An evaluation of the implementation of capacity building strategies in the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi
- Authors: Chowawa, Rosemary Shanice
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Medical care -- Malawi , Public health -- Malawi , Health services accessibility -- Malawi , Community development -- Malawi , Strategic planning -- Malawi , Human services -- Malawi , Administration , Capacity -- Capacity building , Efficiency -- Effectiveness , Management -- Public administration , Organising -- Planning , Policy making
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11673 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007122 , Medical care -- Malawi , Public health -- Malawi , Health services accessibility -- Malawi , Community development -- Malawi , Strategic planning -- Malawi , Human services -- Malawi , Administration , Capacity -- Capacity building , Efficiency -- Effectiveness , Management -- Public administration , Organising -- Planning , Policy making
- Description: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of implementing capacity building strategies on the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi. The study intended to determine why a lack of quality services is still prevailing in the health services in the central region despite implementing capacity building strategies aimed at improving the delivery of health services. In addition to this, to come up with recommendations to improve the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies so that the implementation results in the intended impact, that is efficient and effective provision of health services in the central region of Malawi. The studies reviewed what various scholars have written on capacity building in order to ground capacity building in Public Administration and provide the study with a conceptual, theoretical and legislative framework. This enabled the researcher to describe the nature and place of capacity building in Public Administration. It was evident from the review that the implementation of capacity building strategies is a systematic process which requires that chief officials follow all the steps in order to effectively and efficiently implement the capacity building strategies so that the intended impact is achieved. In this regard, capacity building is a management function which requires that chief officials play an enabling role by providing the necessary resources (both human and financial) and policies that support the implementation of capacity building strategies. The study used both quantitative and qualitative research methods whereby thirty-five respondents composed of political office-bearers and chief officials from Lilongwe, Dedza, Mchinji and Dowa districts and Ministry of Health Headquarters in the central region of Malawi were given self-administered questionnaires to complete. Face-to-face interviews and document analysis were also used as research methods. The intention was to determine the problems that are being experienced in the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies and find out if the strategies are resulting in the intended impact. The study findings confirmed that there are indeed problems being experienced in the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies, namely: inadequate human and financial resources, corruption, political interference, lack of consultation with stakeholders and lack of political will to make sure that the implementation of the capacity building strategies is effectively and efficiently done. It was also revealed that the implementation of the existing capacity building strategies is impacting negatively on the provision of health services in the central region of Malawi, hence indicating a need to change in approach. The study concludes that in order for the capacity building strategies to achieve the intended impact there is a need to broaden the scope of the legal framework on health capacity building strategies in Malawi, enforce the use of performance standards and improve the operational framework to gain efficiencies and effectiveness from current investments in capacity building.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Assessing the effectivity of poverty eradication strategies on communities in the Eastern Cape province: the case of Ngqushwa local Municipality in Amathole District (2008- 2011)
- Authors: Seyisi, Sakhumzi Patrick
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11658 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007042
- Description: This study explored information about the strategies on communities to eradicate poverty through interactive process with relevant sources. An expedient sample of participants was drawn from strategic position that deal with poverty eradication in the area of Amathole District in Ngqushwa Local Municipality, Eastern Cape. The collection of data was done though focus groups, questionnaires, scheduled interviews, and observation. The results acquired from the analysed thesis of the study signify that the poverty alleviation projects are confronted with diverse challenges that impede their potential growth and long term viability. Key to these constraints are issues pertaining to lack of capacity from project members, lack of resources, lack of financial and project management skills.The study was useful in assessing the strategies so as to draw logical strength and wisdom to provide lasting solution to the problem facing poverty alleviation projects. At a broader scale, the future of these projects I guaranteed integrated approach , resource provision, capacity enhancement and shared understanding in conceptualization of poverty alleviation projects. The identified challenges can be resolved provided that, the Ngqushwa Municipalities and the Department of Social Development, as a champion of poverty alleviation of integrated developmental approach. This noble objective can be achieved if other government department, institutions and spheres are also committed to cause.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Implementation of the Zimbabwe National Orphan Care Policy: implications of partnership between government and civil society
- Authors: Chimange, Mizeck
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Political participation -- Zimbabwe , Civil service -- Zimbabwe , Political leadership -- Zimbabwe , Public administration -- Zimbabwe -- Citizen participation , Orphanages -- Zimbabwe , Orphans -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Politics and government , Zimbabwe -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11435 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007188 , Political participation -- Zimbabwe , Civil service -- Zimbabwe , Political leadership -- Zimbabwe , Public administration -- Zimbabwe -- Citizen participation , Orphanages -- Zimbabwe , Orphans -- Zimbabwe , Zimbabwe -- Politics and government , Zimbabwe -- Social conditions
- Description: The study focused on the exploration of the implication of partnership between the government and civil society organizations in the implementation of the Zimbabwe National Orphan Care Policy (ZNOCP). The study was carried out in Masvingo District in Zimbabwe to explore on the feasibility of inter-organizational interaction in policy implementation and how it affects the service delivery system. The study incorporated government departments, civil society organizations and ward councillors who stood as the custodians of the people. The study was intended on unveiling the different contextual aspects that exist between government departments and civil-society organizations (CSOs) as individual and separate entities and how the compromising of their values would affect the partnership. Looking at the hierarchical and bureaucratic features of government institutions, the study also intended to understand how this could be concealed and compromised with CSOs‟ open agendas in public policy implementation to ensure effective service delivery to the people. The 5C protocol, critical variables in policy implementation which are policy content, context, capacity, commitment of those entrusted with the implementation process and also clients and coalitions were used as the yardsticks. These variables acted as a yardstick on which to analyze the partnership between the Zimbabwean government and the civil society in the implementation of the Z.N.O.C.P, their different attitudes, bureaucratic settings, organizational culture, values, norms, and how their readjustments or failure affect the service delivery system. It also became imperative to look at the government legislations that govern the CSO space of operation and financial aspects to understand the implications of partnership between government and civil society. An understanding of these aspects leads to an increased understanding of the feasibility of state-CSO partnerships and its implications on policy implementation.
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- Date Issued: 2012
The mediating role of mobile technology in the linkage between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty
- Authors: Chihombori, Rumbidzai Anna
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Mobile commerce , Mobile communication systems , Customer services -- Management , Customer relations , Customer loyalty , Customer services -- Evaluation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Com (Business Management)
- Identifier: vital:11324 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1013388 , Mobile commerce , Mobile communication systems , Customer services -- Management , Customer relations , Customer loyalty , Customer services -- Evaluation
- Description: The main objective of this study was to critically investigate the mediating role that the use of mobile technology plays in the linkage between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in a semi-urban environment. The research problem focused on the application of mobile technology in the linkage between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in the clothing industry in King Williams Town. In accomplishing this objective, this research study hypothesised that mobile technology plays a mediating role in the linkage between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty of customers of clothing retailers in South Africa. Multiple regression was conducted to test for the first hypothesis. The first secondary objective aimed at establishing if there is disconfirmation between customer expectations and the performance of clothing retail outlets in King Williams Town. In exploring this objective, it was hypothesised that there is negative disconfirmation between customer expectations and performance. A paired sample test was conducted to test for this hypothesis. In addition, the influence of service quality and customer satisfaction on customer loyalty was explored. To accomplish these, it was hypothesised that both service quality and customer satisfaction have an influence on customer loyalty. Pearson’s Correlation and the Chi-Square Test were applied to test the influence of service quality and Customer satisfaction on Customer loyalty. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical software. Regression analysis, chi-square tests, Paired sample tests and correlation reports were used to analyse data inferentially. Reliability and validity of the research was also tested using Cronchbach’s alpha test. The results show that mobile phones have become a basic necessity for customers and that mobile technology plays a mediating role in the linkage between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty; however, the mediation is partial. The results also show that there is positive disconfirmation between customer expectations and retailer performance; that both service quality and customer satisfaction have a positive correlation with customer loyalty and that mobile technology enhances customer loyalty. Finally, the results show that the total service experience of customers is favourable vii because the five components of service quality were rendered at a high level of service quality. The study offers several managerial recommendations. Firstly, retail managers should make strategic investments in mobile technology and use this technology to the full to reap the benefits of technologically advanced mobile communication. Secondly, managers should be creative in their use of this mobile technology to enhance customer satisfaction and, hence, customer loyalty. Thirdly, managers should prioritise the improvement of all five components of service quality in order to enhance customer loyalty. Finally, managers should provide a customer-centred service experience that exceeds customer expectations for service quality and mobile communication, one that maximises customer satisfaction and loyalty. The implementation of these recommendations could result in clothing retailers providing a customer-focused service experience in all five aspects of service quality. To successfully implement these recommendations, clothing retailers should: ensure that expectations created, could be accomplished or exceeded to build and enhance customer satisfaction; create expectations that are realistic to avoid negative disconfirmation and hence customer dissatisfaction; implement innovative and creative mobile communication strategies to build and enhance customer loyalty; and finally, improve loyalty programmes to enlarge the customer base.
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- Date Issued: 2012
An evaluation of employee assistance programmes and the impact of workplace wellness on employee productivity: a case study of the Eastern Cape Provincial (2007-2012)
- Authors: Mazantsana, Nomzamo
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee assistance programs -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee empowerment , Employee health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MPA
- Identifier: vital:11657 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007041 , Labor turnover -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee assistance programs -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee empowerment , Employee health promotion -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: An employee wellness programme is a programme that promotes and supports the well-being of its employees and is aimed at increasing productivity. Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) are used as a means of ensuring employee wellness. Employee Assistance Programme can be defined as a programme aimed at improving the quality of life of employees and their families by providing support and helping to alleviate the impact of everyday work and personal problems. EAPs are intended to help employees deal with their personal problems that might adversely impact their work performance, health and well-being. The main goal of the EAP is to enhance productivity as well as social functioning of individuals.The main objective of the study as to evaluate the Employee Assistance Programmes and the impact of Workplace Wellness on employee performance in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature. This was triggered by the fact that Wellness and EAPs are not visible in the ECPL and the Legislature continues to lose employees due to ill-health and resignations. The institution is characterised by a culture of “us” and “them”, us, referring to Labour and them to Management, and therefore resulting in low staff morale. This raised some concern from the researcher as there is an EAP paid for by the Legislature, but awareness, utilisation and effectiveness of the programme remain a challenge. Due to the nature of the institution’s core business, it is perhaps even more vital for the Legislature to create an organisational culture of caring and employees to be nurtured. It is believed that it is more cost effective and beneficial to both the employer and the employee to retain trained employees, than it is to lose troubled employees and hire new ones, in particular because there is no guarantee that the new ones will not, in time also show signs of problems. The researcher used applied research in this study to explore the need for the EAP as well as how best the programme can be implemented. A combination of an explanatory-descriptive design was used for this study because little is known about the phenomenon or programme. For this research, the researcher used a combination of interval/systematic and random sampling to complement each other in reducing any bias that has the potential of occurring when applying interval/systematic sampling. To get representation and precision, the researcher divided 285 employees according to their ranks. The results from this attempt were: Secretariat=25, Management=42, Administrative staff=196, General Workers=33 NEHAWU Shopstewards=10. The researcher then divided employees in each respective category by one tenth or 10% of each category to get the number of respondents from each category to be included in the sample and added up all categories to get the sample size. The sample of this study was thus, Secretariat=1, Management=4, Administrative staff=20, General workers=3 and NEHAWU Shopstewards=1 and made up a sample size of 29. Only one questionnaire was compiled for all the respondents because EAP recognise that employees start from the CEO of a company to the lowest paid employee in that company and, as such considers all employees to be equal. Research results indicated that there are some limitations in the utilisation of EAP and that employees are faced with both personal and work-related problems. Thus it became clear that the whole concept of Employee Wellness and Employee Assistance Programmes needed to be overhauled and restructured to ensure maximum benefit.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Adapting to climate change to achieve household food security: a case study of small-scale farmers at Dzindi smallholder irrigation scheme in the Limpopo Province of South Africa
- Authors: Chigavazira, Blessing Munyaradzi
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Limpopo , Food security -- South Africa -- Limpopo , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Limpopo , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Limpopo , Irrigation farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Irrigation projects -- South Africa -- Limpopo
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (Dev)
- Identifier: vital:11434 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007186 , Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Limpopo , Food security -- South Africa -- Limpopo , Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Limpopo , Sustainable agriculture -- South Africa -- Limpopo , Irrigation farming -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Irrigation projects -- South Africa -- Limpopo
- Description: This dissertation explored adaptation mechanisms and adaptation options employed by rural small-scale farmers at Dzindi Irrigation Scheme to achieve food security in the midst of climate change as well as reflecting on the role of the state in building capacity of rural small-scale farmers to adapt to climate change. The study employed qualitative research techniques and data was obtained through semi-structured interviews with 40 small-scale farmers at Dzindi smallholder irrigation scheme.Irrigation control, high yielding crop varieties (HYVs), drought resistant crop varieties, drip irrigation are among a host of adaptation strategies successfully employed by farmers at Dzindi. These strategies have been effective in giving the farmers a lifeline in terms of household food supply and income.However, lack of funding, modern infrastructure and equipment has hampered adaptation efforts at the scheme. This has been compounded by lack of support from the Government. Government seemingly has not done enough to capacitate and assist famers to adapt to climate change.
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- Date Issued: 2012
Perceived organisational support (POS), Job engagement (JE) and their effect on organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) among nurses at the Victoria Hospital, Alice, Nkonkobe Municipality
- Authors: Dumisani, Mathumbu
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Perceived Organization Support , Job Engagement , Organizational Citizenship Behavior
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom (Industrial Psychology)
- Identifier: vital:11552 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1007032 , Municipal government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Local government -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nurses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Nursing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Job stress -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employee retention -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Employees -- Training of -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Perceived Organization Support , Job Engagement , Organizational Citizenship Behavior
- Description: Wendel (1994, p. 91) defined perceived organizational support (POS) as “organization support in terms of all things that relate to assistance and relationships amongst working peers and colleagues, which involve the feeling of need between superiors and subordinates . Rothbard (2001, p. 656) in defining job engagement (JE) listed two components which he thought were critical for its effectiveness on organizational functioning: (i) attention and (ii) absorption, with the former referring to “cognitive ability and the amount of time one spends thinking about the role”, while the latter “means being engrossed in a role and means the intensity of one’s focus on a role”. Organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) was first introduced by Organ in the 1980s and he defined the concept of organizational citizenship behavior “as discretionary behaviors by individuals (employees) that do not form part of formal requirements of a job, but are necessary and promote effective functioning of the organization (Organ, 1988)”. The objective of study was to explore the relationship between perceived organizational support and job engagement and their effect organizational citizenship behavior. Other relationships that were tested were first, the direct relationship between POS JE. Secondly, the combined effect of POS and JE on OCB. The study was conducted amongst nurses at Victoria hospital, in Alice within the Nkonkobe district municipality. The results showed a significant relationship between JE and OCB, whilst the relationship between POS and OCB was not accepted. The results for the other two hypotheses that were tested; (i) relationship between POS and JE, (ii) combined effect of POS and JE on OCB also showed that they were not accepted. The consistency scores for these variables were of international level (n=106). The Pearson correlation coefficients were used for hypothesis testing.
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- Date Issued: 2012