The development of a science competency test for technikon students
- Authors: Davids, Samiega
- Date: 2003
- Subjects: Science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Entrance requirements , Port Elizabeth Technikon Entrance requirements
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10782 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/87 , Science -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Universities and colleges -- South Africa -- Entrance requirements , Port Elizabeth Technikon Entrance requirements
- Description: In the mid-1980’s institutions of higher learning were coerced by the South African government to admit students from all races. As a result, these institutions were confronted with the need to identify preparedness for higher learning, especially amongst the ex-Department of Education and Training (DET) learners. Grade 12 results were not a sufficient predictor for ex-DET learners, and a review of current admission criteria became a necessity. This study aims to develop a suitable science entry-level test to be used as a component of an existing test battery. The test battery is used as an admission tool by the Port Elizabeth Technikon to further assess first year applicants who do not meet the normal entrance requirements for a science course. The only requirement for further assessment being Grade 12 physical science. The science entry-level test consists of a list of validated science skills and knowledge to be used to assess the skills and knowledge mastered at the time of test taking. On the basis of test scores, an assessment is made regarding the applicant’s preparedness for higher learning. This study holds the view that preparedness in students for higher learning in science can be measured by means of valid science competencies. In addition, knowledge of the level of preparedness of the applicant enables further educational support and guidance to be provided where necessary. Research which measures manifest academic ability rather than potential to learn is favoured since it is believed that the former generates psychometric evidence of that which was already mastered academically whilst the latter determines whether the student will be able to achieve under ideal conditions. The content covered by the proposed Science Competency Test was sanctioned by technikon lecturers of first year physics and chemistry courses. The content was taken from the examinable section of the Grade 11 and 12 physical science syllabi. This content is the most acceptable and fair knowledge-base a prospective science student can be expected to have mastered at school. The content was limited to those skills and knowledge believed by the lecturers to contribute to academic success in the first year. Items that tested this content were compiled and pilot tests were administered to Grade 12 physical science learners at various disadvantaged schools. The Science Competency Test was compiled from the pool of trial items after the performance of the items was statistically determined. This final Science Competency Test was completed by a sample of 179 first-time first year science students. The findings of the study were inconclusive as the Science Competency Test showed a moderate predictive ability for only one section of the sample. It further showed that the weighted matric score, WMS was not a significant predictor of future academic performance of the sample either. A discrepancy in performance amongst learners of different home languages and educational backgrounds was also noted.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
Implementing the CoSaWoE models in a commercial workflow product
- Authors: Erwee, Carmen
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Computers -- Access control , Workflow , Computer security , Data protection
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9732 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/169 , Computers -- Access control , Workflow , Computer security , Data protection
- Description: Workflow systems have gained popularity not only as a research topic, but also as a key component of Enterprize Resource Planning packages and e- business. Comprehensive workflow products that automate intra- as well inter-organizational information flow are now available for commercial use. Standardization efforts have centered mostly around the interoperability of these systems, however a standard access control model have yet to be adopted. The research community has developed several models for access control to be included as part of workflow functionality. Commercial systems, however, are still implementing access control functionality in a proprietary manner. This dissertation investigates whether a comprehensive model for gain- ing context-sensitive access control, namely CoSAWoE, can be purposefully implemented in a commercial workflow product. Using methods such as an exploratory prototype, various aspects of the model was implemented to gain an understanding of the di±culties developers face when attempting to map the model to existing proprietary software. Oracle Workflow was chosen as an example of a commercial workflow product. An investigtion of the features of this product, together with the prototype, revealed the ability to affect access control in a similar manner to the model: by specifying access control constraints during administration and design, and then enforcing those constraints dynamically during run-time. However, only certain components within these two aspects of the model directly effected the commercial workflow product. It was argued that the first two requirements of context-sensitive access control, order of events and strict least privilege, addressed by the object design, role engineering and session control components of the model, can be simulated if such capabilities are not pertinently available as part of the product. As such, guidelines were provided for how this can be achieved in Oracle Workflow. However, most of the implementation effort focussed on the last requirement of context-sensitive access control, namely separation of duties. The CoSAWoE model proposes SoD administration steps that includes expressing various business rules through a set of conflicting entities which are maintained outside the scope of the workflow system. This component was implemented easily enough through tables which were created with a relational database. Evaluating these conflicts during run-time to control worklist generation proved more di±cult. First, a thorough understanding of the way in which workflow history is maintained was necessary. A re-usable function was developed to prune user lists according to user involvement in previous tasks in the workflow and the conflicts specified for those users and tasks. However, due to the lack of a central access control service, this re- usable function must be included in the appropriate places in the workflow process model. Furthermore, the dissertation utilized a practical example to develop a prototype. This prototype served a dual purpose: firstly, to aid the author's understanding of the features and principles involved, and secondly, to illustrate and explore the implementation of the model as described in the previous paragraphs. In conclusion the dissertation summarized the CoSAWoE model's compo- nents which were found to be product agnostic, directly or indirectly imple- mentable, or not implemented in the chosen workflow product. The lessons learnt and issues surrounding the implementation effort were also discussed before further research in terms of XML documents as data containers for the workfow process were suggested.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
The evolution of fashion discourse: examining vogue magazine’s role as fashion authority
- Authors: Wissink, Emma Seline
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Fashion -- Research , Fashion -- Forecasting Clothing trade -- Forecasting Advertising -- Fashion Fashion writing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/36026 , vital:33883
- Description: The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution of Vogue magazine’s role as a fashion authority. The methodology of Foucauldian discourse analysis motivated the enquiry into the establishment of Vogue’s fashion authority over time. The corpus of Vogue’s September Point of View editorials between the period of 1960 and 2015 was divided into four epochs using the period of editorship held by the four editors (Jessica Daves, Diana Vreeland, Grace Mirabella and Anna Wintour). Features of Vogue’s discourse were identified in literature and applied to the corpus using a concurrent embedded mixed methods approach, employing the quantitative and qualitative methods of content and discourse analysis respectively. The analysis suggested that Vogue maintained fashion authority through changing its discourse to suit changes occurring in the field of fashion and the evolving needs and perspectives of the reader. Changes in the way Vogue presents itself; addresses the reader; attributes material, commercial, or intellectual features to fashion; addresses concepts of time and novelty; and negotiates the relationship between American fashion and European or global fashion were the focus of the analysis. The findings conceptualise Vogue’s voice as evolving through the four roles of reporting, fictionalizing, translating and connecting fashion. The shift in Vogue’s voice suggests that the conceptualization of fashion in the publication shifts towards a more abstract and general conception of fashion and reader. The results suggest that Vogue’s fashion discourse shifts from a focus on the specific material features of fashion and craft and the conception of fashion as news and Vogue as a reporter towards a focus on the more abstract, general intellectual and commercial properties of fashion and the conception of fashion as commerce promoting Vogue’s role as a facilitating platform.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
A framework for IT governance in small businesses
- Authors: Koornhof, Herman
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: Corporate governance -- South Africa , Organizational effectiveness -- South Africa , Organisational Management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9768 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/994 , Corporate governance -- South Africa , Organizational effectiveness -- South Africa , Organisational Management
- Description: The primary objective of this treatise is to develop a framework that small businesses can use to implement IT governance. This framework for IT 6 Governance in Small Businesses, called ITGovSB, will be based primarily on the CobiT framework and the ISO/IEC 27002 information security controls. In order to achieve the primary objective, it is necessary to understand the differences between IT governance in small businesses and larger organisations. Consequently, one of the secondary objectives of the paper is to derive characteristics that define IT governance in small businesses. Another secondary objective is to implement the ITGovSB framework at a small business to evaluate its effectiveness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
The cost of free instant messaging: an attack modelling perspective
- Authors: Du Preez, Riekert
- Date: 2006
- Subjects: Computer security , Instant messaging , Data protection
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9797 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/499 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011921 , Computer security , Instant messaging , Data protection
- Description: Instant Messaging (IM) has grown tremendously over the last few years. Even though IM was originally developed as a social chat system, it has found a place in many companies, where it is being used as an essential business tool. However, many businesses rely on free IM and have not implemented a secure corporate IM solution. Most free IM clients were never intended for use in the workplace and, therefore, lack strong security features and administrative control. Consequently, free IM clients can provide attackers with an entry point for malicious code in an organization’s network that can ultimately lead to a company’s information assets being compromised. Therefore, even though free IM allows for better collaboration in the workplace, it comes at a cost, as the title of this dissertation suggests. This dissertation sets out to answer the question of how free IM can facilitate an attack on a company’s information assets. To answer the research question, the dissertation defines an IM attack model that models the ways in which an information system can be attacked when free IM is used within an organization. The IM attack model was created by categorising IM threats using the STRIDE threat classification scheme. The attacks that realize the categorised threats were then modelled using attack trees as the chosen attack modelling tool. Attack trees were chosen because of their ability to model the sequence of attacker actions during an attack. The author defined an enhanced graphical notation that was adopted for the attack trees used to create the IM attack model. The enhanced attack tree notation extends traditional attack trees to allow nodes in the trees to be of different classes and, therefore, allows attack trees to convey more information. During the process of defining the IM attack model, a number of experiments were conducted where IM vulnerabilities were exploited. Thereafter, a case study was constructed to document a simulated attack on an information system that involves the exploitation of IM vulnerabilities. The case study demonstrates how an attacker’s attack path relates to the IM attack model in a practical scenario. The IM attack model provides insight into how IM can facilitate an attack on a company’s information assets. The creation of the attack model for free IM lead to several realizations. The IM attack model revealed that even though the use of free IM clients may seem harmless, such IM clients can facilitate an attack on a company’s information assets. Furthermore, certain IM vulnerabilities may not pose a great risk by themselves, but when combined with the exploitation of other vulnerabilities, a much greater threat can be realized. These realizations hold true to what French playwright Jean Anouilh once said: “What you get free costs too much”.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Analysis of the reliability for the 132/66/22 KV distribution network within Eskom’s Eastern Cape operating unit
- Authors: Pantshwa, Athini
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Electric power transmission -- Reliability , Electric power distribution Electric power Electric power systems
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/34722 , vital:33429
- Description: A stable and reliable electrical power supply system is an inevitable pre-requisite for the technological and economic growth of any nation. Due to this, utilities must strive and ensure that the customer’s reliability requirements are met and that the regulators requirements are satisfied at the lowest possible cost. It is known fact around the world that 90% of the customer service interruptions are caused due to failure in distribution system. Therefore, it is worth considering reliability assessments as it provides an opportunity to incorporate the cost or losses incurred by the utilities customer because of power failure. This must be considered in the planning and operating practices. The system modelling and simulation study is carried out on one of the district’s distribution system which consists of 132 kV, 66 kV and 22 kV network in Aliwal North Sector ECOU. The reliability assessment is done on the 22, 66 and 132 kV system to assess the performance of the present system and predictive reliability analysis for the future system considering load growth and system expansion. The alternative which gives low SAIDI, SAIFI and minimum breakeven costs is being assessed and considered. The reliability of 132 kV system could be further improved by constructing a new 132 kV line from a different source of supply and connecting with line coming from another district (reserve) at reasonable break-even cost. The decision base could be further improved by having Aliwal North Sector context interruption cost. However, the historical data which may be used in Aliwal North Sector to acquire interruption costs from the customers are being proposed. The focus should be on improving the power quality on constrained networks first, then the reliability. Therefore, for the Aliwal North power system network it is imperative that Eskom invest on the reliability of this network. This dissertation also analysed load reflected economic benefit versus performance expectations that should be optimized through achieving a balance between network performance (SAIDI) improvement, and total life cycle cost (to Eskom as well as the economy). Reliability analysis conducted in this dissertation used Aliwal North power system network as a case study; the results proved that the system is vulnerable to faults, planned and unplanned outages. Reliability evaluation studies were conducted on the system using DigSilent software in conjunction with FME. These two models gave accurate results with acceptable variance in most indices except for the ENS where the variance was quite significant. It can be concluded that DigSilent results are the most accurate results in all three reliability evaluation scenarios for the Aliwal North Power System, best interpretation being that of DigSilent.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
Simulation and visualization platform integrated under hardware control systems for a reconfigurable process control
- Authors: Zata, Ngonidzashe Munyaradzi , Fernandes, John Manuel
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mechatronics -- Students Engineering students User interfaces (Computer systems)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/13349 , vital:27177
- Description: Simulation and visualization platform integrated under hardware control systems for a reconfigurable process control.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Characteristics of the modern toursist in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area
- Authors: Shrosbree, Laura Tania
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Sustainable tourism -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay , Tourism -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay , Tourism -- Social aspects , Civilization, Modern
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9369 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012110 , Sustainable tourism -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay , Tourism -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay , Tourism -- Social aspects , Civilization, Modern
- Description: Until the nineteenth century, travel was undertaken only by the elite. With the introduction of rail, mass travel was available for the first time, and new faraway destinations became accessible to all. During the 20th century travel became more destination-orientated. And now, in the 21st century, travel is a new economy, resulting in the tourism industry. The focus of the tourism industry has shifted from air travel, weekend getaways and day trips, to a total experience of the destination. A new era in tourism has arrived with a new kind of tourism experience, one that is sustainable, socially responsible and flexible. At the forefront of this industry is a tourist who is more educated, experienced, knowledgeable, independent and demanding. This tourist demands new or different products/services, is harder to please than the traditional tourist, is well-informed and knows what he/she wants and where he/she wants to go. This is the modern tourist. The objectives of the study were to identify the typical characteristics of the so-called modern consumer, determine which of these characteristics were prevalent among consumers living in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Area and whether these characteristics could be used to cluster respondents into segments. The results of the study will assist organisations, within the tourism industry, in dealing with the changing demands of the modern tourist. The literature study contextualised the modern tourist within the tourism industry and provides an overview of the demographic and behavioural factors, which form the basis of the modern tourist‟s development. The demographic factors discussed were age, education, income, gender and household size. The non demographic factors identified and explained were variety seeking, quest for self-identity, quest for authenticity, knowledgeable, experience sharing and time poor. The empirical information was obtained via self-administered questionnaires. Two hundred useable questionnaires were completed by respondents in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Area. Statistica version 10 was used to analyse the data received. The principal component factor analysis yielded six behavioural factors, namely meaningful experiences, time poor, knowledge, authenticity and experience sharing. Until the nineteenth century, travel was undertaken only by the elite. With the introduction of rail, mass travel was available for the first time, and new faraway destinations became accessible to all. During the 20th century travel became more destination-orientated. And now, in the 21st century, travel is a new economy, resulting in the tourism industry. The focus of the tourism industry has shifted from air travel, weekend getaways and day trips, to a total experience of the destination. A new era in tourism has arrived with a new kind of tourism experience, one that is sustainable, socially responsible and flexible. At the forefront of this industry is a tourist who is more educated, experienced, knowledgeable, independent and demanding. This tourist demands new or different products/services, is harder to please than the traditional tourist, is well-informed and knows what he/she wants and where he/she wants to go. This is the modern tourist. The objectives of the study were to identify the typical characteristics of the so-called modern consumer, determine which of these characteristics were prevalent among consumers living in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Area and whether these characteristics could be used to cluster respondents into segments. The results of the study will assist organisations, within the tourism industry, in dealing with the changing demands of the modern tourist. The literature study contextualised the modern tourist within the tourism industry and provides an overview of the demographic and behavioural factors, which form the basis of the modern tourist‟s development. The demographic factors discussed were age, education, income, gender and household size. The non demographic factors identified and explained were variety seeking, quest for self-identity, quest for authenticity, knowledgeable, experience sharing and time poor. The empirical information was obtained via self-administered questionnaires. Two hundred useable questionnaires were completed by respondents in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Area. Statistica version 10 was used to analyse the data received. The principal component factor analysis yielded six behavioural factors, namely meaningful experiences, time poor, knowledge, authenticity and experience sharing. The data analysis revealed three distinct clusters, namely Postmodernists, Traditionalists and Modernists. Each cluster had unique demographic and behavioural characteristics with the result that modern tourists could be grouped into distinct clusters according to their demographic and behavioural characteristics. This will enable the tourism industry to tailor-make their marketing strategies according to these clusters.he data analysis revealed three distinct clusters, namely Postmodernists, Traditionalists and Modernists. Each cluster had unique demographic and behavioural characteristics with the result that modern tourists could be grouped into distinct clusters according to their demographic and behavioural characteristics. This will enable the tourism industry to tailor-make their marketing strategies according to these clusters.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The possibility of a flexible wireless 3-D measurement in the modern automobile production
- Authors: Frede, Stefan
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Three-dimensional display systems , Automobile industry and trade , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9619 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1203 , Three-dimensional display systems , Automobile industry and trade , Automobile industry and trade -- South Africa -- Quality control
- Description: The quality control of geometrical coherences and relations in modern automobile production is done by different stationary and flexible measurement systems and strategies. Furthermore, there currently exists possibilities of inline measurements and offline measurements. This project presents the basic research concerning the possibility of a flexible wireless measurement system in modern automobile production, that is able to combine the advantages of both strategies. An investigation of existing measurement techniques was done in order to find a sensor technology, which enables the wireless measurement process. The research project introduces the current location systems and positioning systems. These techniques are compared by a value benefit analysis to expose a suited technology as basis for the measurement system. As result of the value benefit anlysis, the ultrasonic technique was selected for further investigations. The ultrasonic test setup is used to analyze the accuracy of modern sensors and to verify the possibility of a project related integration. The tests are done in different conditions, in order to compare the laboratory application and the industrial application. During the test measurements different physical influencing variables and disturbances occurred. From this research project, it can be concluded that the laboratory application of the system is possible. However, the industrial application is subject to restrictions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Determining the essential traits for successful retail pharmacists in the Port Elizabeth-Uitenhage metropole
- Authors: Melamed, Graham Morrison
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Retail trade -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , Pharmacists -- South Africa , Pharmacy management
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10831 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/22 , Retail trade -- Port Elizabeth -- South Africa , Pharmacists -- South Africa , Pharmacy management
- Description: The research problem addressed in this study was to determine whether successful retail pharmacists exhibited specific traits. To achieve this objective a theoretical schedule of traits was developed, using relevant literature in which traits of entrepreneurs are described. The theoretical list consisted of the possession of the following traits: The need to achieve; Confidence in their abilities; The successful management of risk; Creativity and the possession of vision; The tendency/ability to view changes as opportunities; Internal locus of control; Leadership; High level of motivation; Tenacity; Communication skills. Each trait of the schedule was analysed using the literature identified during the literature study. The theoretical list was then used to develop a questionnaire to test the degree to which retail pharmacists in the Greater Port Elizabeth/Uitenhage Metropole concur. The empirical results obtained indicate a strong concurrence with the theoretical list of traits of successful retail pharmacists that was developed in the study. This resulted in the theoretical schedule being confirmed and accepted as a list of traits possessed by successful retail pharmacists.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
Antimicrobial activities of three medicinal plants against selected diarrheagenic pathogens
- Authors: Nkosi, Themba Johan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Anti-infective agents , Drug resistance in microorganisms , Materia medica, Vegetable
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10126 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020759
- Description: Diarrhea is a global concern that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), have confirmed to be the second major cause of death in children under the age of five. Major bacterial pathogens that cause diarrhea include Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Shigella species and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotic therapy is recommended depending on the severity and presentation of the disease; however, the appearance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is an emerging global threat to the ability to treat these bacterial infections. This situation could be overcome by the discovery of new natural antibiotics. Plants have been a source of medicine for centuries and have been used to treat diseases including diarrhea. This makes plants a natural potential target to study for their antibiotic properties. The objective of this study was to determine the antibiotic properties of medicinal plants against known pathogens that cause bacterial diarrhea. Three medicinal plants, Cassia abbreviata, Kigelia africana, and Geranium incanum were investigated for their antimicrobial properties against these strains of microorganisms: American Type Culture Collection (ATTC) and Clinical Strains (CS). The plant materials were ground into powder, which was then dissolved in methanol, acetone and distilled water to extract the active compounds. The plant extracts were then used to (i) determine their antibiotic activity, (ii) determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs), (iii) analyze the thin layer chromatography (TLC) fingerprints, and (iv) analyze the autobiography assay. The results obtained in this study met the aim and objectives of this study. The antimicrobial activities of the selected plants were obtained as discussed in Chapter 2 and 3. These results indicated that the traditional plants could be used as antimicrobials. In the screening assays, the test microorganisms were inhibited by the plant extracts, when they were subjected to plant extracts. This was performed on Mueller Hinton agar as sensitivity testing, which revealed clear zones of inhibition. The MIC values for each plant extract were established which ranged from 0.101 to 13.3 mg/dl. The TLC analysis revealed the spots which contained the active compounds which inhibited the bacterial growth. A bioautography assay was performed on the TLC plates, which exposed the exact spots containing the active compound inhibiting the bacteria. These results are clearly consistent with what former scientists have observed. Detailed explanations on the results are in Chapter 3 and 4 of this paper. It is important to note that all the procedures performed in this study were in vitro assays. Some effective in vitro assay activity may not always result in the same effective in vivo activity, because some active compounds may be metabolized and degraded into inactive metabolites. For this reason, the in vitro results obtained in this study, may not reflect the true effectiveness of the compounds in in vivo trials. It is therefore advised that future scientists should take a step further in analyzing the plant extracts through in vivo assays. Further testing and study on these plants at an advanced molecular level will be beneficial in the medical fields in the search for new antibiotics to treat infectious diseases. Purification and further analysis of their products can be helpful in the production of pure natural medicines. This will discover the active ingredients and compounds responsible for inhibition of the microorganisms. This will make the compounds potential candidates for a scientific validation and analysis for future scientists to bring a new dawn in the fight against infectious diseases.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
An integrated management system for quality and information security in healthcare
- Authors: Tyali, Sinovuyo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Health services administration -- Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9800 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012134 , Health services administration -- Quality control
- Description: Health service organizations are increasingly required to deliver quality healthcare services without increasing costs. The adoption of health information technologies can assist these organizations to deliver a quality service; however, this again exposes the health information to threats. The protection of personal health information is critical to ensure the privacy of patients in the care of health service organizations. Therefore both quality and information security are of importance in healthcare. Organisations commonly use management system standards to assist them to improve a particular function (e.g. quality or security) through structured organizational processes to establish, maintain and optimise a management system for the particular function. In the healthcare sector, the ISO 9001, ISO 9004 and IWA 1 standards may be used for the purpose of improving quality management through the establishment of a quality management system. Similarly, the ISO 27001 and ISO 27799 standards may be used to improve information security management through the establishment of an information security management system. However, the concurrent implementation of multiple standards brings confusion and complexity within organisations. A possible solution to the confusion is to introduce an integrated management system that addresses the requirements of multiple management systems. In this research, various standards relevant to the establishment of management systems for quality and security are studied. Additionally, literature on integrated management systems is reviewed to determine a possible approach to establishing an IMS for quality and information security in healthcare. It will be shown that the quality management and information security management standards contain commonalities that an integration approach can be based on. A detailed investigation of these commonalities is done in order to present the final proposal of the IMSQS, the Integrated Management System for Quality and Information Security in healthcare.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
A strategy to make ICT accessible in rural Zambia: a case study of Macha
- Authors: Van Stam, Gertjan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Communication in rural development -- Zambia , Communication and technology -- Zambia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9830
- Description: The problem discussed in this dissertation is to gather evidence of good practice and derive strategy for the development of ICT access in rural Zambia. Access to ICT services is important, also in rural areas of Africa. The challenges are many. There is a distinct void in tangible descriptions of the realities of ICT Access in rural areas or actionable guidelines for practitioners. This study involves a case study in the rural areas of Zambia. It does so through ethnography involving 10 years of observation of aspects of ICT access in rural Macha, Zambia. In this community, emerging from an articulated vision, ICT access in the form of the Internet arrived in 2004. Macha Works with its ICT unit LinkNet provides the basis for this interpretive approach from within the rural cultural setting. The purpose of the study is to benefit the local rural community, addressing the fundamentals of reality to add to the body of knowledge. The study involves cross cultural interaction and takes a trans-disciplinary view on science. It involves Participative Action Learning and Research aimed at recognising the complex adaptive systems while being aligned with the ethics of the rural African environment. Emphasis is on the needs of the community, rather than of the individual utilising empirical evidence. The good practices in Macha that inform strategy to make ICT accessible in rural areas are: engaging the community, building relationships; workforce development, unlocking productivity; thought leadership, establishing authority.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
An investigation of the effect of time of pruning on the growth and fruiting of lemons [Citrus limon(L.) Burmann f.] cv. Eureka
- Authors: Pittaway, Timothy Michael
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Lemon , Pruning , Fruit-culture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10974 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/106 , Lemon , Pruning , Fruit-culture
- Description: Pruning has been used to reduce tree size, allow light penetration into trees, improve yield, improve fruit size and fruit quality, overcome alternate bearing, assist fruit harvest, and assist pest and disease control. The use of pruning has increased due to improving agricultural management techniques such as high planting densities, use of mechanical machinery in orchards and the need for effective pesticide and pathological chemical spray applications. The main objective of this study was to obtain a practical means of manipulating lemon trees at the right time. Pruning at the correct time to cultivate productive trees that produce quality fruit would have financial benefits. Lemon fruit quality is dependent on market demand and involves a number of features such as fruit shelf life, rind thickness, fruit size, rind colour, and juice content. The study was conducted on ’Eureka’ lemon trees budded on C. volkameriana rootstock, bearing the fifth and sixth commercial crops in 1999 and 2000 respectively. Twelve monthly pruning treatments per year were conducted on one row of trees starting in December 1997 (site 1) and repeated in the second year on the adjacent row of the same orchard starting in December 1998 (site 2). Selective pruning heading cuts were applied below the intercalation on the intercalary units. Potential branch bearing units were tagged and assessed during the harvest and flowering periods. Summer pruning between 16 to 19 months before the subsequent April/May harvest, resulted in the longest and most complex (intercalation sprouted per axil) vegetative response. The estimated crop value indicated that summer pruning treatments produced the highest income. This was ascribed not to differences in fruit size or quality, but to an increase in yield. The industry’s trend is to prune citrus from post-harvest to the pre-bloom stage. Results from this study have provided a beneficial cultural practice to prune during the summer months and provides a practice to optimise farm production and profit margins.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
Identifying the need for the development of an instrument to determine senior phase teachers' science-assessment competence
- Authors: Lombard, Elsa Helena
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Science -- Ability testing -- South Africa , Science -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Evaluation , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa , Competency-based education -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10786 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/100 , Science -- Ability testing -- South Africa , Science -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth -- Evaluation , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa , Competency-based education -- South Africa
- Description: The focus of this study is the competences expected of teachers in the senior phase to assess the Natural Sciences learning area. In order to be in line with the new developments, the South African science teacher will need relevant assessment training in order to utilise appropriate techniques that are in line with the new educational philosophy. The question arises: What competences do teachers need for assessing science in the senior phase? An ethnographic case study was implemented as research methodology in the descriptive research paradigm. The investigation comprised observing the classroom practices of a sample of three senior phase science teachers in two primary schools and in one secondary school in the Port Elizabeth region. The data obtained from the observations were triangulated with related artefacts produced by both the teachers and the learners in each case. In order to establish these expected competences a document analysis was done from a selection of South African documents. The descriptions of the real life assessment practices of the sample of science teachers were then compared with the competences expected by the South African education system. The comparison between the real-life assessment practices and the expected practices concurred with Shepard’s (2000, p.12) belief that the abilities needed to implement classroom assessment “are daunting”. The classroom-based assessment practices of the sample of teachers revealed a variety of assessment beliefs, practices and competence. The needs of these teachers are so diversified and intense that individualised professional development is needed if sustained implementation of the new curriculum and accompanying assessment competences is to be facilitated. The research established the need to develop an instrument that the science teachers can use to assess their own competence. There should be training modules drawn up in line with this instrument. Teachers should be able to choose the professional development modules that would address their own unique needs
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
Moderat's Rusty nails and Loie Fuller's Serpentine dance : analysis cloth, the body and movement as symbolic interpretation of meaning in film
- Authors: Coates, Maran
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Fashion in motion pictures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:8498 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1015733
- Description: The main objective of the study is to explore how cloth, the body and movement are able to communicate possible symbolic meaning in Loïe Fuller’s Serpentine Dance film and Moderat’s Rusty Nails music video. The study further attempts to establish the characteristics of fashion film to include cloth, the body and movement and provide a methodology that locates fashion film as a sign system using a visual semiotic analysis framework. The films were then compared and contrasted to determine similarities and differences in their use of cloth, the body and movement. The findings from the film analysis suggest that cloth, the body and movement communicate symbolic meaning in the films based on their associated meanings that are generated both inside and outside the film context. By focussing on cloth, the body and movement as primary communicators (rather than secondary or supporting communicators) in film, new meanings can be interpreted from their interrelationship. The results inform new ways for fashion designers and fashion filmmakers to engage with cloth, the body and movement in fashion film.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Factors impacting the introduction of information technology usage in netball coaching
- Authors: Daniell, Janine
- Subjects: Information technology , Netball -- Coaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9828 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020878
- Description: With the growth in the use of technology in sports, there has been an improvement in sporting performances. Some may argue that the two go hand in hand, while others will write it off as coincidence. Nevertheless the use of technology in sport is seen on a daily basis. Cricket uses Hotspot, tennis uses Hawk-Eye and rugby uses slow motion video replays. In these sports codes, technology is already an aid to umpires. Little is known, however, about the technologies used to assist coaches in sports codes such as netball. This study investigated the factors impacting the introduction of information technology in the coaching of netball. The study commenced with using the term technology in the broader sense of the word to gain an understanding from netball coaches as to how technology could be incorporated into the sport. It was later narrowed down more specifically to computer technologies. The investigation was done at the Spar National Netball Championships in 2012, where coaches were surveyed about the preparation for the tournament of the provincial teams. The surveys included questions to coaches regarding the technologies used in preparation for a national tournament. The results obtained from the coaches were used to identify the current technologies used. Interviews were conducted after the analysis of the initial results to probe into the potential use of social media as a tool to assist coaches. Based on the results of the study, a number of factors that impact on the introduction of technology in the coaching of netball were identified. The factors and basic guidelines were validated through expert focus groups. Based on the findings from the experts, the factors and guidelines were refined. It is envisaged that the findings from this research can be used to assist netball coaches in deciding how to introduce the use of information technology into the sport.
- Full Text:
An investigation of specific contributing factors affecting quality assurance in the diagnosis of conventional cervical smears
- Authors: Jordaan, Suzette Mirietta
- Date: 2005
- Subjects: Cervix uteri -- Cancer -- Cytodiagnosis -- Quality control , Vaginal smears -- Quality control , Pap test -- Quality control
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10117 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/173 , Cervix uteri -- Cancer -- Cytodiagnosis -- Quality control , Vaginal smears -- Quality control , Pap test -- Quality control
- Description: The purpose of this study is to investigate specific contributing factors affecting quality assurance in the diagnosis of conventional cervical smears. More than half of South- African women fail to have one cervical smear in their lifetime and +/- 50 percent of those who do have cervical smears taken, are lost to follow-up. Since cervical cancer is the most common malignancy amongst women in developing countries, the medical profession will have to endeavor to screen a higher rate of women and ensure a 100 percent quality assurance with every patient treated in order to reduce the unacceptable high incidence of cervical carcinoma. At this stage it seems like an impossible task to screen all women in South Africa, due to far-off rural areas, shortage of medical professionals and the lack of knowledge of some women of the necessity of cervical smears. Many newly qualified South-African doctors leave the country to go and work elsewhere. South Africa then in turn has to recruit doctors from other countries to staff the State hospitals and clinics. Some areas have one doctor to thousands of patients, insufficient nursing personnel and inadequate equipment. Doctors in some areas cannot cope with the volume of work and the long hours. One has to accept that the quality of the management of some patients is affected negatively. There are a number of medico-legal issues (world wide) in relation to aspects of cervical cancer prevention practices which are controversial and are of particular concern to all of those involved in cervical cancer prevention. Various countries have therefore formed different national organizations to address the medico-legal issues in screening for the prevention of cancer. These organizations monitors procedures, internal quality control as well as external quality control. In South Africa, medico-legal cases are not so prevalent, but may become so shortly. The South-African medical professionals therefore have to ensure that their quality of work conforms to accepted good practice in all circumstances. State hospitals serve thousands of patients per month and it is an every day occurrence to see long queues of patients sitting waiting for doctors and who often have to come back the following day. The situation appears to be much improved in private practice and since patients have medical cover and accessible medical facilities. Since cervical cancer is the most common malignancy amongst women in developing countries, the medical profession will have to endeavor to screen a higher rate of women and ensure a 100 percent quality assurance with every patient treated in order to reduce the unacceptable high incidence of cervical carcinoma. At this stage it seems like an impossible task to screen 100 percent of women in South Africa, due to far-off rural areas, the shortage of medical professionals and ignorance of patients. Quality assurance is therefore of paramount importance to every medical professional for every patient treated. Laboratories all worldwide have been, or are in the process of being accredited by their specific accreditation authorities. The main reason for this is improvement of quality control and therefore quality assurance. The South African National Accreditation Society (SANAS) now accredits various laboratories in South Africa with the view of accreditting all laboratories within a certain time limit. The Ampath laboratory Port Elizabeth was successfully accredited during 2001. Accredited laboratories have to uphold a very high degree of quality to remain accredited. A team of professionals inspects the laboratory every 2 years and other quality assurance staff inspects the laboratories every few months. All aspects of the laboratory are checked, e.g. the qualification of staff, their registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), their curriculum vitaes, equipment, safety of the laboratory etc. Since the laboratory chosen for this study, is accredited, the author evaluated every cervical smear that was received in the laboratory since the year 2000, with the following objectives in mind: · Whether the presence or absence of an endocervical component has an effect on the adequacy of cervical smears · To determine the effect of using smaller coverslips on quality assurance in the cytology laboratory · Evaluate the effect that manual re-screening of smears has on quality assurance in the cytology laboratory. As there is a shortage of cytotechnologists and pathologists worldwide, several countries make use of automated screening devices as primary screening or secondary screening for quality assurance. These devices were tested in some laboratories in South Africa but were found to be very expensive and sensitivity and specificity were not up to standard. Sensitivity is a measure of the ability of a test to detect the abnormal - Sensitivity is the ratio of true positives to true positives + false negatives. Specificity is a measure of the ability of a test to correctly identify the negative - Specificity is the ratio of true negative to true negatives + false positives. The automated screening machines failed to identify abnormal cells amongst inflammatory cells, as well as in very blood stained smears. Several other problems also occurred and an increasing number of smears had to be manually rescreened, thus making this exercise costly and not helpful as a quality assurance instrument. The slides used for this thesis, have been retrieved from the archives of the Ampath laboratory in Port Elizabeth. Fourteen specific contributing factors affecting quality assurance in the diagnosis of cervical smears are also discussed and conclusions and recommendations given.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2005
A methodology for measuring and monitoring IT risk
- Authors: Tansley, Natalie Vanessa
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Electronic data processing departments -- Security measures , Business -- Data processing -- Security measures , Information resources management , Information technology -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9781 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/772 , Electronic data processing departments -- Security measures , Business -- Data processing -- Security measures , Information resources management , Information technology -- Security measures
- Description: The primary objective of the research is to develop a methodology for monitoring and measuring IT risks, strictly focusing on internal controls. The research delivers a methodology whereby an organization can measure its system of internal controls, providing assurance that the risks are at an acceptable level. To achieve the primary objective a number of secondary objectives were addressed: What are the drivers forcing organizations to better corporate governance in managing risk? What is IT risk management, specifically focusing on operational risk. What is internal control and specifically focusing on COSO’s internal control process. Investigation of measurement methods, such as, Balance Scorecards, Critical Success Factors, Maturity Models, Key Performance Indicators and Key Goal Indicators. Investigation of various frameworks such as CobiT, COSO and ISO 17799, ITIL and BS 7799 as to how they manage IT risk relating to internal control.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Work-readiness of university graduates: a professional accounting educational expectation gap in South Africa
- Authors: Schoeman, Lynn Antoinette
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Accountants -- Employment -- South Africa -- Students , College graduates -- Employment -- South Africa School-to-work transition -- South Africa Employability -- South Africa -- Students
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/20455 , vital:29288
- Description: The constant change in the business environment versus the curriculum content of accounting educational programmes result in a possible gap between the competencies gained by students who complete their degree qualifications compared to the expectations of employers of these entering trainee accountants. However, the universities do endeavour to teach students the syllabus that will provide them with sufficient information and skills to be able to complete the tasks expected from them without much learning following university. Universities face increasing pressure to ensure graduates are equipped with the right employability skills (Osmani, Weerakkody & Hindi, 2017) yet literature show that graduates entering the workforce are not sufficiently equipped with all the necessary non-technical skills required by the accounting profession (Fouché, 2013). The research for this study was guided by the question whether universities sufficiently prepare entering trainee accountants with regards to work-readiness skills and whether a gap exists between the level of work-readiness skills expected by employers in professional accounting practice, and the actual level of capability of these skills transferred through the formal professional accounting educational programmes offered by universities in South Africa. Published literature reviewed on the work-readiness of graduates showed that an educational gap could exist between the skills required by employees and the skills that entering trainee accountants possess. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather data from supervisors and/or coordinators from Accredited Training Centres (ATCs) in the Nelson Mandela Bay Region of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) on their perception of the level of capability expected of entering trainee accountants. The findings of this study showed that the universities provide entering trainee accountants with sufficient knowledge insofar as their technical abilities are concerned. However, employers perceive entering trainee accountants‟ capabilities in terms of their work-readiness skills, as insufficient.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017