Risk Management as a nexus to Ameliorate Citizen Centricity in the Western Cape Provincial Government
- Authors: Micketts, David
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Risk management , Corporate governance -- South Africa -- Case studies , Public administration
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63345 , vital:73259
- Description: This study aims to explore how risk management can be applied by the Western Cape Provincial Government to enhance citizen centricity in the Province. The Provincial Departments and Public Entities in this province are applauded for achieving satisfactory audit results in recent financial years from the Auditor-General South Africa. Despite the aforementioned, service delivery protests remain ongoing, which is indicative of citizen dissatisfaction and distress. Ensuring an effective, efficient, and transparent risk management system is mandatory, as prescribed by relevant legislation in South Africa and citizens are entitled to specific rights articulated in the Bill of Rights chapter of the Constitution. Therefore, it is essential that risk management – which forms part of good governance – be embedded by leadership and in processes to ultimately constrain risks which may hinder citizen centricity. Six chapters are included in this research paper. A qualitative approach was adopted, which considered a comprehensive review of literature, and a desktop analysis was performed. Secondary data and information sources were consulted and applied, without the participation of human subjects, for the purposes of primary data collection. Research findings were presented utilising thematic content analysis. It was found during the study that the Western Cape Government risk management framework is flexible to constrain various categories of risk and embraces local and global best practices in the risk management and citizen-focused governments arenas. Furthermore, the framework advocates and drives collaboration between a myriad of role-players, both internal and external to the organisation, to collectively manage risks posed to the achievement of the defined goals, objectives and priorities. To this end, the study was pursued through the lenses of a New Public Management (NPM) paradigm as well as deliberative democracy theory and public governance theories and administrative practices. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Governmental and Social Sciences, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04
Succession politics and state administration in Africa: the case of Zimbabwe
- Authors: Chikerema, Arthur Fidelis
- Date: 2021-02
- Subjects: Africa -- Politics and government , Public administration , state governments
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21355 , vital:48494
- Description: The research probes the impact of succession politics on state administration in Africa, Zimbabwe as a case study. Power transition in any political landscape promotes the regeneration and configuration of the political architecture and the functionality of the administrative apparatus of the state. Government performance may thus be viewed as a result of political processes and dynamics that influence governance in a polity. Political succession determines the composition of administrative organs of the state and many political leaders wish to work with administrative apparatus, which are compatible with their ideological orientation. Regular transfer of executive power is the major test of stability, legitimacy and maturity of a nation’s political system, but in Zimbabwe, political leaders have shown a consistent trajectory of violating or amending state and party constitutions to prolong their stay in power (Constitutional coup or a third term tragedy). This has been compelled by ruthless silencing of dissent by suffocating political activism culminating in strong personalities and weak institutions. Succession politics in Zimbabwe resembles executive dominance, egocentrism, excessive appointing powers which are compounded by lack of institutional framework for succession. This undermines the professional independence of the bureaucracy, which in turn inhibits the pursuit of sound governance. Therefore, passing the baton to the next leader has been a challenge; resulting in the personalization of, governments and political parties by leaders. While constitutions provide for elective congress for purposes of electing party leadership and/ or renewing their mandates, there is strong literature pointing to the capture of representative institutions such as Parliaments through strong normative values by leaders. This erodes the role of Parliaments or congresses as a democratic institution, as leaders have used it to “endorse” themselves. The research examines the influence of succession politics on state administration, especially on how the institution of the state and party politics in Zimbabwe conflate with the public administration system leading to state malfunction. This research adopts a qualitative research design that provides an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations on political succession and state administration in Zimbabwe. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, complemented by document review and analyzed through thematic content analysis. The study found out that, despite the existence of the legal frameworks that promote seamless power transition, political, societal and historical factors exacerbate Zimbabwe’s succession dilemma. Colonial legacy, societal laxity, the military factor, capture of state institutions by the political elite, lack of a retirement institutional mechanism, the principle of sovereignty and politicization of the succession process were found as the major hindrances to Zimbabwe’s succession trajectory. It recommends broad based and genuine civil service, electoral, security and political (politics with ethics and values) reforms to dismantle the current legacy imbedded in the political system. , Thesis (PhD) (Public Administration) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-02
Succession politics and state administration in Africa: the case of Zimbabwe.
- Authors: Chikerema, Arthur Fidelis
- Date: 2021-02
- Subjects: Public administration , State governments
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21467 , vital:48659
- Description: The research probes the impact of succession politics on state administration in Africa, Zimbabwe as a case study. Power transition in any political landscape promotes the regeneration and configuration of the political architecture and the functionality of the administrative apparatus of the state. Government performance may thus be viewed as a result of political processes and dynamics that influence governance in a polity. Political succession determines the composition of administrative organs of the state and many political leaders wish to work with administrative apparatus, which are compatible with their ideological orientation. Regular transfer of executive power is the major test of stability, legitimacy and maturity of a nation’s political system, but in Zimbabwe, political leaders have shown a consistent trajectory of violating or amending state and party constitutions to prolong their stay in power (Constitutional coup or a third term tragedy). This has been compelled by ruthless silencing of dissent by suffocating political activism culminating in strong personalities and weak institutions. Succession politics in Zimbabwe resembles executive dominance, egocentrism, excessive appointing powers which are compounded by lack of institutional framework for succession. This undermines the professional independence of the bureaucracy, which in turn inhibits the pursuit of sound governance. Therefore, passing the baton to the next leader has been a challenge; resulting in the personalization of, governments and political parties by leaders. While constitutions provide for elective congress for purposes of electing party leadership and/ or renewing their mandates, there is strong literature pointing to the capture of representative institutions such as Parliaments through strong normative values by leaders. This erodes the role of Parliaments or congresses as a democratic institution, as leaders have used it to “endorse” themselves. The research examines the influence of succession politics on state administration, especially on how the institution of the state and party politics in Zimbabwe conflate with the public administration system leading to state malfunction. This research adopts a qualitative research design that provides an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations on political succession and state administration in Zimbabwe. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, complemented by document review and analyzed through thematic content analysis. The study found out that, despite the existence of the legal frameworks that promote seamless power transition, political, societal and historical factors exacerbate Zimbabwe’s succession dilemma. Colonial legacy, societal laxity, the military factor, capture of state institutions by the political elite, lack of a retirement institutional mechanism, the principle of sovereignty and politicization of the succession process were found as the major hindrances to Zimbabwe’s succession trajectory. It recommends broad based and genuine civil service, electoral, security and political (politics with ethics and values) reforms to dismantle the current legacy imbedded in the political system. , Thesis (PhD) (Public Administration) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-02
The role of good governance practices in enhancing service delivery: A case of Mnquma Municipality
- Authors: Sipuka, Noluthando
- Date: 2021-01
- Subjects: Public administration , Government productivity
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20219 , vital:45429
- Description: This study examines the role of good governance practices in enhancing service delivery in Mnquma Municipality in an effort to assist municipalities in the greater Eastern Cape and South Africa in general. Good governance has become a popular theme in Africa and worldwide, attributed to the increasing need to alleviate rampant corruption in municipalities, of which Mnquma Municipality is not immune. This study positioned in the constructivist paradigm employed the qualitative research paradigm, using semi-structured interviews with 15 community members and officials, secondary data and field notes. Collected data was analysed using content analysis and various themes were extracted from the data. The study found that the community in the Mnquma Municipality is dissatisfied with service delivery as there are rural areas who are still battling to get clean water and decent ablution facilities. This municipality has been marred by violent protests, infighting amongst those who are tasked to oversee the delivery of services. The infighting amongst municipal officials and municipal council which results in minimal involvement of the third leg of the municipality which is the community in the affairs of the municipality. This study sought to explore the roles of good governance in enhancing service delivery in Mnquma Municipality, investigate the challenges that impede good governance practices in Mnquma Municipality and to recommend possible strategies that can be used to enhance good governance in Mnquma Municipality. Good governance has become a popular theme in Africa and worldwide, attributed to the increasing need to alleviate rampant corruption in municipalities, of which Mnquma Municipality is not immune. The study found that the community in the Mnquma Municipality is dissatisfied with service delivery as there are rural areas who are still battling to get clean water and decent ablution facilities. This municipality has been marred by violent protests, infighting amongst those who are tasked to oversee the delivery of services. The study recommends various approaches to end the bad governance and insufficient service delivery such as ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of community projects, skills audits and trainings for municipal officials, increased community participation in municipal decisions as well as increased access to loans to community members. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-01
Performance-based strategies for improving service quality in electricity regulation in developing countries: the Nigerian experience
- Authors: Obi, Chikwerem Ukaobasi
- Date: 2015-03
- Subjects: Electricity--Government policy--Developing countries , Public administration
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24868 , vital:63665
- Description: Service quality is a relatively new concept in the regulatory lexicon. It has emerged as a critical factor in post-reform regulation of electricity distribution networks and it is a multi-dimensional concept in regulatory policy that connotes standard of performance in service delivery. Regulators establish performance standards by defining clearly the quality of service the customer deserves given the price paid. It is in recognition of the fact that customers are highly sensitive to the level of service delivered to them, and they value the speed and accuracy with which their requests are handled that have made service quality critical in the electricity value chain. The level of quality provided to individual customers is generally distributed over a range of values. Hence, regulators are mainly concerned with the protection of the worst-served customers and the possibility that a group of customers might receive unacceptably low levels of service quality. The major objective of this study is to ascertain how service quality regulation can improve electricity distribution in Nigeria. In doing this, the research gave a general overview of the study as an introduction in chapter one; it went on to review the available literature in chapter two. Chapter three conceptualizes the framework of the study by identifying the New Public Management (NPM) as a catalyst for effective regulation, followed by a case study of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in chapter four. In chapter five, the study employed the Likert attitudinal scale sampling technique and the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) as the methodologies for data analysis in the research. The data presentation and interpretation were carried out in chapter six by presenting the results of the customer survey and outlining the key performance indicators (KPIs) based on the following three areas of service quality: technical indicators, financial indicators and customer-service indicators, which finally dovetailed into the summary, recommendations and conclusion in chapter seven. The performance of the privatized DISCOs was assessed by means of descriptive analysis by administering questionnaires, trend analysis and technical efficiency estimations using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) techniques. The estimates were carried out by means of the Frontier 4.1 software and were based on three assumptions of returns to scale. The findings revealed that the average industry performance for DISCOs dropped from 95% before privatization to 82% after privatization. This relatively poor performance may well have been caused by the reluctance of the private investors, who now own majority shares in the DISCOs, to invest in the retrofitting and upgrading of the network infrastructure existing before they took over. The implication of this finding is not a condemnation of the recentlyconcluded privatization of the power sector in Nigeria, but probably the private investors’ desperation to recover their investment at the expense of public interest for quality service given that most of the investors acquired the utilities with shortterm funds. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2015
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- Date Issued: 2015-03
Developing a framework for achieving a clean audit outcome in the Eastern legislature
- Authors: Wellem, Chuma
- Date: 2014-01
- Subjects: Political corruption -- South Africa , Social accounting , Public administration
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25732 , vital:64474
- Description: Public sector reform in South Africa became a reality with the change in political dispensation in 1994 in South Africa the transformation of the public sector became critical in order to provide for a better life for all. This required regulatory frameworks that could establish good governance and a holistic transformation of the Public Sector. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 108 of 1996 states as its basic principles governing public administration that Public administration must be accountable and transparent to the South African Public its. The South African Constitution serves as the basis for the governance of all government departments. An external independent audit is an important element of a good governance framework. This dissertation examines the role of auditing in supporting effective and good governance in the public sector and it seeks to develop a framework that will be used as a tool towards achieving and maintaining a clean audit outcome that is in line with good governance. The importance of auditing is outlined coupled with an interpretation of what the different audit outcomes mean for the public sector. The case of The Eastern Cape Legislature is used to assist in drawing up a framework that will assist the public sector to achieve and maintain a clean favorable audit outcome. This paper clearly links effective governance with internal control and ultimately audit outcomes. It also makes the point that risk management, effective audit committees and internal audit functions are key elements of the governance process. Furthermore, conclusions are drawn in the form of guidelines for all departments to follow in preparing for an audit as well as a turnaround strategy towards clean governance. , Thesis (MPA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2014
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- Date Issued: 2014-01
A study of the implementation of public policy to increase participation in recreation sports in Lagos state: Nigeria
- Authors: Setonji, Noel Adeoye https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2101-8037
- Date: 2013-04
- Subjects: Public administration
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/24035 , vital:62301
- Description: The study investigated the extent to which implementation of the current public policy had improved recreation sport services and participation in Lagos metropolis of Lagos State-Nigeria. The study was delimited to 14 out of 16 Local Governments in Lagos metropolis. The study participants were 650 (334 males and 316 females) selected from 14 Local Governments in Lagos metropolis. Stratified random sampling technique was applied to get the volunteered metropolitan Lagos Local Government staff participants used for the study. Mixed research approaches involving quantitative and qualitative data collection were employed to carry out the study. Pilot study was carried out and reliability of each instrument was established with Cronbach’s alpha and test-re-test after an interval of two weeks. The reliability coefficients based on Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation were PRSPIQ (0.89), PRSPIBQ (0.87), RSFQ (0.79), and EPIMCEQ (0.85). The quantitative data collected were entered into Microsoft Excel 2007 Software and later exported to SPSS 18.0 statistical package for data analysis. Simple frequencies of responses in % and factor analysis were used in analysing the data collected, while Chi-square test of goodness-of-fit was used to test all the four hypotheses. The interview data collected were analysed using inductive method. All the hypotheses were pitched at 0.05 confidence level. Results of the study revealed that: implementation of the current public policy had not significantly improved recreation sport services and participation in Lagos metropolis: x2 (4, N = 650) = 395000, p<.0001, was significant at p<0.05); Barriers had affected effective implementation of the current public recreation sports policy in Lagos metropolis: x2 (4, N = 650) = 38.6000, p<.0001, was significant at p<0.05); implementation of the current public policy had not improved recreation sport facilities and safe recreation environments in Lagos metropolis: x2 (4, N = 650) = 33.3000, p<.0001, was significant at p<0.05; implementation of the current public policy had not effectively enhanced management competencies of recreation sport officers in Lagos metropolis: x2 (4, N = 650) = 64.3000, p<.0001, was significant at p<0.05. The conclusions drawn from the findings of the study include: the current public policy had not significantly improved recreation sport services in Lagos metropolis. Specifically, the study found that: the current policy had not done enough to enhance increased participation in recreation sport activities in Lagos metropolis; barriers had affected effective implementation of the current public recreation sports policy in Lagos metropolis; the public policy had not done enough to improve recreation sport facilities and safe recreation environments in most parts of Lagos metropolis; and the current public policy had not effectively enhanced management competencies of public recreation sport officers in Lagos metropolis. The study findings had it too that to effectively implement public recreation sports policy in Lagos metropolis, stakeholders should be adequately involved in the implementation activities. Based on the study findings, the study among others recommends that the State Government should be: proactive to update the content of the current public policy on recreation sports as the needs of the users are increasingly changing over time; Government agents, private organizations, recreation sport professionals and community stakeholders should be actively involved in the implementation processes to forestall any barriers; more recreation facility pools in safe and conducive environments should be provided and assessable to increase participation in recreation sports by the people of Lagos metropolis; and the public policy should be effectively implemented to enhance management competencies of public recreation sport managers in Lagos metropolis. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 2013
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- Date Issued: 2013-04
Implementation challenges of performance monitoring and evaluation in the O.R. Tambo District municipality
- Authors: Sotshongaye, Sibongile Goodman
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Public administration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8307 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020028
- Description: This treatise investigates the implementation challenges of performance monitoring and evaluation in the O R Tambo District Municipality. The treatise comprises five chapters. The study is based on the assumption that O R Tambo District Municipality, like any other municipality in South Africa, particularly in the Eastern Cape, is confronted with the implementation challenges of performance monitoring and evaluation. ORTDM has a performance-management system that is not fully implemented, and needs to put into context its challenges, in order to appropriately make those interventions relevant to the situation. The fact that the performance- management system has not yet been cascaded to the lower level employees creates difficulties in performance monitoring and evaluation. There has been a deep concern that municipalities are underperforming, and yet with no visible steps being taken to improve the situation. If the O R Tambo District Municipality is attempting to achieve the objectives of the local government, as stated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, it is then necessary to properly implement performance monitoring and evaluation, as mechanisms to accelerate service delivery. This has the potential to improve the quality of life of the citizens of O R Tambo District Municipality. This study provides the general background to the implementation challenges of performance monitoring and evaluation in the O R Tambo District Municipality. The challenges of performance monitoring and evaluation, the determinants of performance monitoring and evaluation, as well as the theories used in performance monitoring and evaluation will be addressed. The study presents the findings resulting from the analysis of the data provided by the respondents. Amongst the findings of the study there is a view that the O R Tambo District Municipality does not have monitoring and evaluation specialists who could ensure that performance is being periodically evaluated, in order to close policy gaps that might be in existence. Non-involvement or partial involvement of communities has the potential to cause stagnation, as people generally lack monitoring skills. Some of the ecommendations include: the skills development of all the stakeholders, especially those with the mandate to deliver on behalf of government, that is, political office bearers, together with the technical support wing. Performance monitoring and evaluation under the proposed recommendations could be enhanced and positive changes could be realised.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Adoption of IT Systems by HR professionals in order to enhance efficacy at the University of Fort Hare
- Authors: Ngqubekile, Nolufefe
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Management information systems , Personnel management , Public administration
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27176 , vital:66326
- Description: This study seeks to address the adoption of Integrated Tertiary Software (ITS), ease of use of ITS and continuous usage in Human Resources Departments. The focus of this research project is User Acceptance and Continued Use of ITS within the HR Department - the case of Fort Hare University. The University is a multi - campus operation and the use of paper systems is extremely difficult. The University made a decision to invest in ITS with the objective of improving effectiveness and efficiency of services. The nature of the problem is that ITS is partially used and it is necessary to further explore the specific influence of technological and environmental factors that may change the user’s acceptance and use of this IT System. The nature of this study is Qualitative and follows an Interpretive Approach. The Research Instrument used is an in-depth questionnaire distributed and responded to by all HR Professionals at the UFH. Recommendations based on findings will be used to design the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for the Adoption of IT Systems by HR Professionals in order to enhance efficacy at the University of Fort Hare. The CSFs can be generalized to other settings and were identified for the UFH HR Department to include. , Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce , 2010
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- Date Issued: 2010
A model for evaluating training and development initiatives in the Botswana public service
- Authors: Tshukudu, Theophilus Tebetso
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Civil service -- Personnel management -- Botswana , Civil service -- Labor productivity -- Botswana , Civil service -- Botswana -- Evaluation , Employees -- Training of , Public administration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DTech
- Identifier: vital:9384 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/879 , Civil service -- Personnel management -- Botswana , Civil service -- Labor productivity -- Botswana , Civil service -- Botswana -- Evaluation , Employees -- Training of , Public administration
- Description: The purpose of this study was to develop an integrated model for evaluating training and development initiatives used by the Botswana public service. To achieve this goal, the following actions were taken: A literature study was conducted to identify the scope and impact of an effective training and development initiative and its evaluation; A literature study was conducted to identify strategies for evaluating training and development initiatives. The theoretical study focused on effective training and development strategies and their evaluation and critical organisational factors that contribute to successful training evaluation; The findings from the literature study were integrated into a model for evaluating training and development initiatives to be used by the Botswana public service; and This model was used as the basis for the development of a survey questionnaire to determine whether trainers, training managers and supervisors who were responsible for training and development in the public service agreed with the effective strategies for evaluating training and development developed in the study. The survey was conducted in ministries and departments in the south east district of Botswana, mainly in Gaborone, where ministries and government departments are located. The empirical results from the study showed that the majority of respondents’ training and development activities were not evaluated and that there is no link between training and development and performance management. In particular, disagreements were shown with regard to ten strategies and critical organisational factors. Evaluation of training and development in general, is an issue that organisations are challenged with on a daily basis. Lack of skills by trainers on how to evaluate training and development is one major contributing factor to this problem. An integrated and strategic approach towards the evaluation of training and development is required to effectively and constructively train and development employees according to strategic organisational goals, rather than according to individual trainee’s goals.
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- Date Issued: 2009
Public sector pharmacists' perception of the public sector performance management system
- Authors: Ranchod, Shameem Roshnee
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Performance -- Management , Pharmacy management , Performance standards , Public administration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10077 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/596 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011728 , Performance -- Management , Pharmacy management , Performance standards , Public administration
- Description: Performance Management aims to develop the employee and ensure that the work which the employee does is in line with organisational goals. However, many managers and employees do not like performance management systems and very often, for this reason, such a system does not succeed in meeting the organisation’s goals. The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions towards the performance management system of pharmacists working in the public sector. A questionnaire was compiled and pharmacists working in all public sector hospitals, provincial and municipal clinics and medical depots were asked to complete the questionnaire. The response rate was 66 percent. Seventy three percent of respondents had never undergone a performance evaluation, 75 percent stated it did not motivate them, 62.5 percent felt it did not improve poor performance, 90.6 percent felt the Performance Appraisal System did not reward good performance sufficiently and 63.6 percent felt it did not help with career progression. Seventy eight percent believed that the Performance Appraisal System did not effectively measure the pharmacists’ performance, and 82 percent felt that the System needed to be developed further. At least four evaluations should have been completed per year, yet 85 percent of respondents had experienced three or fewer evaluations since the System had been introduced. The analysis of the responses indicated that there was great dissatisfaction with the current performance management system. A few of the reasons are that the system in place did not effectively measure the pharmacists performance, that additional work done was not recognised, and that the process was extremely time-consuming. It may be concluded that the government needs to address the current problems being experienced with this system, as at present, it is not meeting the objectives it was intended to meet.
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- Date Issued: 2006