers could be calculated. The data analysis and interpretation were done in three phases, with each phase having different research objectives. The data were first coded and then interpreted. In the first primary research phase, the combinations of unit costing models and price tariff payment models used by private Hospital A and Hospital B were evaluated. In the second phase, the recommended combination of unit costing model and price tariff payment model was applied to a hypothetical example and evaluated. In the final phase, based on the outcome of the first and second research phases, a combination of unit costing model and price tariff payment model for private hospitals was recommended. The results showed that the recommended combination of unit costing and price tariff payment model namely time-driven activity-based costing with the global fee price tariff payment model was the most appropriate to determine price tariffs in private hospitals when compared to the unit costing models and price tariff payment models used by Hospital A and Hospital B for a laparoscopic appendectomy. Furthermore, the recommended combination of unit costing model and price tariff payment model was found to be usable for the determination of price tariffs in the costing structures of private hospitals. The time-driven activity-based costing model and global fee price tariff payment model should be adopted or used as guidelines for determining price tariffs in private hospitals in South Africa. Price tariffs would be more transparent as they would reflect the actual resource cost of treating the patient and the resources used and treatment provided could then be assessed against the delivery value chain that charts the principal activities involved in a patient’s care for a medical condition to ensure that patient best-practice protocols are followed. The proposed framework enables the determination of price tariffs based on an accurate unit cost reflecting the actual resources used to provide efficient and effective care and also improve value for the patient.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Botha, Gideon
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Medical care, Cost of -- South Africa , Medical economics -- South Africa Medical care -- South Africa -- Cost control Cost accounting
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50432 , vital:42167
- Description: The increase of South African health care costs can be extrapolated into the global healthcare cost challenge, with various factors contributing to this problem. One of the factors viewed as being central to the rising cost of health care is the inability of health care provider organisations to accurately measure unit costs of resources used to treat a patient for their medical condition and patient outcomes. The measurement of an accurate unit cost and patient outcomes is imperative to improving value, which is seen as an improvement in outcomes for every rand spent. The determination of price tariffs and the price tariff payment model used to onward bill the price tariff for medical services have also been identified as having a central role in improving value in health care. In order for price tariffs to improve value, they should be reflective and be based on an accurate unit cost that reflects the cost of resources used to provide efficient and effective care for a patient’s medical condition. For the price tariff payment model to improve value, it needs to reward providers for delivering superior patient outcomes at a lower cost by making price tariffs contingent on achieving specified outcomes as well as incorporating performance payments or holdbacks based on outcomes achieved. This study provides a framework for price tariffs in the costing structures of South African private hospitals. Secondary research was conducted in the form of a comprehensive literature search in order to do an interpretative analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the various combinations of unit costing models and price tariff payment models used to determine prices in private hospitals. The literature review was followed by primary research that involved three phases, all of which used a qualitative research approach. In Phase 1, primary data were collected using unobtrusive measures that consisted of a data request first, followed by unstructured interviews with representatives of Hospital A and Hospital B to obtain an analysis of the combinations of unit costing model and price tariff payment model used for a laparoscopic appendectomy. In Phase 2, data were collected by means of an unstructured interview with a surgeon describing a laparoscopic appendectomy procedure in detail and based on this process description, the approximate costs for the various resources that were sourced from different suppliers could be calculated. The data analysis and interpretation were done in three phases, with each phase having different research objectives. The data were first coded and then interpreted. In the first primary research phase, the combinations of unit costing models and price tariff payment models used by private Hospital A and Hospital B were evaluated. In the second phase, the recommended combination of unit costing model and price tariff payment model was applied to a hypothetical example and evaluated. In the final phase, based on the outcome of the first and second research phases, a combination of unit costing model and price tariff payment model for private hospitals was recommended. The results showed that the recommended combination of unit costing and price tariff payment model namely time-driven activity-based costing with the global fee price tariff payment model was the most appropriate to determine price tariffs in private hospitals when compared to the unit costing models and price tariff payment models used by Hospital A and Hospital B for a laparoscopic appendectomy. Furthermore, the recommended combination of unit costing model and price tariff payment model was found to be usable for the determination of price tariffs in the costing structures of private hospitals. The time-driven activity-based costing model and global fee price tariff payment model should be adopted or used as guidelines for determining price tariffs in private hospitals in South Africa. Price tariffs would be more transparent as they would reflect the actual resource cost of treating the patient and the resources used and treatment provided could then be assessed against the delivery value chain that charts the principal activities involved in a patient’s care for a medical condition to ensure that patient best-practice protocols are followed. The proposed framework enables the determination of price tariffs based on an accurate unit cost reflecting the actual resources used to provide efficient and effective care and also improve value for the patient.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Local tourism governance of destination marketing organisations
- Authors: Bartis, Hugh Henry
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Place marketing Tourism -- Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17799 , vital:28455
- Description: Globally tourism is one of the biggest industries and its role is considered key in economic development. In South Africa, tourism is one of the main economic drivers. Thus, tourism contributes to the gross domestic product, generates foreign exchange and provides sustainable employment opportunities. In order to facilitate local economic development (LED), local destination marketing organisations (DMOs) need to ensure that their operations are geared towards optimising the economic advantages related to tourism growth and development. As a result the DMOs must be strategic and well-managed. One way of achieving this is to ensure that the board of directors and specifically the non-executive directors (NEDs) practise good governance. In South Africa, three (3) types of DMOs are found, namely those that are funded by local government and incorporated into the municipality. The second type of DMOs is funded by the private sector. The third type of DMOs is those funded by both the local government and the private sector. In this case, the DMO has an agreement with the local government in terms of what their mandate is and what the agreed outcomes would be. A board of directors, comprising both executive directors (EDs) and nonexecutive directors (NEDs) is responsible for the governance of the local DMO. The main research problem of the study is the attributes and experience of the nonexecutive directors that serve on the boards of DMOs in accordance with developmental standards of best practices. In order to address the main problem, the following research objectives were formulated: To identify best practice by examining the literature as to how NEDs are prepared to serve on boards of both listed and non-listed organisations. To determine whether any policy frameworks provide guidance to NEDs serving on DMOs in South Africa. To examine whether any training or preparatory programmes exist specifically for NEDs in DMOs. To investigate whether NEDs should have specific attributes that would improve their governance of DMOs. To develop a set of recommendations that would assist NEDs to play a more effective role when executing their responsibilities. In order to address these research objectives, a quantitative research methodology was adopted sampling all the DMOs in South Africa that could be identified and were governed by a board of directors. For this purpose, a self-completed questionnaire was distributed to the board of directors of DMOs and specifically the non-executive directors. The results of the study indicated that no guidelines existed that DMOs could follow to better prepare the NEDs of local DMOs. Furthermore, no policy frameworks provide guidance to NEDs serving on local DMOs. The only guidelines that exist are generic guidelines of the King IV Report for NEDs of listed and non-listed organisations. In addition, Pike (2016:108) listed a number of characteristics of good governance. The study also revealed that no training or preparatory programmes exist for the NEDs of local DMOs. Finally, the study highlighted five (5) attributes that NEDs consider as critical in fulfilling their obligations. These include the empowerment of NEDs, the commitment of NEDs, communication with NEDs, job satisfaction of the NEDs and the need for NEDs to understand policy frameworks relevant to their tasks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Bartis, Hugh Henry
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Place marketing Tourism -- Marketing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/17799 , vital:28455
- Description: Globally tourism is one of the biggest industries and its role is considered key in economic development. In South Africa, tourism is one of the main economic drivers. Thus, tourism contributes to the gross domestic product, generates foreign exchange and provides sustainable employment opportunities. In order to facilitate local economic development (LED), local destination marketing organisations (DMOs) need to ensure that their operations are geared towards optimising the economic advantages related to tourism growth and development. As a result the DMOs must be strategic and well-managed. One way of achieving this is to ensure that the board of directors and specifically the non-executive directors (NEDs) practise good governance. In South Africa, three (3) types of DMOs are found, namely those that are funded by local government and incorporated into the municipality. The second type of DMOs is funded by the private sector. The third type of DMOs is those funded by both the local government and the private sector. In this case, the DMO has an agreement with the local government in terms of what their mandate is and what the agreed outcomes would be. A board of directors, comprising both executive directors (EDs) and nonexecutive directors (NEDs) is responsible for the governance of the local DMO. The main research problem of the study is the attributes and experience of the nonexecutive directors that serve on the boards of DMOs in accordance with developmental standards of best practices. In order to address the main problem, the following research objectives were formulated: To identify best practice by examining the literature as to how NEDs are prepared to serve on boards of both listed and non-listed organisations. To determine whether any policy frameworks provide guidance to NEDs serving on DMOs in South Africa. To examine whether any training or preparatory programmes exist specifically for NEDs in DMOs. To investigate whether NEDs should have specific attributes that would improve their governance of DMOs. To develop a set of recommendations that would assist NEDs to play a more effective role when executing their responsibilities. In order to address these research objectives, a quantitative research methodology was adopted sampling all the DMOs in South Africa that could be identified and were governed by a board of directors. For this purpose, a self-completed questionnaire was distributed to the board of directors of DMOs and specifically the non-executive directors. The results of the study indicated that no guidelines existed that DMOs could follow to better prepare the NEDs of local DMOs. Furthermore, no policy frameworks provide guidance to NEDs serving on local DMOs. The only guidelines that exist are generic guidelines of the King IV Report for NEDs of listed and non-listed organisations. In addition, Pike (2016:108) listed a number of characteristics of good governance. The study also revealed that no training or preparatory programmes exist for the NEDs of local DMOs. Finally, the study highlighted five (5) attributes that NEDs consider as critical in fulfilling their obligations. These include the empowerment of NEDs, the commitment of NEDs, communication with NEDs, job satisfaction of the NEDs and the need for NEDs to understand policy frameworks relevant to their tasks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Determinants of internet banking adoption by banks in Ghana
- Authors: Bart-Williams, Edem
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Internet banking -- Ghana , Banks and banking -- Ghana , Banks and banking -- Automation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3715 , vital:20457
- Description: Growth in information and communication technology (ICT) is drastically changing the way businesses, especially in the service industries, are conducted. The financial services industry and banking in particular, is not excluded from this technology explosion. Internet banking, even though not new in advanced countries, is a new transaction channel being used by banks in some parts of Africa, especially Ghana, to offer various products and services to their customers. However, this medium has not been fully exploited by these banks as there are many hurdles the banks must triumph over. In deploying this technology and these systems, there are several factors which banks must take into consideration before fully deploying such a system to their customers, hence the motivation for this study. The absence of suitable and sufficient knowledge on this topic also exposes a “rhetoric versus reality” argument of whether the intention to adopt Internet banking is critical to the strategies and ultimate success of banks in Ghana. For banks to stay ahead of competition as well as to attract and maintain their clientele, it is of paramount importance to gather and link the perspectives of both clients and bank managers in order for banks to ensure that they perform according to the needs and expectations of their clients. In order to achieve the intended results, an empirical study was conducted by taking into consideration the viewpoints of both bank clients and bank managers in determining the factors that customers take into consideration before adopting the Internet banking medium. The primary aim of this study was to quantify significant relationships between the selected variables. Therefore the positivism research paradigm was used, while the phenomenological paradigm was employed for the measuring instruments. Because multiple sources of data were used, from the perspectives of banking clients and managers in Ghana, methodological triangulation was adopted for this study. The results of the empirical investigation showed that both groups (clients and managers) considered the variables of market share, technology acceptance, diffusion of innovation, organisational variables, organisational efficiency, and business strategy to have direct influence on the adoption of Internet banking. However, they differed in opinion concerning the degree of influence of these variables. The bank managers’ responses leaned more towards strong agreement with the importance of these variables than did those of the bank clients. Thus, for bank clients to readily adopt the Internet banking medium for their banking transactions, bank managers must take a closer look at these determinant factors described in the study. The study showed that the population group, educational and income levels exerted an influence on the perceptions clients have regarding Internet banking adoption factors. It was found that the higher the education and income levels of the clients, the easier it was for them to adopt Internet banking. Also, the male group dominated the use of the Internet banking. This is supported by the fact that there is a growing middle class in Ghana that falls within this category of banking clients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Bart-Williams, Edem
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Internet banking -- Ghana , Banks and banking -- Ghana , Banks and banking -- Automation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3715 , vital:20457
- Description: Growth in information and communication technology (ICT) is drastically changing the way businesses, especially in the service industries, are conducted. The financial services industry and banking in particular, is not excluded from this technology explosion. Internet banking, even though not new in advanced countries, is a new transaction channel being used by banks in some parts of Africa, especially Ghana, to offer various products and services to their customers. However, this medium has not been fully exploited by these banks as there are many hurdles the banks must triumph over. In deploying this technology and these systems, there are several factors which banks must take into consideration before fully deploying such a system to their customers, hence the motivation for this study. The absence of suitable and sufficient knowledge on this topic also exposes a “rhetoric versus reality” argument of whether the intention to adopt Internet banking is critical to the strategies and ultimate success of banks in Ghana. For banks to stay ahead of competition as well as to attract and maintain their clientele, it is of paramount importance to gather and link the perspectives of both clients and bank managers in order for banks to ensure that they perform according to the needs and expectations of their clients. In order to achieve the intended results, an empirical study was conducted by taking into consideration the viewpoints of both bank clients and bank managers in determining the factors that customers take into consideration before adopting the Internet banking medium. The primary aim of this study was to quantify significant relationships between the selected variables. Therefore the positivism research paradigm was used, while the phenomenological paradigm was employed for the measuring instruments. Because multiple sources of data were used, from the perspectives of banking clients and managers in Ghana, methodological triangulation was adopted for this study. The results of the empirical investigation showed that both groups (clients and managers) considered the variables of market share, technology acceptance, diffusion of innovation, organisational variables, organisational efficiency, and business strategy to have direct influence on the adoption of Internet banking. However, they differed in opinion concerning the degree of influence of these variables. The bank managers’ responses leaned more towards strong agreement with the importance of these variables than did those of the bank clients. Thus, for bank clients to readily adopt the Internet banking medium for their banking transactions, bank managers must take a closer look at these determinant factors described in the study. The study showed that the population group, educational and income levels exerted an influence on the perceptions clients have regarding Internet banking adoption factors. It was found that the higher the education and income levels of the clients, the easier it was for them to adopt Internet banking. Also, the male group dominated the use of the Internet banking. This is supported by the fact that there is a growing middle class in Ghana that falls within this category of banking clients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The role of family structure and financial socialisation in influencing students' financial capabilities
- Authors: Antoni, Xolile Lucas
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Finance, Personal , Families -- Economic aspects Finance -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21505 , vital:29531
- Description: This research used three theories to develop a theoretical framework that investigated the role of family structures and financial socialisation in influencing students’ levels of financial knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and behaviour (financial capabilities). It also examined the mediating role of family financial situation in the relationship between the family structure and the mechanisms of financial socialisation. The theories of consumer socialisation, family financial socialisation and family structure model, guided the development of a proposed theoretical framework and development of five major hypotheses. To answer the research questions of the study and test the hypotheses, this study followed a quantitative survey research design. Undergraduate students in the Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences completed 350 questionnaires. Using exploratory factor analyses results, the theoretical framework was updated, and statistical relationships tested. Simple regression analysis results showed that students who were born or raised in an intact family structure reported more financial socialisation in terms of the mechanisms of financial socialisation than students who were born or raised in non-intact family structures. Simple regression results showed that intact family structures had positive significant relationships with four of the six components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation. Furthermore, intact family structures had negative significant relationships with two components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation. Multiple regression results showed four components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation (teaching and monitoring, reinforcement of financial behaviour, modelling of financial behaviour and financial conflict) had positive significant relationships with financial capabilities. The components of financial socialisation agents (peers and media) had positive significant relationships with three components of financial capabilities (financial behaviour, money is respect and freedom, and money is good). In addition, family financial situation partially mediated the relationship between intact family structure and three components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation, namely, parental teaching and monitoring, modelling of financial behaviour and parental relationship. Furthermore, family financial situation perfectly mediated the relationship between intact family structures and one component of the mechanisms of financial socialisation (reinforcement of financial behaviour). Three components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation (parental teaching and monitoring, reinforcement of financial behaviour and modelling of financial behaviour) also perfectly mediated the relationship between intact family structure and one component of financial capabilities, namely, financial behaviour. Similarly, one component of the mechanisms of financial socialisation (parental teaching and monitoring) also perfectly mediated the relationship between intact family structure and one component of financial capabilities (financial self-efficacy). These results assisted in the development of a new empirically tested model to investigate the role of family structure and financial socialisation in influencing students’ financial capabilities. This study showed that family structures was an important variable that should not be excluded in financial planning as it influenced all the components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation. Financial socialisation agents also had an influence on financial capabilities and, thus, the parental financial socialisation should not be investigated in isolation. It was also important to identify the mechanisms of financial socialisation as seen in this study, as the components of the mechanisms had different influences on students’ financial capabilities. For this study, parental teaching and monitoring, reinforcement of financial behaviour and modelling of financial behaviour proved to be the most important components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation, which ultimately influenced students’ financial capabilities. This study has proved that family structures and financial socialisation influence the financial capabilities of students. To improve financial capabilities of students, parents should increase their level of modelling of financial behaviour and decrease the level of secrecy about money in the household. Parents should also instill positive financial attitudes in students, monitor their financial behaviour, and reinforce positive financial behaviour. This study contributes to the much-needed body of knowledge in financial planning by showing through empirical results that family structure has an influence on the components of the factor mechanisms of financial socialisation, and the factor financial capabilities. As little information exists to explain these relationships, this study makes a valuable contribution to new knowledge in this area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Antoni, Xolile Lucas
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Finance, Personal , Families -- Economic aspects Finance -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/21505 , vital:29531
- Description: This research used three theories to develop a theoretical framework that investigated the role of family structures and financial socialisation in influencing students’ levels of financial knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and behaviour (financial capabilities). It also examined the mediating role of family financial situation in the relationship between the family structure and the mechanisms of financial socialisation. The theories of consumer socialisation, family financial socialisation and family structure model, guided the development of a proposed theoretical framework and development of five major hypotheses. To answer the research questions of the study and test the hypotheses, this study followed a quantitative survey research design. Undergraduate students in the Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences completed 350 questionnaires. Using exploratory factor analyses results, the theoretical framework was updated, and statistical relationships tested. Simple regression analysis results showed that students who were born or raised in an intact family structure reported more financial socialisation in terms of the mechanisms of financial socialisation than students who were born or raised in non-intact family structures. Simple regression results showed that intact family structures had positive significant relationships with four of the six components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation. Furthermore, intact family structures had negative significant relationships with two components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation. Multiple regression results showed four components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation (teaching and monitoring, reinforcement of financial behaviour, modelling of financial behaviour and financial conflict) had positive significant relationships with financial capabilities. The components of financial socialisation agents (peers and media) had positive significant relationships with three components of financial capabilities (financial behaviour, money is respect and freedom, and money is good). In addition, family financial situation partially mediated the relationship between intact family structure and three components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation, namely, parental teaching and monitoring, modelling of financial behaviour and parental relationship. Furthermore, family financial situation perfectly mediated the relationship between intact family structures and one component of the mechanisms of financial socialisation (reinforcement of financial behaviour). Three components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation (parental teaching and monitoring, reinforcement of financial behaviour and modelling of financial behaviour) also perfectly mediated the relationship between intact family structure and one component of financial capabilities, namely, financial behaviour. Similarly, one component of the mechanisms of financial socialisation (parental teaching and monitoring) also perfectly mediated the relationship between intact family structure and one component of financial capabilities (financial self-efficacy). These results assisted in the development of a new empirically tested model to investigate the role of family structure and financial socialisation in influencing students’ financial capabilities. This study showed that family structures was an important variable that should not be excluded in financial planning as it influenced all the components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation. Financial socialisation agents also had an influence on financial capabilities and, thus, the parental financial socialisation should not be investigated in isolation. It was also important to identify the mechanisms of financial socialisation as seen in this study, as the components of the mechanisms had different influences on students’ financial capabilities. For this study, parental teaching and monitoring, reinforcement of financial behaviour and modelling of financial behaviour proved to be the most important components of the mechanisms of financial socialisation, which ultimately influenced students’ financial capabilities. This study has proved that family structures and financial socialisation influence the financial capabilities of students. To improve financial capabilities of students, parents should increase their level of modelling of financial behaviour and decrease the level of secrecy about money in the household. Parents should also instill positive financial attitudes in students, monitor their financial behaviour, and reinforce positive financial behaviour. This study contributes to the much-needed body of knowledge in financial planning by showing through empirical results that family structure has an influence on the components of the factor mechanisms of financial socialisation, and the factor financial capabilities. As little information exists to explain these relationships, this study makes a valuable contribution to new knowledge in this area.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Commercial maritime higher education needs in South Africa
- Authors: Allison, Lee-Anne
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- Curricula , Education, Higher -- Research Merchant marine Shipping -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50350 , vital:42111
- Description: Seaborne cargo trade accounts for over 80% of the physical volume of global trade. Maritime transport thus fulfils an integral function in the economy of the world. South Africa generates approximately 3.5% of the world’s seaborne trade by value and 1.61% by tonnage; but the business of shipping all that cargo is undertaken by foreign firms. Operation Phakisa, the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy and the South African Maritime Road Map, in pursuance of the National Development Plan, aim to revive the commercial maritime sector. In order to meet the demand for the skills and innovative abilities sought at executive and managerial levels in the commercial maritime sector, higher education in the knowledge of maritime business is increasingly becoming a prerequisite. Investment in higher education of quality and relevance in the maritime field would contribute to achieving the goals of the government for harnessing the potential of South Africa’s blue economy. The literature is researched in order to establish an authoritative view that the knowledge and the inspiration for entrepreneurial activity in the maritime sector can be imparted through higher education; and for example, that a viable shipping sector can contribute to the growth of a country’s economy. The South African maritime sector is then described. The commercial maritime higher education available at universities and other institutions of higher learning in South Africa, as well as in other African countries and elsewhere in the world, is examined, in order to be able to identify the degree and diploma courses available. Maritime courses imply not only the content of the educational material, but also the method whereby the knowledge is instilled in learners, and which extends well beyond the classroom. A survey, by way of the personal interviews of leaders in maritime business, maritime government affairs, and academics teaching maritime topics, is then undertaken to ascertain their views on the education required to promote the maritime sector in South Africa, using the list of subjects available for study worldwide, to assist their choice. The literature research and the interview survey by design also enable the secondary aims of the study to be achieved. Those aims include determining how awareness of the maritime domain could be raised and how co-operation between academia, business and government, known as the triple helix could be organised, to promote the growth of the maritime sector. The results of the survey are analysed and tabulated, in order to illustrate the extent of the agreement between those interviewed and the conclusions reached. These conclusions establish: that the commercial maritime education currently available in South Africa, is inadequate to meet the aim of the government to the sector; that a post-graduate degree in the specified maritime studies incorporating a period of internship, and following on a first degree in business subjects, is required; that a triple helix of co-operation between academia, business and the government is essential to grow the commercial maritime sector in which South African entrepreneurs educated in such business will have the advantage; that greater awareness of the maritime domain is essential in South Africa if entrepreneurship in maritime business is to be cultivated; and that such awareness can be cultivated in various ways; but it should start by including more maritime topics in the current school curricula.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
- Authors: Allison, Lee-Anne
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: Education, Higher -- Curricula , Education, Higher -- Research Merchant marine Shipping -- Economic aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DPhil
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/50350 , vital:42111
- Description: Seaborne cargo trade accounts for over 80% of the physical volume of global trade. Maritime transport thus fulfils an integral function in the economy of the world. South Africa generates approximately 3.5% of the world’s seaborne trade by value and 1.61% by tonnage; but the business of shipping all that cargo is undertaken by foreign firms. Operation Phakisa, the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy and the South African Maritime Road Map, in pursuance of the National Development Plan, aim to revive the commercial maritime sector. In order to meet the demand for the skills and innovative abilities sought at executive and managerial levels in the commercial maritime sector, higher education in the knowledge of maritime business is increasingly becoming a prerequisite. Investment in higher education of quality and relevance in the maritime field would contribute to achieving the goals of the government for harnessing the potential of South Africa’s blue economy. The literature is researched in order to establish an authoritative view that the knowledge and the inspiration for entrepreneurial activity in the maritime sector can be imparted through higher education; and for example, that a viable shipping sector can contribute to the growth of a country’s economy. The South African maritime sector is then described. The commercial maritime higher education available at universities and other institutions of higher learning in South Africa, as well as in other African countries and elsewhere in the world, is examined, in order to be able to identify the degree and diploma courses available. Maritime courses imply not only the content of the educational material, but also the method whereby the knowledge is instilled in learners, and which extends well beyond the classroom. A survey, by way of the personal interviews of leaders in maritime business, maritime government affairs, and academics teaching maritime topics, is then undertaken to ascertain their views on the education required to promote the maritime sector in South Africa, using the list of subjects available for study worldwide, to assist their choice. The literature research and the interview survey by design also enable the secondary aims of the study to be achieved. Those aims include determining how awareness of the maritime domain could be raised and how co-operation between academia, business and government, known as the triple helix could be organised, to promote the growth of the maritime sector. The results of the survey are analysed and tabulated, in order to illustrate the extent of the agreement between those interviewed and the conclusions reached. These conclusions establish: that the commercial maritime education currently available in South Africa, is inadequate to meet the aim of the government to the sector; that a post-graduate degree in the specified maritime studies incorporating a period of internship, and following on a first degree in business subjects, is required; that a triple helix of co-operation between academia, business and the government is essential to grow the commercial maritime sector in which South African entrepreneurs educated in such business will have the advantage; that greater awareness of the maritime domain is essential in South Africa if entrepreneurship in maritime business is to be cultivated; and that such awareness can be cultivated in various ways; but it should start by including more maritime topics in the current school curricula.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020