Perceived success of skills-development readiness within 4IR in RSA
- Authors: Hunt, Norman William
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Technological innovations -- Economic aspects , Labor demand -- Research -- South Africa , Labor supply -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51567 , vital:43310
- Description: The purpose of this study was to develop four scenarios for South Africa over the next forty years. The Positive Seed scenario portrays a positive image of hope and determination, with positive institutional innovations, as well as positive innovative learning methodologies. While the Shankar scenario also portrays positive institutional innovations, it is lacking in terms of innovation learning methodologies. The Negative Seed is lacking in both innovation learning methodologies, as well as institutional innovations. Finally, the fourth scenario, that of the ‘What If’ scenario, portrays a scenario whether good innovative learning methodologies exist, or not, but lacks institutional innovativeness. The goal of this thesis was not only to affirm the known and knowable about the skills-development environment, but it is also aimed at exploring its future within the 4IR towards 2060. This was achieved by scenario planning and the Causal Layered Analyses (CLA) methodology, which is designed to help navigate through this creative process. This thesis starts off by identifying the forces of change, which it then combines in various ways to create the set of scenarios about how the future of the skills-development sector could evolve towards 2060. This thesis provides useful insight into drivers for change for the South African skills-development sector and how to anticipate skills-readiness in South Africa within the 4IR towards 2060 in accordance with the CLA and scenario planning methods. This thesis looks at the future of skills-development in South Africa over the next forty years from a decision makers point of view. , Thesis (DBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
Destination marketing: George
- Authors: Hunt, Norman William
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Place marketing -- South Africa -- George , Branding (Marketing) -- South Africa -- George , George (South Africa)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/5604 , vital:20914
- Description: A destination is often given its identity by its brand name, creating an image thereof in the customers’ minds which means that destinations exist not only physically but also mentally in the minds of people. Destination marketers play a role in the creation of the images of such destinations which is dependent on what the destination offers in its depth and breadth. Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) should be able to not only understand their destination’s offerings but also who they are targeting and how they should market the destination. DMOs have evolved to become more than mere destination information providers as considerable destination information is now created by fellow travellers which are shared via social networks. The most important change resulting from adopting the concept of social capital in the context of tourism would be that tourism scholars and DMOs become aware of the importance of resources obtained through an individual’s social interactions. Despite the fact that the town of George has a number of attributes it is able to market to potential visitors, it does however not automatically make it a desired destination. The main objective of this treatise is to determine what would give George its marketable destination identity which will be achieved by gaining an understanding of the local residents’ viewpoints of George and to measure them according to specific attributes which are carefully formulated in a survey questionnaire. This treatise aims to determine what George can do to create a destination identity and how such an identity can be applied in the successful marketing of George as a destination town. It is an exploratory quantitative study consisting of literature and case study components used to test proposed hypotheses. It aims to provide guidance to the destination marketers by way of researched literature on the topic of destination marketing as well as offer empirical data gathered from responses to a survey conducted with local residents of George which is focused on creating a destination identity through its business, cultural and sporting events. Based on the statistical analysis of the survey results it will be shown that a relationship exists between Destination Marketing and Events, Branding and Media,which plays a pivotal role in the successful marketing of such events and thereby the brand image of the destination. Based on the literature findings and the empirical data gained for this treatise it was shown that events can be used to create a new brand image for a town like George which already possesses a natural beauty and friendly people. Examples will be discussed where destinations throughout the world have managed to change their brand without changing their environment, from which they have gained a new destination brand. George can strategically convert what it already has to become the destination of choice in terms of intra-town activities and events which could not only enhance its own economy but also that of the surrounding towns. The geographic location of George and that of the Surrounding tourist attractive towns make it possible to design and implement intra-town events with relative ease. As found in researched literature, the residents should be made part of any destination marketing campaign. These events should be designed to incorporate the surrounding towns to capitalise on the concept of intra-town events where George becomes the main centre but uses outlying towns to lure tourist. Respondents to the survey indicate that they somewhat agree that George has sufficient infrastructure to host sports (μ = 3.77), cultural (μ = 3.61) and business events (μ = 3.88) and that hosting such events in George would create job opportunities. The responses for all three event types in this regard have a mean value above μ = 4. Respondents indicated that religious events are deemed the most important (mean value μ = 4.25) while also indicating that they agreed with a mean value of μ = 4.18 that entrance fees influence their decision to attend events. The empirical research conducted in George was designed to gain a representative viewpoint of its residents in terms of what they deem the identity of George to be, the main objective (ROM) of which was to determine what would give George its destination identity. The composite image of the residents of George was measured according to specific attributes which were carefully formulated in the survey.
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- Date Issued: 2015