An investigation of ICT project management techniques for sustainable ICT projects in rural development
- Authors: Pade, Caroline Ileje
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Project management -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Case studies , Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project , Dwesa ICT Project
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002769 , Educational technology -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Project management -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Case studies , Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project , Dwesa ICT Project
- Description: Poverty alleviation by means of rural development has become a priority among developing countries. In turn, rural development may be significantly enhanced and supported by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), the use of which is highlighted by the emerging importance of information and knowledge as key strategic resources for social and economic development. An analysis of rural case studies where ICTs have been introduced, suggests that there are a number of barriers and constraints that are faced when taking advantage of these technologies. These include access to infrastructure, limited formal education, insufficient training and capacity building, financial and political constraints, and social and cultural challenges. These challenges threaten the success and sustainability of rural ICT projects. Sustainability is key to the effectiveness of a rural ICT project; therefore it is important to understand the concept and categories associated with ICT project sustainability in rural areas. The categories of sustainability which include social and cultural, institutional, economic, political, and technological, reveal critical success factors that need to be considered in the implementation and management of rural ICT projects. The project management discipline acknowledges the importance of understanding the project’s environment, particularly environmental factors associated with rural communities. The complexity of the environment therefore implies the need for a project to be undertaken in phases comprising the project life cycle. Project management practice for rural ICT project sustainability can therefore be examined, adapting the traditional project life cycle to a rural ICT project. A Rural ICT Project Life Cycle (RICT-PLC) that is sensitive to the critical success factors of sustainability is therefore proposed. In order to further investigate the phases of the life cycle of a rural ICT project, two case study investigations are explored: the Dwesa ICT community project, and the Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project (RUMEP) (MathsNet). A multiple case study analysis confirms the practices associated with the RICT-PLC model, and identifies additional characteristics, phases and practices associated with rural ICT projects. Finally, an enhanced RICT-PLC model is developed, that sets sustainability guidelines for ICT project management in rural areas and identifies the people, environments, technologies, systems, and requirements for ICTs to support rural development activities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Pade, Caroline Ileje
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Educational technology -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Project management -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Case studies , Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project , Dwesa ICT Project
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002769 , Educational technology -- South Africa , Information technology -- Study and teaching -- South Africa , Project management -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa , Rural development projects -- South Africa -- Case studies , Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project , Dwesa ICT Project
- Description: Poverty alleviation by means of rural development has become a priority among developing countries. In turn, rural development may be significantly enhanced and supported by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), the use of which is highlighted by the emerging importance of information and knowledge as key strategic resources for social and economic development. An analysis of rural case studies where ICTs have been introduced, suggests that there are a number of barriers and constraints that are faced when taking advantage of these technologies. These include access to infrastructure, limited formal education, insufficient training and capacity building, financial and political constraints, and social and cultural challenges. These challenges threaten the success and sustainability of rural ICT projects. Sustainability is key to the effectiveness of a rural ICT project; therefore it is important to understand the concept and categories associated with ICT project sustainability in rural areas. The categories of sustainability which include social and cultural, institutional, economic, political, and technological, reveal critical success factors that need to be considered in the implementation and management of rural ICT projects. The project management discipline acknowledges the importance of understanding the project’s environment, particularly environmental factors associated with rural communities. The complexity of the environment therefore implies the need for a project to be undertaken in phases comprising the project life cycle. Project management practice for rural ICT project sustainability can therefore be examined, adapting the traditional project life cycle to a rural ICT project. A Rural ICT Project Life Cycle (RICT-PLC) that is sensitive to the critical success factors of sustainability is therefore proposed. In order to further investigate the phases of the life cycle of a rural ICT project, two case study investigations are explored: the Dwesa ICT community project, and the Rhodes University Mathematics Education Project (RUMEP) (MathsNet). A multiple case study analysis confirms the practices associated with the RICT-PLC model, and identifies additional characteristics, phases and practices associated with rural ICT projects. Finally, an enhanced RICT-PLC model is developed, that sets sustainability guidelines for ICT project management in rural areas and identifies the people, environments, technologies, systems, and requirements for ICTs to support rural development activities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A comparison between the game and hunting industries in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Kobus, Louann
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Big game hunting -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Big game hunting -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hunting -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Hunting -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Game farms -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10590 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011724 , Big game hunting -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Big game hunting -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hunting -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Hunting -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Game farms -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The objectives of this research, were to investigate the characteristics and develop a profile of the game and hunting industries of KwaZulu-Natal, and to undertake a comparison between the game and hunting industries in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The comparative part of this study was completed using results obtained from a study done in 2002 in the Eastern Cape (van Niekerk, 2002). The main farming activities in KwaZulu-Natal are large livestock production and sugar cane production. In recent years, private landowners in KwaZulu-Natal have undergone a transition from livestock production to game ranching due to the problems faced and the cost implications of the HIV epidemic, stock theft, difficulties faced with changes in the labour laws and the increasing number of land claims against farmers. Although the game and hunting industries are relatively young industries in KwaZulu-Natal they contribute significantly to the economy of the province. Not only is greater conservation of the biodiversity more effective in game ranching but it is also proving to yield great economic returns. The increase in game ranching in recent years is namely due to the monetary value placed on wildlife, the increased value in ecotourism and its value as an earner of foreign exchange, less dependency on unskilled labour than that of livestock farming and lower rates of animal loss through theft compared to that of livestock farming. In KwaZulu-Natal game numbers indicate that impala have the greatest population amongst the respondents, followed by nyala, blesbok, common reedbuck, kudu and blue wildebeest, whilst other game species occur in smaller numbers. Respondents in KwaZulu-Natal indicate that nyala is the largest economic earner for them followed by buffalo, whereas in the Eastern Cape (2002), kudu and springbok provide the greatest income for the province. In KwaZulu-Natal income generated from hunting is second to that of live game sales compared to the Eastern Cape (2002) where hunting is the most important form of game utilisation in terms of income generated. At the time of this study, respondents in KwaZulu-Natal reported an income of R 15 382 397 generated from live sales and R 13 561 459 from hunting. These respondents also indicated that the total value of game utilised annually was in excess of R 30 million. Although game utilisation is occurring on a sustainable basis, there is room for greater utilisation of some game species which, if undertaken correctly, can increase the revenue for the province significantly and also contribute positively to further sustainability of the game populations. KwaZulu-Natal’s competitive advantage is derived from the fact that there is an abundance of game on the ranches, quality trophy animals are available, the number of game species available for hunting and quality of service rendered to hunters by the professional hunters and ranch owners. This study has clearly shown that there is a need for further investigation into the game and hunting industries in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Kobus, Louann
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Big game hunting -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Big game hunting -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hunting -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Hunting -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Game farms -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10590 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011724 , Big game hunting -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Big game hunting -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Hunting -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Hunting -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Game farms -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal , Game farms -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The objectives of this research, were to investigate the characteristics and develop a profile of the game and hunting industries of KwaZulu-Natal, and to undertake a comparison between the game and hunting industries in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The comparative part of this study was completed using results obtained from a study done in 2002 in the Eastern Cape (van Niekerk, 2002). The main farming activities in KwaZulu-Natal are large livestock production and sugar cane production. In recent years, private landowners in KwaZulu-Natal have undergone a transition from livestock production to game ranching due to the problems faced and the cost implications of the HIV epidemic, stock theft, difficulties faced with changes in the labour laws and the increasing number of land claims against farmers. Although the game and hunting industries are relatively young industries in KwaZulu-Natal they contribute significantly to the economy of the province. Not only is greater conservation of the biodiversity more effective in game ranching but it is also proving to yield great economic returns. The increase in game ranching in recent years is namely due to the monetary value placed on wildlife, the increased value in ecotourism and its value as an earner of foreign exchange, less dependency on unskilled labour than that of livestock farming and lower rates of animal loss through theft compared to that of livestock farming. In KwaZulu-Natal game numbers indicate that impala have the greatest population amongst the respondents, followed by nyala, blesbok, common reedbuck, kudu and blue wildebeest, whilst other game species occur in smaller numbers. Respondents in KwaZulu-Natal indicate that nyala is the largest economic earner for them followed by buffalo, whereas in the Eastern Cape (2002), kudu and springbok provide the greatest income for the province. In KwaZulu-Natal income generated from hunting is second to that of live game sales compared to the Eastern Cape (2002) where hunting is the most important form of game utilisation in terms of income generated. At the time of this study, respondents in KwaZulu-Natal reported an income of R 15 382 397 generated from live sales and R 13 561 459 from hunting. These respondents also indicated that the total value of game utilised annually was in excess of R 30 million. Although game utilisation is occurring on a sustainable basis, there is room for greater utilisation of some game species which, if undertaken correctly, can increase the revenue for the province significantly and also contribute positively to further sustainability of the game populations. KwaZulu-Natal’s competitive advantage is derived from the fact that there is an abundance of game on the ranches, quality trophy animals are available, the number of game species available for hunting and quality of service rendered to hunters by the professional hunters and ranch owners. This study has clearly shown that there is a need for further investigation into the game and hunting industries in KwaZulu-Natal.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The effects of selected reference toxicants on embryonic development of the freshwater shrimp caridina nilotica (Decapoda: Atyidae)
- Authors: Ketse, Noziphiwo
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Toxicity testing -- South Africa , Shrimp fisheries -- South Africa , Decapoda , Caridina , Water quality management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:6025 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005367 , Toxicity testing -- South Africa , Shrimp fisheries -- South Africa , Decapoda , Caridina , Water quality management -- South Africa
- Description: Aquatic toxicity tests are increasingly being used in water resource management worldwide, and currently in South Africa, policy and legislation are being drafted to reflect this international trend. While standard toxicity test methods and test organisms are being considered to develop and set water quality guidelines and effluent discharge limits, it is not clear whether guidelines and discharge limits set using these standard test organisms will be sufficient to protect South Africa’s scarce water resources. As part of ongoing research to investigate the use of indigenous riverine organisms as toxicity test organisms a number of potential species have been identified, including the freshwater shrimp Caridina nilotica. For much of the history of aquatic toxicological data the bulk of the data has been generated by acute toxicity testing, based on short exposures and using mortality as the response end point. There are relatively few chronic, longterm tests with sub-lethal endpoints. However, it was recognized that information about longer exposure durations and non lethal response endpoints was needed, instead of mortality. Chronic tests can provide a more environmentally realistic measure of chemical toxicity than acute toxicity tests. Caridina nilotica has been identified as a potential standard toxicity test organism, as it is widely distributed, easy to find and it occurs in flowing waters. It is an indigenous species which can be easily cultured and maintained in the laboratory and is also ecologically important. Both adults and juveniles have been used successfully in acute toxicity tests at the Institute for Water Research (Rhodes University) and the ability to rear the organisms under laboratory conditions has allowed the development of chronic toxicity tests using C. nilotica. Chronic early life stage tests include continuous exposure of the early life stages, which are presumed to be the most sensitive for aquatic organisms. This study reports on the embryonic development of C. nilotica at the culture temperature of 24⁰C. Morphological developmental stages were monitored and measured and 7 developmental stages were identified. Based on the measurements of the features that were identified, toxicity tests using the reference chemicals sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium sulphate (Na₂SO₄) and cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) were undertaken to test the suitability of C. nilotica embryonic development for chronic toxicity tests for use in water resource management. The length, width, length:width ratios and area of the features decreased in size when exposed to the chemicals. The Lowest Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC) values were 2000mg/L for Na₂SO₄, 3000mg/L for NaCl and 0.31mg/L for CdCl₂. The No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) values were 1000mg/L for Na₂SO₄, 2000mg/L for NaCl and <0.31mg/L for CdCl₂. Further research on the teratogenic effects of single chemicals and industrial effluent on developing C. nilotica embryos needs to be undertaken in order to evaluate the described test protocol for use in water resource management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Ketse, Noziphiwo
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Toxicity testing -- South Africa , Shrimp fisheries -- South Africa , Decapoda , Caridina , Water quality management -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:6025 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005367 , Toxicity testing -- South Africa , Shrimp fisheries -- South Africa , Decapoda , Caridina , Water quality management -- South Africa
- Description: Aquatic toxicity tests are increasingly being used in water resource management worldwide, and currently in South Africa, policy and legislation are being drafted to reflect this international trend. While standard toxicity test methods and test organisms are being considered to develop and set water quality guidelines and effluent discharge limits, it is not clear whether guidelines and discharge limits set using these standard test organisms will be sufficient to protect South Africa’s scarce water resources. As part of ongoing research to investigate the use of indigenous riverine organisms as toxicity test organisms a number of potential species have been identified, including the freshwater shrimp Caridina nilotica. For much of the history of aquatic toxicological data the bulk of the data has been generated by acute toxicity testing, based on short exposures and using mortality as the response end point. There are relatively few chronic, longterm tests with sub-lethal endpoints. However, it was recognized that information about longer exposure durations and non lethal response endpoints was needed, instead of mortality. Chronic tests can provide a more environmentally realistic measure of chemical toxicity than acute toxicity tests. Caridina nilotica has been identified as a potential standard toxicity test organism, as it is widely distributed, easy to find and it occurs in flowing waters. It is an indigenous species which can be easily cultured and maintained in the laboratory and is also ecologically important. Both adults and juveniles have been used successfully in acute toxicity tests at the Institute for Water Research (Rhodes University) and the ability to rear the organisms under laboratory conditions has allowed the development of chronic toxicity tests using C. nilotica. Chronic early life stage tests include continuous exposure of the early life stages, which are presumed to be the most sensitive for aquatic organisms. This study reports on the embryonic development of C. nilotica at the culture temperature of 24⁰C. Morphological developmental stages were monitored and measured and 7 developmental stages were identified. Based on the measurements of the features that were identified, toxicity tests using the reference chemicals sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium sulphate (Na₂SO₄) and cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) were undertaken to test the suitability of C. nilotica embryonic development for chronic toxicity tests for use in water resource management. The length, width, length:width ratios and area of the features decreased in size when exposed to the chemicals. The Lowest Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC) values were 2000mg/L for Na₂SO₄, 3000mg/L for NaCl and 0.31mg/L for CdCl₂. The No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) values were 1000mg/L for Na₂SO₄, 2000mg/L for NaCl and <0.31mg/L for CdCl₂. Further research on the teratogenic effects of single chemicals and industrial effluent on developing C. nilotica embryos needs to be undertaken in order to evaluate the described test protocol for use in water resource management.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A study of the conflict between maintenance and production functions in a manufacturing organisation in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Petronio, Riccardo Vinicio
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/794 , Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: If manufacturing organisations are to improve their competitive positions in the global arena and increase profitability, their operations strategies need to be focused on: reducing cost, improving quality, increasing efficiency, improving the speed of delivery, developing and improving process flexibility, and ensuring that higher service levels are achieved and maintained. One of the critical success factors in implementing these strategies, within manufacturing organisations, is the relationship that exists between the maintenance and production functions. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that in many manufacturing organisations, the relationship that exists between these two functions is usually one of conflict, which if left unmanaged or unresolved has the potential to severely hamper effectiveness, productivity, creativity, and profitability of the organisation. The overall purpose of this research was to identify the interventions that manufacturing organisations can pursue, to effectively manage and resolve the conflict between the production and maintenance functions, in order to improve their competitive position in the global economy. The study was conducted in one particular manufacturing organisation in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. A research questionnaire was used as a means for collecting empirical data. The research questionnaire included various instruments used by previous conflict researchers, to identify and analyse the following dimensions of conflict within the organisation: conflict management styles used, the types of conflict perceived, and the amount of conflict perceived. The questionnaire was also designed to identify the sources of conflict, collect demographic information, identify issues relating to diversity, and indicate the respondents’ preferences to various organisational reporting structures. The results of the survey revealed key findings, which enabled the researcher to draw meaningful conclusions, and make recommendations as to how organisations can effectively manage and resolve the conflict that exists between maintenance and production functions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Petronio, Riccardo Vinicio
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8737 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/794 , Conflict management -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Supervision of employees -- South AFrica -- Port Elizabeth
- Description: If manufacturing organisations are to improve their competitive positions in the global arena and increase profitability, their operations strategies need to be focused on: reducing cost, improving quality, increasing efficiency, improving the speed of delivery, developing and improving process flexibility, and ensuring that higher service levels are achieved and maintained. One of the critical success factors in implementing these strategies, within manufacturing organisations, is the relationship that exists between the maintenance and production functions. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that in many manufacturing organisations, the relationship that exists between these two functions is usually one of conflict, which if left unmanaged or unresolved has the potential to severely hamper effectiveness, productivity, creativity, and profitability of the organisation. The overall purpose of this research was to identify the interventions that manufacturing organisations can pursue, to effectively manage and resolve the conflict between the production and maintenance functions, in order to improve their competitive position in the global economy. The study was conducted in one particular manufacturing organisation in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. A research questionnaire was used as a means for collecting empirical data. The research questionnaire included various instruments used by previous conflict researchers, to identify and analyse the following dimensions of conflict within the organisation: conflict management styles used, the types of conflict perceived, and the amount of conflict perceived. The questionnaire was also designed to identify the sources of conflict, collect demographic information, identify issues relating to diversity, and indicate the respondents’ preferences to various organisational reporting structures. The results of the survey revealed key findings, which enabled the researcher to draw meaningful conclusions, and make recommendations as to how organisations can effectively manage and resolve the conflict that exists between maintenance and production functions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The role of aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) as ecosystem engineers in arid and semi-arid landscapes of South Africa
- Whittington-Jones, Gareth Morgan
- Authors: Whittington-Jones, Gareth Morgan
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Aardvark , Aardvark -- South Africa , Aardvark -- South Africa -- Habitations , Animal burrowing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5757 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005445 , Aardvark , Aardvark -- South Africa , Aardvark -- South Africa -- Habitations , Animal burrowing
- Description: Arid and semi arid environments are characterised by extreme fluctuations in temperature and low rainfall which present significant challenges to the animals inhabiting these areas. Mammals, such as aardvarks (Orycteropus afer, Pallas 1766), excavate burrows in order to avoid predators and climatic extremes and are termed “ecosystem engineers” as they physically modify their environment and in doing so create new habitats and alter the availability of resources to other species. In this study I assessed the microhabitat conditions (maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity and seed abundance) of aardvark burrows in relation to paired control sites. In addition, I evaluated the use of aardvark burrows by other vertebrate and invertebrate species and investigated the impact of aardvark burrow mounds on landscape scale floristic diversity. Maximum temperatures were significantly lower (p < 0.05) and minimum temperatures and midday humidity were significantly higher (p < 0.05) inside the burrows at the three study sites, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve (Kwandwe), Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP) and Tswalu Kalahari Reserve (Tswalu). There were no significant differences between the concentration of seeds, the average numbers of unique individual small mammals, trap success or small mammal species richness recorded inside the burrows compared to outside (p > 0.05). At all three sites, small mammal species diversity was higher in the burrows but this result was also not significant (p > 0.05 for all). Trap success and the number of individuals captured was higher at Tswalu than the other two sites (p < 0.05 for both). The different methods used in this study revealed a total of 25 mammal, seven bird, one amphibian and six reptile species utilising aardvark burrows. There were significant differences in insect community assemblages between the burrows and open control areas at Kwandwe and Tswalu (p < 0.05 for both) but not at MZNP (p > 0.05). The parasitic guild was more prominent inside the burrows than outside but their abundance was not as high as anticipated, possibly due to the placement of traps closer to the burrow entrances than the sleeping chambers. The complex structure of the burrows prevented the placement of traps in close proximity to the sleeping chambers. As expected, the amount of bare earth was significantly higher on active and recently abandoned burrow mounds compared to the old burrow mounds and reference plots at all three sites (p < 0.05 for all), with the exception of the active burrows at Tswalu. Overall, the different plot types were characterised by significantly different plant communities during all the seasons at MZNP, during three of the seasons at Kwandwe and only during winter at Tswalu. The total species richness recorded on the reference plots was higher than on the burrow mounds at all three sites. However, species diversity on the reference plots was not significantly higher than the burrows at any of the sites (p > 0.05 for all sites). Although the results were not significant, the overall species diversity at a site level was greater than the reference patches at Kwandwe and Tswalu (p > 0.05 for both). Aardvarks fulfil the criteria of a significant ecosystem engineer and their presence in arid and semi-arid environments is likely to be critical to the survival of other individual organisms and species, particularly when alternative burrowing animals are either absent or restricted in their activities. Thus, aardvark populations should be considered a conservation priority in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Whittington-Jones, Gareth Morgan
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Aardvark , Aardvark -- South Africa , Aardvark -- South Africa -- Habitations , Animal burrowing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:5757 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005445 , Aardvark , Aardvark -- South Africa , Aardvark -- South Africa -- Habitations , Animal burrowing
- Description: Arid and semi arid environments are characterised by extreme fluctuations in temperature and low rainfall which present significant challenges to the animals inhabiting these areas. Mammals, such as aardvarks (Orycteropus afer, Pallas 1766), excavate burrows in order to avoid predators and climatic extremes and are termed “ecosystem engineers” as they physically modify their environment and in doing so create new habitats and alter the availability of resources to other species. In this study I assessed the microhabitat conditions (maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity and seed abundance) of aardvark burrows in relation to paired control sites. In addition, I evaluated the use of aardvark burrows by other vertebrate and invertebrate species and investigated the impact of aardvark burrow mounds on landscape scale floristic diversity. Maximum temperatures were significantly lower (p < 0.05) and minimum temperatures and midday humidity were significantly higher (p < 0.05) inside the burrows at the three study sites, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve (Kwandwe), Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP) and Tswalu Kalahari Reserve (Tswalu). There were no significant differences between the concentration of seeds, the average numbers of unique individual small mammals, trap success or small mammal species richness recorded inside the burrows compared to outside (p > 0.05). At all three sites, small mammal species diversity was higher in the burrows but this result was also not significant (p > 0.05 for all). Trap success and the number of individuals captured was higher at Tswalu than the other two sites (p < 0.05 for both). The different methods used in this study revealed a total of 25 mammal, seven bird, one amphibian and six reptile species utilising aardvark burrows. There were significant differences in insect community assemblages between the burrows and open control areas at Kwandwe and Tswalu (p < 0.05 for both) but not at MZNP (p > 0.05). The parasitic guild was more prominent inside the burrows than outside but their abundance was not as high as anticipated, possibly due to the placement of traps closer to the burrow entrances than the sleeping chambers. The complex structure of the burrows prevented the placement of traps in close proximity to the sleeping chambers. As expected, the amount of bare earth was significantly higher on active and recently abandoned burrow mounds compared to the old burrow mounds and reference plots at all three sites (p < 0.05 for all), with the exception of the active burrows at Tswalu. Overall, the different plot types were characterised by significantly different plant communities during all the seasons at MZNP, during three of the seasons at Kwandwe and only during winter at Tswalu. The total species richness recorded on the reference plots was higher than on the burrow mounds at all three sites. However, species diversity on the reference plots was not significantly higher than the burrows at any of the sites (p > 0.05 for all sites). Although the results were not significant, the overall species diversity at a site level was greater than the reference patches at Kwandwe and Tswalu (p > 0.05 for both). Aardvarks fulfil the criteria of a significant ecosystem engineer and their presence in arid and semi-arid environments is likely to be critical to the survival of other individual organisms and species, particularly when alternative burrowing animals are either absent or restricted in their activities. Thus, aardvark populations should be considered a conservation priority in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Limiting vulnerability exposure through effective patch management: threat mitigation through vulnerability remediation
- Authors: White, Dominic Stjohn Dolin
- Date: 2007 , 2007-02-08
- Subjects: Computer networks -- Security measures , Computer viruses , Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4629 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006510 , Computer networks -- Security measures , Computer viruses , Computer security
- Description: This document aims to provide a complete discussion on vulnerability and patch management. The first chapters look at the trends relating to vulnerabilities, exploits, attacks and patches. These trends describe the drivers of patch and vulnerability management and situate the discussion in the current security climate. The following chapters then aim to present both policy and technical solutions to the problem. The policies described lay out a comprehensive set of steps that can be followed by any organisation to implement their own patch management policy, including practical advice on integration with other policies, managing risk, identifying vulnerability, strategies for reducing downtime and generating metrics to measure progress. Having covered the steps that can be taken by users, a strategy describing how best a vendor should implement a related patch release policy is provided. An argument is made that current monthly patch release schedules are inadequate to allow users to most effectively and timeously mitigate vulnerabilities. The final chapters discuss the technical aspect of automating parts of the policies described. In particular the concept of 'defense in depth' is used to discuss additional strategies for 'buying time' during the patch process. The document then goes on to conclude that in the face of increasing malicious activity and more complex patching, solid frameworks such as those provided in this document are required to ensure an organisation can fully manage the patching process. However, more research is required to fully understand vulnerabilities and exploits. In particular more attention must be paid to threats, as little work as been done to fully understand threat-agent capabilities and activities from a day to day basis. , TeX output 2007.02.08:2212 , Adobe Acrobat 9.51 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: White, Dominic Stjohn Dolin
- Date: 2007 , 2007-02-08
- Subjects: Computer networks -- Security measures , Computer viruses , Computer security
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:4629 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006510 , Computer networks -- Security measures , Computer viruses , Computer security
- Description: This document aims to provide a complete discussion on vulnerability and patch management. The first chapters look at the trends relating to vulnerabilities, exploits, attacks and patches. These trends describe the drivers of patch and vulnerability management and situate the discussion in the current security climate. The following chapters then aim to present both policy and technical solutions to the problem. The policies described lay out a comprehensive set of steps that can be followed by any organisation to implement their own patch management policy, including practical advice on integration with other policies, managing risk, identifying vulnerability, strategies for reducing downtime and generating metrics to measure progress. Having covered the steps that can be taken by users, a strategy describing how best a vendor should implement a related patch release policy is provided. An argument is made that current monthly patch release schedules are inadequate to allow users to most effectively and timeously mitigate vulnerabilities. The final chapters discuss the technical aspect of automating parts of the policies described. In particular the concept of 'defense in depth' is used to discuss additional strategies for 'buying time' during the patch process. The document then goes on to conclude that in the face of increasing malicious activity and more complex patching, solid frameworks such as those provided in this document are required to ensure an organisation can fully manage the patching process. However, more research is required to fully understand vulnerabilities and exploits. In particular more attention must be paid to threats, as little work as been done to fully understand threat-agent capabilities and activities from a day to day basis. , TeX output 2007.02.08:2212 , Adobe Acrobat 9.51 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An examination of internet usage patterns by mature travellers
- Authors: Correia, Sérgio Barradas
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Tourism -- Marketing , Internet marketing , Internet users , Older people -- Travel , Older consumers -- Travel
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1194 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008182 , Tourism -- Marketing , Internet marketing , Internet users , Older people -- Travel , Older consumers -- Travel
- Description: The tourism industry has been identified as the industry with the most potential to create jobs and contribute largely to economic growth. In order to live up to this potential, tourism businesses need to create tourism products for potential tourists which need to be promoted successfully through a number of mediums. The use of the Internet as a medium for promoting and selling tourism products is increasing, however, in order for tourism businesses to successfully promote the tourism product through the Internet, they have to understand the needs and wants of their current and potential target markets. One segment of the tourism market that has come under increasing attention is the mature traveller market. This market is defined as travellers who are 50 years of age and older. Generally, the mature traveller market is viewed as a small homogenous group of old consumers with little or no spending power. However, evidence suggests that this market is comprised of an increasing number of diverse people, who use the Internet and like to spend on tourism products. Therefore, this research will examine differences between Internet users and Internet non-users in the mature traveller market. Specific attention will be paid to investigate differences in demographic, socioeconomic, Internet use and travel-related characteristics. The identification of these characteristics will enable a profile to be d~veloped for each group, which can be used by tourism businesses to effectively promote tourism products over the Internet to the mature market In order to collect data from potential respondents, a questionnaire which was used in a similar study conducted in the US was used. Data was collected using a convenience sample of Internet users and Internet non-users from the Eastern Cape and Gauteng provinces of South Africa. Cronbach alpha and factor analysis were used to assess the reliability and validity of the research instrument and measurement scales. In order to test whether differences did exist between the two groups the Chi-square and t-test statistics were used. Finally in order to examine which factors where influential in differentiating between Internet users and Internet non-users discriminant analysis was employed. The findings in the present study suggest that there are significant differences in demographics, socioeconomic, Internet use and travel-related characteristics between Internet users and Internet non-users in the mature market. By understanding the differences between Internet users and Internet non-users, tourism businesses can identify marketing strategies that appeal to mature travellers who use the Internet and to those do not, by utilising information gathered from Internet users and Internet non-users demographic, socio-economic and travel-related characteristics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Correia, Sérgio Barradas
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Tourism -- Marketing , Internet marketing , Internet users , Older people -- Travel , Older consumers -- Travel
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:1194 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1008182 , Tourism -- Marketing , Internet marketing , Internet users , Older people -- Travel , Older consumers -- Travel
- Description: The tourism industry has been identified as the industry with the most potential to create jobs and contribute largely to economic growth. In order to live up to this potential, tourism businesses need to create tourism products for potential tourists which need to be promoted successfully through a number of mediums. The use of the Internet as a medium for promoting and selling tourism products is increasing, however, in order for tourism businesses to successfully promote the tourism product through the Internet, they have to understand the needs and wants of their current and potential target markets. One segment of the tourism market that has come under increasing attention is the mature traveller market. This market is defined as travellers who are 50 years of age and older. Generally, the mature traveller market is viewed as a small homogenous group of old consumers with little or no spending power. However, evidence suggests that this market is comprised of an increasing number of diverse people, who use the Internet and like to spend on tourism products. Therefore, this research will examine differences between Internet users and Internet non-users in the mature traveller market. Specific attention will be paid to investigate differences in demographic, socioeconomic, Internet use and travel-related characteristics. The identification of these characteristics will enable a profile to be d~veloped for each group, which can be used by tourism businesses to effectively promote tourism products over the Internet to the mature market In order to collect data from potential respondents, a questionnaire which was used in a similar study conducted in the US was used. Data was collected using a convenience sample of Internet users and Internet non-users from the Eastern Cape and Gauteng provinces of South Africa. Cronbach alpha and factor analysis were used to assess the reliability and validity of the research instrument and measurement scales. In order to test whether differences did exist between the two groups the Chi-square and t-test statistics were used. Finally in order to examine which factors where influential in differentiating between Internet users and Internet non-users discriminant analysis was employed. The findings in the present study suggest that there are significant differences in demographics, socioeconomic, Internet use and travel-related characteristics between Internet users and Internet non-users in the mature market. By understanding the differences between Internet users and Internet non-users, tourism businesses can identify marketing strategies that appeal to mature travellers who use the Internet and to those do not, by utilising information gathered from Internet users and Internet non-users demographic, socio-economic and travel-related characteristics.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Estimating the willingness-to-pay for restoring indigenous vegetation at selected sites in South Africa
- Authors: Tessendorf, Sharon Erica
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Water resources development -- South Africa , Water-supply -- South Africa , Alien plants -- South Africa , Restoration ecology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:8999 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/617 , Water resources development -- South Africa , Water-supply -- South Africa , Alien plants -- South Africa , Restoration ecology -- South Africa
- Description: The Working for Water (WfW) Programme is a public works programme designed to clear South Africa of invasive alien vegetation and to restore lowwater consuming indigenous vegetation in the areas that have been cleared. Funds to clear alien invasives were initially secured on the basis that such a programme would increase water runoff, facilitate biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and provide social benefits through job creation. The economic merits of the Programme, in terms of increased water yields, has been established in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, but questioned in the Eastern and Southern Cape. However, there are economic aspects of the studies carried out in the Eastern and Southern Cape that merit more attention than was given them; one of these being the issue of non-water benefits. Preliminary figures emanating from contingent valuation pilot studies conducted at six WfW projects sites indicated that one of these non-water benefits, namely the biodiversity and ecosystem resilience benefit, could be substantial. As such, the primary objective of the present study was to apply the contingent valuation method (CVM) to value people’s preference for indigenous vegetation. This value was intended to serve as a proxy for increased biodiversity and ecosystem resilience at three WfW sites. Despite the controversy surrounding the CVM, it has been found that it is a credible valuation tool. The CVM’s merits lie in its versatility and in the fact that it is the only method available which is capable of obtaining estimates of both nonuse and use values, thus making it applicable for valuing biodiversity. The primary aim of a CVM study is to determine an estimate of the total willingness-to-pay (WTP). In this study, the total WTP figure was calculated by multiplying the median WTP for the local WfW Programme by the total number of user households. The respective total WTP amounts are shown in Table 1. It was anticipated that respondents would be willing to pay more for the national WfW Programme, than for the less inclusive good (i.e. the local WfW Programme). The results correspond with this expectation at the Port Elizabeth and Underberg sites. However, due to strategic factors Worcester respondents were willing to pay more for the local WfW Programme than for the national Programme.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Tessendorf, Sharon Erica
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Water resources development -- South Africa , Water-supply -- South Africa , Alien plants -- South Africa , Restoration ecology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: vital:8999 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/617 , Water resources development -- South Africa , Water-supply -- South Africa , Alien plants -- South Africa , Restoration ecology -- South Africa
- Description: The Working for Water (WfW) Programme is a public works programme designed to clear South Africa of invasive alien vegetation and to restore lowwater consuming indigenous vegetation in the areas that have been cleared. Funds to clear alien invasives were initially secured on the basis that such a programme would increase water runoff, facilitate biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and provide social benefits through job creation. The economic merits of the Programme, in terms of increased water yields, has been established in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, but questioned in the Eastern and Southern Cape. However, there are economic aspects of the studies carried out in the Eastern and Southern Cape that merit more attention than was given them; one of these being the issue of non-water benefits. Preliminary figures emanating from contingent valuation pilot studies conducted at six WfW projects sites indicated that one of these non-water benefits, namely the biodiversity and ecosystem resilience benefit, could be substantial. As such, the primary objective of the present study was to apply the contingent valuation method (CVM) to value people’s preference for indigenous vegetation. This value was intended to serve as a proxy for increased biodiversity and ecosystem resilience at three WfW sites. Despite the controversy surrounding the CVM, it has been found that it is a credible valuation tool. The CVM’s merits lie in its versatility and in the fact that it is the only method available which is capable of obtaining estimates of both nonuse and use values, thus making it applicable for valuing biodiversity. The primary aim of a CVM study is to determine an estimate of the total willingness-to-pay (WTP). In this study, the total WTP figure was calculated by multiplying the median WTP for the local WfW Programme by the total number of user households. The respective total WTP amounts are shown in Table 1. It was anticipated that respondents would be willing to pay more for the national WfW Programme, than for the less inclusive good (i.e. the local WfW Programme). The results correspond with this expectation at the Port Elizabeth and Underberg sites. However, due to strategic factors Worcester respondents were willing to pay more for the local WfW Programme than for the national Programme.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Stakeholders' perceptions of parents' involvement in the governance of a Namibian rural school
- Authors: Niitembu, Martha M
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: School management and organization -- Namibia Education -- Parent participation -- Namibia Education and state -- Namibia Rural schools -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1770 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003655
- Description: The issue of decentralisation has been one of the top priorities of the Namibian education system since independence in 1990. One of the decentralisation aims was to enhance parental involvement in education by establishing School Boards. However, School Boards and the role of parents in school management have been considered ineffective for several years which led to the promulgation of Education Act 16 of 2001 in which the roles of School Boards are strengthened and clarified. This study sought to investigate School Board members’ perceptions, understanding and experiences of parents’ involvement in school governance more specifically after the implementation of the Education Act of 2001 in 2003. This study is an interpretive case study of one combined rural school in the Ohangwena educational region of Namibia. This research employed three data collection techniques, namely semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis. The main findings of this study reveal that there is a lack of joint understanding and shared vision between educators and parents in the School Board. This problem underpins other more symptomatic problems, such as lack of accountability in the matter of school finances, differences in understanding the roles of School Board members and lack of parents’ motivation from the school management. The study further reveals the ineffectiveness and insufficiency of the training provided in the past. It highlights some of the challenges that hinder the effective involvement of parents in rural school governance, such as poor educational background among parents, poor knowledge of the English language and poor understanding of educational issues. However the findings also acknowledge parents’ participation and their full involvement in decision-making. The findings show that the new School Board elected in terms of the Education Act of 2001 has been more effective than previous School Boards and has reached a number of achievements such as being instrumental in solving disciplinary problems, purchasing school assets and renovating classrooms. Recommendations for practice and for further research are made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Niitembu, Martha M
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: School management and organization -- Namibia Education -- Parent participation -- Namibia Education and state -- Namibia Rural schools -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1770 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003655
- Description: The issue of decentralisation has been one of the top priorities of the Namibian education system since independence in 1990. One of the decentralisation aims was to enhance parental involvement in education by establishing School Boards. However, School Boards and the role of parents in school management have been considered ineffective for several years which led to the promulgation of Education Act 16 of 2001 in which the roles of School Boards are strengthened and clarified. This study sought to investigate School Board members’ perceptions, understanding and experiences of parents’ involvement in school governance more specifically after the implementation of the Education Act of 2001 in 2003. This study is an interpretive case study of one combined rural school in the Ohangwena educational region of Namibia. This research employed three data collection techniques, namely semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis. The main findings of this study reveal that there is a lack of joint understanding and shared vision between educators and parents in the School Board. This problem underpins other more symptomatic problems, such as lack of accountability in the matter of school finances, differences in understanding the roles of School Board members and lack of parents’ motivation from the school management. The study further reveals the ineffectiveness and insufficiency of the training provided in the past. It highlights some of the challenges that hinder the effective involvement of parents in rural school governance, such as poor educational background among parents, poor knowledge of the English language and poor understanding of educational issues. However the findings also acknowledge parents’ participation and their full involvement in decision-making. The findings show that the new School Board elected in terms of the Education Act of 2001 has been more effective than previous School Boards and has reached a number of achievements such as being instrumental in solving disciplinary problems, purchasing school assets and renovating classrooms. Recommendations for practice and for further research are made.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The relationship between individual needs and the choice of incentive schemes in the South African Breweries
- Authors: Long, Allan
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: South African Breweries Ltd. Incentives in industry -- South Africa Workers' compensation -- South Africa Performance -- Management Employee motivation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:800 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006119
- Description: After careful review of all the relevant literature pertaining to motivation, performance management and compensation in the form of incentives, this thesis focuses primarily on determining whether a statistically significant relationship exists between individual needs and the choice of an incentive scheme option. The secondary aims of the research are to determine whether: A relationship exists between the job grade of an individual and the choice of an incentive scheme. A particular incentive scheme option is preferred by the employees in The South African Breweries (SAB). A particular preference exists, and if so, to make recommendations to SAB for consideration as alternatives to their existing incentive scheme options. After collation of the survey data from the respondents in the sample, the analysis and discussion of the results determined that no significant relationship exists between individual needs and the choice of an incentive scheme option. It was, however, determined that a significant relationship exists between the grade of the employees in SAB and their choice of an incentive scheme. 81% of all respondents indicated a desire for shares as an option in their Short Term Incentives (STI) which indicates a desire for shares in some form or another and may well indicate a level of confidence and commitment by the employees to the organisation. Although the research hypothesis was not proven, significant insights into remuneration within SAB was obtained, which has resulted in recommendations being made for further research into the option of shares in some form or another in the organisation. A further recommendation for SAB is to consider some form of share options for all employees in the organisation. As many other organisations that are performing at remarkable levels attest this performance to share ownership and the behaviour that emanates from it, it would be in the interests of SAB to further investigate the issue as it may improve performance, ownership and retention within the company.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Long, Allan
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: South African Breweries Ltd. Incentives in industry -- South Africa Workers' compensation -- South Africa Performance -- Management Employee motivation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:800 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006119
- Description: After careful review of all the relevant literature pertaining to motivation, performance management and compensation in the form of incentives, this thesis focuses primarily on determining whether a statistically significant relationship exists between individual needs and the choice of an incentive scheme option. The secondary aims of the research are to determine whether: A relationship exists between the job grade of an individual and the choice of an incentive scheme. A particular incentive scheme option is preferred by the employees in The South African Breweries (SAB). A particular preference exists, and if so, to make recommendations to SAB for consideration as alternatives to their existing incentive scheme options. After collation of the survey data from the respondents in the sample, the analysis and discussion of the results determined that no significant relationship exists between individual needs and the choice of an incentive scheme option. It was, however, determined that a significant relationship exists between the grade of the employees in SAB and their choice of an incentive scheme. 81% of all respondents indicated a desire for shares as an option in their Short Term Incentives (STI) which indicates a desire for shares in some form or another and may well indicate a level of confidence and commitment by the employees to the organisation. Although the research hypothesis was not proven, significant insights into remuneration within SAB was obtained, which has resulted in recommendations being made for further research into the option of shares in some form or another in the organisation. A further recommendation for SAB is to consider some form of share options for all employees in the organisation. As many other organisations that are performing at remarkable levels attest this performance to share ownership and the behaviour that emanates from it, it would be in the interests of SAB to further investigate the issue as it may improve performance, ownership and retention within the company.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Local food choices and nutrition : a case study of amarewu in the FET consumer studies curriculum
- Authors: Kota, Lutho Siyabulela
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Continuing education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Curricula Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Curricula Ethnoscience -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Indigenous peoples -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Nutrition -- Study and teaching -- South Africa--Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1666 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003549
- Description: This case study examines the introduction of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) in the Consumer Studies curriculum of Further Education and Training (FET). The research is centred on the use of enquiry methodologies involving learners observing parent demonstrations of the making of ‘amarewu’ and other activities centred on the propositional knowledge dealing with fermentation in the Consumer Studies curriculum. The research involved a review of curriculum documents, participant observation of a demonstration of local food practices related to ‘amarewu’ and learner research activities and interviews to review the developing learning interactions. The learning activities were focused on the learners’ researching the cultural and nutritional value of ‘amarewu’ and included an audit of food consumed in the community. What transpired from this study was that working with IK in the curriculum is possible. The inclusion of IK is not only possible but desirable and has exciting possibilities for relevance in contemporary education. The active involvement in parent demonstration engaged the learners in IK in their mother tongue, therefore indigenous knowledge has relevance. The curriculum concepts also enhanced the engagement by giving rise to more relevant knowledge and a respect for cultural matters. Intergenerational capital and subject concepts also enabled learners to engage with local nutritional problems and to come up with practical solutions. This study demonstrates how IK intergenerational capital in combination in combination with curriculum concepts (subject knowledge capital) can enhance relevance and the learners’ real engagement with local health and nutritional problems. Not only did the learners have culturally valued knowledge, but also knowledge that has a practical grasp of the problem and that they could use to engage relevant issues. These two views of knowledge join in learning and can be used to address health issues. I therefore recommend connection of cultural knowledge and conceptual knowledge to strengthen the revitalisation of cultural heritage, thus equalising it to the modern patterns of life and enhancing meaningful curriculum orientation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Kota, Lutho Siyabulela
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Continuing education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Curricula Education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Curricula Ethnoscience -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Indigenous peoples -- Study and teaching -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Nutrition -- Study and teaching -- South Africa--Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1666 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003549
- Description: This case study examines the introduction of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) in the Consumer Studies curriculum of Further Education and Training (FET). The research is centred on the use of enquiry methodologies involving learners observing parent demonstrations of the making of ‘amarewu’ and other activities centred on the propositional knowledge dealing with fermentation in the Consumer Studies curriculum. The research involved a review of curriculum documents, participant observation of a demonstration of local food practices related to ‘amarewu’ and learner research activities and interviews to review the developing learning interactions. The learning activities were focused on the learners’ researching the cultural and nutritional value of ‘amarewu’ and included an audit of food consumed in the community. What transpired from this study was that working with IK in the curriculum is possible. The inclusion of IK is not only possible but desirable and has exciting possibilities for relevance in contemporary education. The active involvement in parent demonstration engaged the learners in IK in their mother tongue, therefore indigenous knowledge has relevance. The curriculum concepts also enhanced the engagement by giving rise to more relevant knowledge and a respect for cultural matters. Intergenerational capital and subject concepts also enabled learners to engage with local nutritional problems and to come up with practical solutions. This study demonstrates how IK intergenerational capital in combination in combination with curriculum concepts (subject knowledge capital) can enhance relevance and the learners’ real engagement with local health and nutritional problems. Not only did the learners have culturally valued knowledge, but also knowledge that has a practical grasp of the problem and that they could use to engage relevant issues. These two views of knowledge join in learning and can be used to address health issues. I therefore recommend connection of cultural knowledge and conceptual knowledge to strengthen the revitalisation of cultural heritage, thus equalising it to the modern patterns of life and enhancing meaningful curriculum orientation.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The transition from Oshikwanyama to English as a medium of instruction: a case study of a rural Namibian school
- Authors: Shilongo, Teressia N
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Education -- Namibia Kuanyama language -- Study and teaching -- Namibia English language -- Study and teaching -- Namibia Language and education -- Namibia Rural schools -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1805 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003690
- Description: The study investigates how rural Grade 4 teachers and learners experience the transition from Oshikwanyama to English as a medium of instruction. The study was conducted at a rural school in Oshana region in northern Namibia. The research site and participants were purposefully selected. Grade 4 teachers and learners were interviewed and observed. Relevant documents were also analyzed. The purpose was to understand participants’ experiences, perceptions and practices in relation to their experience of the transition to English medium instruction. The study revealed out that both Grade 4 teachers and learners are struggling to teach and learn through the medium of English. This was borne out by participants’ responses, classroom practices and document analysis, especially learners’ oral presentation and written work. The conclusion is drawn that limitations in English proficiency overshadow the good intentions of the curriculum. This was evident in the fact that Grade 4 learners at a selected school found it difficult to cope with the demands of the curriculum. In addition, most of the learners have poor literacy skills even in their mother tongue, Oshikwanyama. In the linguistic sense, proficiency in the first language can pave the way for second language to flourish. If the reverse is the case then the learner might find it difficult to acquire linguistic skills in the second language. The study concludes that for the sake of effective learning, an intervention on professional development needs to be in place. This might help rural lower primary teachers to upgrade their existing skills particularly in terms of the English language proficiency as well as how to prepare learners for the transition to English.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Shilongo, Teressia N
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Education -- Namibia Kuanyama language -- Study and teaching -- Namibia English language -- Study and teaching -- Namibia Language and education -- Namibia Rural schools -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1805 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003690
- Description: The study investigates how rural Grade 4 teachers and learners experience the transition from Oshikwanyama to English as a medium of instruction. The study was conducted at a rural school in Oshana region in northern Namibia. The research site and participants were purposefully selected. Grade 4 teachers and learners were interviewed and observed. Relevant documents were also analyzed. The purpose was to understand participants’ experiences, perceptions and practices in relation to their experience of the transition to English medium instruction. The study revealed out that both Grade 4 teachers and learners are struggling to teach and learn through the medium of English. This was borne out by participants’ responses, classroom practices and document analysis, especially learners’ oral presentation and written work. The conclusion is drawn that limitations in English proficiency overshadow the good intentions of the curriculum. This was evident in the fact that Grade 4 learners at a selected school found it difficult to cope with the demands of the curriculum. In addition, most of the learners have poor literacy skills even in their mother tongue, Oshikwanyama. In the linguistic sense, proficiency in the first language can pave the way for second language to flourish. If the reverse is the case then the learner might find it difficult to acquire linguistic skills in the second language. The study concludes that for the sake of effective learning, an intervention on professional development needs to be in place. This might help rural lower primary teachers to upgrade their existing skills particularly in terms of the English language proficiency as well as how to prepare learners for the transition to English.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Identifying departmental team dynamics in a regulated casino environment
- Authors: Hughes, David Robert
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Teams in the workplace -- South Africa , Teams in the workplace -- Training of , Casinos -- Management , Management -- Employee participation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8734 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/798 , Teams in the workplace -- South Africa , Teams in the workplace -- Training of , Casinos -- Management , Management -- Employee participation -- South Africa
- Description: Literature has been reviewed on the formation and structure of groups and teams in order to establish what differences there are in the types of teams that exist in the modern workplace, and what it is that facilitates effective and high performance of such teams. From the results of the qualitative research conducted, the author is of the opinion that the notion of teams operating in the regulated casino environment is somewhat exaggerated. At year end functions and award ceremonies, mention is made of the teams that successfully contributed to the various achievements but, upon closer inspection, no teams are evident at the “coal face”. Some of the reasons for this may be that there appears to be a lack of those skills necessary to harness people into successful teams especially during the early stages of the business lifecycle. Too few people at grass root level have the required knowledge, skills and attitude to take the lead and form a team especially in an unfamiliar environment. It may also be as a result of the different management styles imposed on the labour force over a long period of time. As organisations are forced to become more competitive, especially on the global market, it is the author’s opinion that the management style in progressive organisations will probably have shifted from autocratic to paternalistic to democratic; yet very few businesses are practicing participative management, although buzzwords relating to participative management are used freely. Ultimately, accountability rests with top management and results are measured by bottom line figures. Since accountability is centralised, the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards for success are also confined to management who is likely to be criticised, attacked, or got rid of, and these recipients are often not volunteering to share the benefits reaped – even though the recipients would mutter words such as “if it were not for my team” or “ thanks to my team”. With this viewpoint in mind the treatise aims to address specific and practical interventions that could be implemented without much organisational change and yet developing a culture of team development and team building within an organisation. The author is of the opinion that the responses imparted from the different respondents in the research results could benefit Sun International within its training methodology policy framework. Although, each casino unit is managed autonomously, Sun International, via its centralised training facility, could apply successful specific and practical training interventions in respect of team dynamics. Results extracted from unit staff climate surveys and staff feedback sessions could be collated from the different training departments within the group and presented in workshops at quarterly conferences and feedback seminars. The effectiveness of these interventions, once implemented, could be assessed in a performance measurement framework. Eales-White (1996: 34) quotes Peters as saying, “I observe the power of the team is so great that it is often wise to violate common sense and force a team structure on almost anything … companies that do, will achieve greater focus, stronger task orientation and enhanced individual commitment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Hughes, David Robert
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Teams in the workplace -- South Africa , Teams in the workplace -- Training of , Casinos -- Management , Management -- Employee participation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8734 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/798 , Teams in the workplace -- South Africa , Teams in the workplace -- Training of , Casinos -- Management , Management -- Employee participation -- South Africa
- Description: Literature has been reviewed on the formation and structure of groups and teams in order to establish what differences there are in the types of teams that exist in the modern workplace, and what it is that facilitates effective and high performance of such teams. From the results of the qualitative research conducted, the author is of the opinion that the notion of teams operating in the regulated casino environment is somewhat exaggerated. At year end functions and award ceremonies, mention is made of the teams that successfully contributed to the various achievements but, upon closer inspection, no teams are evident at the “coal face”. Some of the reasons for this may be that there appears to be a lack of those skills necessary to harness people into successful teams especially during the early stages of the business lifecycle. Too few people at grass root level have the required knowledge, skills and attitude to take the lead and form a team especially in an unfamiliar environment. It may also be as a result of the different management styles imposed on the labour force over a long period of time. As organisations are forced to become more competitive, especially on the global market, it is the author’s opinion that the management style in progressive organisations will probably have shifted from autocratic to paternalistic to democratic; yet very few businesses are practicing participative management, although buzzwords relating to participative management are used freely. Ultimately, accountability rests with top management and results are measured by bottom line figures. Since accountability is centralised, the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards for success are also confined to management who is likely to be criticised, attacked, or got rid of, and these recipients are often not volunteering to share the benefits reaped – even though the recipients would mutter words such as “if it were not for my team” or “ thanks to my team”. With this viewpoint in mind the treatise aims to address specific and practical interventions that could be implemented without much organisational change and yet developing a culture of team development and team building within an organisation. The author is of the opinion that the responses imparted from the different respondents in the research results could benefit Sun International within its training methodology policy framework. Although, each casino unit is managed autonomously, Sun International, via its centralised training facility, could apply successful specific and practical training interventions in respect of team dynamics. Results extracted from unit staff climate surveys and staff feedback sessions could be collated from the different training departments within the group and presented in workshops at quarterly conferences and feedback seminars. The effectiveness of these interventions, once implemented, could be assessed in a performance measurement framework. Eales-White (1996: 34) quotes Peters as saying, “I observe the power of the team is so great that it is often wise to violate common sense and force a team structure on almost anything … companies that do, will achieve greater focus, stronger task orientation and enhanced individual commitment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Information security awareness: generic content, tools and techniques
- Authors: Mauwa, Hope
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Computer security , Data protection , Computers -- Safety measures , Information technology -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9733 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/560 , Computer security , Data protection , Computers -- Safety measures , Information technology -- Security measures
- Description: In today’s computing environment, awareness programmes play a much more important role in organizations’ complete information security programmes. Information security awareness programmes are there to change behaviour or reinforce good security practices, and provide a baseline of security knowledge for all information users. Security awareness is a learning process, which changes individual and organizational attitudes and perceptions so that the importance of security and the adverse consequences of its failure are realized. Therefore, with proper awareness, employees become the most effective layer in an organization’s security defence. With the important role that these awareness programmes play in organizations’ complete information security programmes, it is a must that all organizations that are serious about information security must implement it. But though awareness programmes have become increasing important, the level of awareness in most organizations is still low. It seems that the current approach of developing these programmes does not satisfy the needs of most organizations. Therefore, another approach, which tries to meet the needs of most organizations, is proposed in this project as part of the solution of raising the level of awareness programmes in organizations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mauwa, Hope
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Computer security , Data protection , Computers -- Safety measures , Information technology -- Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9733 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/560 , Computer security , Data protection , Computers -- Safety measures , Information technology -- Security measures
- Description: In today’s computing environment, awareness programmes play a much more important role in organizations’ complete information security programmes. Information security awareness programmes are there to change behaviour or reinforce good security practices, and provide a baseline of security knowledge for all information users. Security awareness is a learning process, which changes individual and organizational attitudes and perceptions so that the importance of security and the adverse consequences of its failure are realized. Therefore, with proper awareness, employees become the most effective layer in an organization’s security defence. With the important role that these awareness programmes play in organizations’ complete information security programmes, it is a must that all organizations that are serious about information security must implement it. But though awareness programmes have become increasing important, the level of awareness in most organizations is still low. It seems that the current approach of developing these programmes does not satisfy the needs of most organizations. Therefore, another approach, which tries to meet the needs of most organizations, is proposed in this project as part of the solution of raising the level of awareness programmes in organizations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
An analysis of the influence of phosphorus poisoning on the exhaust emission after treatement systems of light-duty diesel vehicles
- Authors: Toral del Rio, Maria Isabel
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10405 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/697 , Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Description: Climate change has become a discussion topic of exponentially increasing urgency and importance amoung world leaders of all disciplines. These changes are brought about by the emission of so-called Greenhouse gases from various human activities. The primary cause of CO2 emissions is the burning of the Earth’s supply of nonrenewable natural fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. The world first agreed on the prevention of “dangerous” climatic changes at the Earth Summit in 1992. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 was the first step toward protection of the atmosphere and prescribes restrictions on emission pollutants. Since then the vehicle gas emissions are being controlled by means of different gas emissions norms, like the European Union Norm in Europe. The automotive manufacturers and suppliers are collectively working on reducing overall vehicle emissions. They are focusing on several different emission limiting possibilities, for example improved engine design, special fuel development and exhaust gas treatment systems. The exhaust gas treatment process requires continuous controlling and management of the exhaust gas emissions while driving a vehicle. Certain factors such as high emission temperatures have a negative influence on the life span of these systems. Their functionality and durability is also known to be reduced by the presence of chemical poisoning species like sulphur, phosphorus, zinc and calcium. The chemical poisoning species are produced during combustion of fuel and engine oil. They are therefore contained in the exhaust emissions and can poison the catalyst when passing over it. Phosphorous poisoning is particularly problematic and should be reduced considerably. This study involves the investigation of the phosphorous poisoning process and aims to provide clarity regarding the influences of different fuel and oil compositions on the severity of the process. Engine oil and biodiesel are two major sources of phosphorous poisoning. The phosphorus contained in biodiesel fuel is a natural component and can be minimized during the refining procedure. In contrast to others studies, the biodiesel fuel used during this project was SME (Soya Methyl Ester) with a 20% biodiesel content. This choice of fuel was made because of the increasingly important role that this type of biodiesel is playing in the European market and the future tendency to increase the percentage of biodiesel in the mixture with standard diesel fuel. The phosphorus contained in engine oil is a necessary additive to retain the antioxidant and anti-wear properties of the oil. This study examined the poisoning influences from the most commonly used phosphorus containing oil additive, Zinc Dithiophosphates (ZDDP), as well as a Zn-free, phosphorus containing anti-wear oil additive. This formulation provides information about the phosphorus poisoning process as caused by the engine oil in the absence of Zn in the oil additives. The results show how the phosphorus content in biodiesel fuel affects the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems and the importance of reducing the permitted content of phosphorus contained in the fuel. Reducing the phosphorus content in the fuel will conserve the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems during their operational life and thereby protect the environmental from emission pollutants. It also provides insight into the differences in the poisoning processes when the phosphorus deposited on the catalyst comes from biodiesel fuel and when it comes from the engine oil. Finally the results also illustrate the influence of different phosphorous forms contained in engine oil additives on the catalyst poisoning process. This information could be used for the development of new oil additive formulations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Toral del Rio, Maria Isabel
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10405 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/697 , Diesel motor -- Alternative fuels , Automobiles -- Pollution control devices , Automobiles -- Motors -- Exhaust gas , Motor fuels
- Description: Climate change has become a discussion topic of exponentially increasing urgency and importance amoung world leaders of all disciplines. These changes are brought about by the emission of so-called Greenhouse gases from various human activities. The primary cause of CO2 emissions is the burning of the Earth’s supply of nonrenewable natural fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. The world first agreed on the prevention of “dangerous” climatic changes at the Earth Summit in 1992. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 was the first step toward protection of the atmosphere and prescribes restrictions on emission pollutants. Since then the vehicle gas emissions are being controlled by means of different gas emissions norms, like the European Union Norm in Europe. The automotive manufacturers and suppliers are collectively working on reducing overall vehicle emissions. They are focusing on several different emission limiting possibilities, for example improved engine design, special fuel development and exhaust gas treatment systems. The exhaust gas treatment process requires continuous controlling and management of the exhaust gas emissions while driving a vehicle. Certain factors such as high emission temperatures have a negative influence on the life span of these systems. Their functionality and durability is also known to be reduced by the presence of chemical poisoning species like sulphur, phosphorus, zinc and calcium. The chemical poisoning species are produced during combustion of fuel and engine oil. They are therefore contained in the exhaust emissions and can poison the catalyst when passing over it. Phosphorous poisoning is particularly problematic and should be reduced considerably. This study involves the investigation of the phosphorous poisoning process and aims to provide clarity regarding the influences of different fuel and oil compositions on the severity of the process. Engine oil and biodiesel are two major sources of phosphorous poisoning. The phosphorus contained in biodiesel fuel is a natural component and can be minimized during the refining procedure. In contrast to others studies, the biodiesel fuel used during this project was SME (Soya Methyl Ester) with a 20% biodiesel content. This choice of fuel was made because of the increasingly important role that this type of biodiesel is playing in the European market and the future tendency to increase the percentage of biodiesel in the mixture with standard diesel fuel. The phosphorus contained in engine oil is a necessary additive to retain the antioxidant and anti-wear properties of the oil. This study examined the poisoning influences from the most commonly used phosphorus containing oil additive, Zinc Dithiophosphates (ZDDP), as well as a Zn-free, phosphorus containing anti-wear oil additive. This formulation provides information about the phosphorus poisoning process as caused by the engine oil in the absence of Zn in the oil additives. The results show how the phosphorus content in biodiesel fuel affects the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems and the importance of reducing the permitted content of phosphorus contained in the fuel. Reducing the phosphorus content in the fuel will conserve the functionality of the exhaust gas treatment systems during their operational life and thereby protect the environmental from emission pollutants. It also provides insight into the differences in the poisoning processes when the phosphorus deposited on the catalyst comes from biodiesel fuel and when it comes from the engine oil. Finally the results also illustrate the influence of different phosphorous forms contained in engine oil additives on the catalyst poisoning process. This information could be used for the development of new oil additive formulations.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
A study of the teaching of reading in Grade 1 in the Caprivi region, Namibia
- Authors: Nzwala, Kenneth
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Reading (Primary) -- Namibia Teachers -- Attitudes -- Namibia Teaching -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1785 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003670
- Description: This study was conducted in order to understand how Grade 1 teachers teach reading in mother tongue with a focus, firstly, on teacher beliefs and how such beliefs influence teachers’ practice, and secondly, on the methods they use to teach reading. The study was carried out in the Caprivi Region of Namibia. It took the form of an interpretive case study. Three schools were selected for study: one urban, one peri-urban and one rural. The purpose of this sampling was to consider the influence of context on teachers’ practice. The data was gathered by using semi-structured interviews with open ended questions, as well as lesson observations and stimulated recall with the individual teachers after every lesson. This was important in order to have clarity on areas that were not clear during lesson presentations. The key findings are that the teachers I studied taught reading without using books, and there was an absence of shared reading with the learners. Other key findings are: teachers had great love for stories; they had a problem of language, and had no proper understanding of the concept ‘literacy’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Nzwala, Kenneth
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Reading (Primary) -- Namibia Teachers -- Attitudes -- Namibia Teaching -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1785 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003670
- Description: This study was conducted in order to understand how Grade 1 teachers teach reading in mother tongue with a focus, firstly, on teacher beliefs and how such beliefs influence teachers’ practice, and secondly, on the methods they use to teach reading. The study was carried out in the Caprivi Region of Namibia. It took the form of an interpretive case study. Three schools were selected for study: one urban, one peri-urban and one rural. The purpose of this sampling was to consider the influence of context on teachers’ practice. The data was gathered by using semi-structured interviews with open ended questions, as well as lesson observations and stimulated recall with the individual teachers after every lesson. This was important in order to have clarity on areas that were not clear during lesson presentations. The key findings are that the teachers I studied taught reading without using books, and there was an absence of shared reading with the learners. Other key findings are: teachers had great love for stories; they had a problem of language, and had no proper understanding of the concept ‘literacy’.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Women's perceptions and experiences of antenatal care rendered by midwives
- Authors: Mxoli, Winnifred Nonkonzo
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Prenatal care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Maternal health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10041 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/575 , Prenatal care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Maternal health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The general health status of pregnant women depends largely on the quality of the antenatal services available to them. The provision of good antenatal services ensures early detection and prompt management of any complication or disease that may adversely affect pregnancy outcome. In order to ensure high quality care, antenatal services need to be evaluated at regular intervals, both from provider and client perspective, to ensure their effectiveness in improving the health status of pregnant women. The midwife, as the first contact person for most pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in South Africa, has the potential to play a major role in improving the health status of these women. However, for the midwife to be effective in achieving this, antenatal services need to be effectively utilized by women. One of the factors that affect utilization of any service is client satisfaction with the service being rendered. This study, therefore, explores the perceptions that pregnant women have of the care that they receive from midwives at the selected antenatal clinics. The objectives of the study are to: {u100083} Explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic regarding the care they receive from midwives. {u100083} Make recommendations to assist registered midwives in optimizing the accompaniment of women during the antenatal period. A qualitative, descriptive, exploratory and contextual design was used for the study. The sample was chosen from the target population by means of purposive sampling and data was collected through unstructured interviews with the participants. Before data collection, permission was obtained from the Eastern Cape Department of Health and the Nursing Service Manager of the Gateway clinic, in the district hospital where the research was conducted. The Nursing Service Manager was acting as a Medical Superintendent at the time of the study. Written, informed consent was obtained from all participants before conducting interviews. Trustworthiness was ensured by means of Guba’s model throughout the study, and the aspects of truth value, applicability, consistency and neutrality were considered. Tesch’s eight steps of data analysis were used to analyze the data collected, and four main themes were identified namely: • Women perceive midwives as considerate and knowledgeable • Women perceive midwives as lazy and rude • Women experience mixed emotions about the care they receive from midwives • Though their experiences, women identified certain needs in the services and care they received at the clinic. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations for midwifery practice made based on the results of the study, with the aim of improving antenatal services rendered to pregnant women.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Mxoli, Winnifred Nonkonzo
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Prenatal care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Maternal health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10041 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/575 , Prenatal care -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Midwives -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Maternal health services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: The general health status of pregnant women depends largely on the quality of the antenatal services available to them. The provision of good antenatal services ensures early detection and prompt management of any complication or disease that may adversely affect pregnancy outcome. In order to ensure high quality care, antenatal services need to be evaluated at regular intervals, both from provider and client perspective, to ensure their effectiveness in improving the health status of pregnant women. The midwife, as the first contact person for most pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in South Africa, has the potential to play a major role in improving the health status of these women. However, for the midwife to be effective in achieving this, antenatal services need to be effectively utilized by women. One of the factors that affect utilization of any service is client satisfaction with the service being rendered. This study, therefore, explores the perceptions that pregnant women have of the care that they receive from midwives at the selected antenatal clinics. The objectives of the study are to: {u100083} Explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic regarding the care they receive from midwives. {u100083} Make recommendations to assist registered midwives in optimizing the accompaniment of women during the antenatal period. A qualitative, descriptive, exploratory and contextual design was used for the study. The sample was chosen from the target population by means of purposive sampling and data was collected through unstructured interviews with the participants. Before data collection, permission was obtained from the Eastern Cape Department of Health and the Nursing Service Manager of the Gateway clinic, in the district hospital where the research was conducted. The Nursing Service Manager was acting as a Medical Superintendent at the time of the study. Written, informed consent was obtained from all participants before conducting interviews. Trustworthiness was ensured by means of Guba’s model throughout the study, and the aspects of truth value, applicability, consistency and neutrality were considered. Tesch’s eight steps of data analysis were used to analyze the data collected, and four main themes were identified namely: • Women perceive midwives as considerate and knowledgeable • Women perceive midwives as lazy and rude • Women experience mixed emotions about the care they receive from midwives • Though their experiences, women identified certain needs in the services and care they received at the clinic. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations for midwifery practice made based on the results of the study, with the aim of improving antenatal services rendered to pregnant women.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The status of the Al Qaeda and Taliban detainees at Guantanamo bay
- Authors: Kilian, Clive Linton
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Prisoners of war -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Cuba -- Guantańamo Bay Naval Base , Detention of persons -- Guańtanamo Bay Naval Base (Cuba) , Human rights -- Government policy -- United States
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10278 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/826 , Prisoners of war -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Cuba -- Guantańamo Bay Naval Base , Detention of persons -- Guańtanamo Bay Naval Base (Cuba) , Human rights -- Government policy -- United States
- Description: The United States of America has in its custody several hundred Taliban and Al Qaeda combatants who were captured after the September 11, 2001 attack and during the war in Afghanistan. These prisoners are incarcerated at the Guantanamo naval base in Cuba. The treatment given to these detainees has elicited widespread criticism, as well as unprecedented intellectual and legal debates regarding prisoners of war. In order to fully understand the position of the Guantanamo Bay detainees, one has to be aware of the origins of the prisoner-of-war phenomenon. From biblical times, through the countless conflicts that were waged across the globe through the ages, the concept of “prisoner of war” gradually evolved. Growing concern for the plight of prisoners of war was paralleled by the development of the laws of war, which sought to regulate the conduct of combatants during an armed conflict. The laws of war that have bearing on modern day States are those documented in the Geneva Conventions. The Geneva Conventions regulate armed conflicts and set out the requirements for prisoners of war, as well as their trial rights. The United States, in declaring the Guantanamo Bay detainees “unlawful combatants” or “illegal enemy combatants”, terms which are undefined in International Law, have sought to evade the prescripts of the Geneva Conventions. In direct contravention of the Geneva Conventions, the Guantanamo Bay detainees are denied the right to humane treatment, a fair trial and due process of the law. Prior to Hamdan vs Rumsfeld, the United States’ position was challenged with very little success. The Supreme Court, in Hamdan vs Rumsfeld, directed the president to accord the detainees the protections of the Third Geneva Convention. The relief brought by this decision was very short lived. In September 2006 the United States Congress passed the Military Commissions Act of 2006. This Bill gives the president of the United States unfettered power in dealing with anyone suspected of being a threat to the State, as well as the authorisation to interpret and apply the Geneva Conventions according to his sole discretion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Kilian, Clive Linton
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Prisoners of war -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Cuba -- Guantańamo Bay Naval Base , Detention of persons -- Guańtanamo Bay Naval Base (Cuba) , Human rights -- Government policy -- United States
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: vital:10278 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/826 , Prisoners of war -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- Cuba -- Guantańamo Bay Naval Base , Detention of persons -- Guańtanamo Bay Naval Base (Cuba) , Human rights -- Government policy -- United States
- Description: The United States of America has in its custody several hundred Taliban and Al Qaeda combatants who were captured after the September 11, 2001 attack and during the war in Afghanistan. These prisoners are incarcerated at the Guantanamo naval base in Cuba. The treatment given to these detainees has elicited widespread criticism, as well as unprecedented intellectual and legal debates regarding prisoners of war. In order to fully understand the position of the Guantanamo Bay detainees, one has to be aware of the origins of the prisoner-of-war phenomenon. From biblical times, through the countless conflicts that were waged across the globe through the ages, the concept of “prisoner of war” gradually evolved. Growing concern for the plight of prisoners of war was paralleled by the development of the laws of war, which sought to regulate the conduct of combatants during an armed conflict. The laws of war that have bearing on modern day States are those documented in the Geneva Conventions. The Geneva Conventions regulate armed conflicts and set out the requirements for prisoners of war, as well as their trial rights. The United States, in declaring the Guantanamo Bay detainees “unlawful combatants” or “illegal enemy combatants”, terms which are undefined in International Law, have sought to evade the prescripts of the Geneva Conventions. In direct contravention of the Geneva Conventions, the Guantanamo Bay detainees are denied the right to humane treatment, a fair trial and due process of the law. Prior to Hamdan vs Rumsfeld, the United States’ position was challenged with very little success. The Supreme Court, in Hamdan vs Rumsfeld, directed the president to accord the detainees the protections of the Third Geneva Convention. The relief brought by this decision was very short lived. In September 2006 the United States Congress passed the Military Commissions Act of 2006. This Bill gives the president of the United States unfettered power in dealing with anyone suspected of being a threat to the State, as well as the authorisation to interpret and apply the Geneva Conventions according to his sole discretion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
Development of a web-based interface for a wireless sensor network monitoring system
- Authors: Gumbo, Sibukele
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Wireless LAN , Sensor networks , Wireless communication systems , Web sites -- Design , User interfaces (Computer systems)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11372 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/68 , Wireless LAN , Sensor networks , Wireless communication systems , Web sites -- Design , User interfaces (Computer systems)
- Description: In the recent past, wireless sensor technology has undergone advancements in its autonomous data collecting aspects, and has become an area worth investigating in relation to structural monitoring applications. The system described in this thesis aims at acquiring, storing and displaying overhead transmission line related data collected from a wireless sensor network. Open source tools were used in its development and implementation. The inherent linearly aligned topology of transmission line monitoring devices is not without shortcomings; hence analysis of linear node placement, hardware and software components was carried out to determine the feasibility of the system. Their limited data processing capabilities has motivated the development of a post processing wireless sensor application in order to present any collected structural data in an understandable format.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Gumbo, Sibukele
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Wireless LAN , Sensor networks , Wireless communication systems , Web sites -- Design , User interfaces (Computer systems)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Computer Science)
- Identifier: vital:11372 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/68 , Wireless LAN , Sensor networks , Wireless communication systems , Web sites -- Design , User interfaces (Computer systems)
- Description: In the recent past, wireless sensor technology has undergone advancements in its autonomous data collecting aspects, and has become an area worth investigating in relation to structural monitoring applications. The system described in this thesis aims at acquiring, storing and displaying overhead transmission line related data collected from a wireless sensor network. Open source tools were used in its development and implementation. The inherent linearly aligned topology of transmission line monitoring devices is not without shortcomings; hence analysis of linear node placement, hardware and software components was carried out to determine the feasibility of the system. Their limited data processing capabilities has motivated the development of a post processing wireless sensor application in order to present any collected structural data in an understandable format.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
The relationship between leadership style and employee commitment: an exploratory study in an electricity utility of South Africa
- Authors: Nyengane, Mongezi Hutton
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Eskom (Firm) -- Management Leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Management -- Employee participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:759 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003880
- Description: This research investigates the relationship between leadership styles and different types of organisational commitment in Eskom Eastern Region. The literature provided discusses the leadership and organisational commitment. Information was gathered, using two instruments, from a sample of 86 leaders and 334 raters. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, which was formulated from Bass and Avolio’s (1997) Full Range Leadership Development Theory, was used to determine leadership style within the organisation. Employee commitment was captured using Bagraim’s (2004) Organisational Commitment, a South African adaptation of Meyer and Allen’s (1997) Three-Component Model of employee commitment. Leadership was identified as the independent variable and organisational commitment as the dependent variable. Data obtained from each of the research instruments was then statistically analysed. Two-tailed correlation analysis showed that although the relationship is not strong, there is a positive relationship between the transformational leadership behaviours and commitment (affective commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment). The correlation analysis also indicates a weak, but significant, positive relationship between transactional leadership behaviours and continuance commitment. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between transactional leadership behaviours and affective commitment as well as between transactional leadership behaviours and normative commitment. The correlation results showed a weak, but significant, negative correlation between laissez-faire leadership behaviours and affective commitment. There was no statistically significant correlation between laissez-faire leadership behaviours and continuance commitment as well as between laissez-faire leadership behaviours and normative commitment. Overall findings from this study suggest that transformational and transactional leadership behaviours do play important roles in determining levels of affective commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment. These findings also reveal that the laissez-faire leadership behaviour had a negative relationship with affective commitment. This research therefore adds a new dimension to the body of literature that will help researchers’ efforts to understand the relationship between leadership style and organisational commitment. As this research takes place in the South African context, it contributes to the bank of findings relating to the development of organisational commitment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007
- Authors: Nyengane, Mongezi Hutton
- Date: 2007
- Subjects: Eskom (Firm) -- Management Leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Management -- Employee participation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Organizational behavior -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Employee motivation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:759 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003880
- Description: This research investigates the relationship between leadership styles and different types of organisational commitment in Eskom Eastern Region. The literature provided discusses the leadership and organisational commitment. Information was gathered, using two instruments, from a sample of 86 leaders and 334 raters. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, which was formulated from Bass and Avolio’s (1997) Full Range Leadership Development Theory, was used to determine leadership style within the organisation. Employee commitment was captured using Bagraim’s (2004) Organisational Commitment, a South African adaptation of Meyer and Allen’s (1997) Three-Component Model of employee commitment. Leadership was identified as the independent variable and organisational commitment as the dependent variable. Data obtained from each of the research instruments was then statistically analysed. Two-tailed correlation analysis showed that although the relationship is not strong, there is a positive relationship between the transformational leadership behaviours and commitment (affective commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment). The correlation analysis also indicates a weak, but significant, positive relationship between transactional leadership behaviours and continuance commitment. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between transactional leadership behaviours and affective commitment as well as between transactional leadership behaviours and normative commitment. The correlation results showed a weak, but significant, negative correlation between laissez-faire leadership behaviours and affective commitment. There was no statistically significant correlation between laissez-faire leadership behaviours and continuance commitment as well as between laissez-faire leadership behaviours and normative commitment. Overall findings from this study suggest that transformational and transactional leadership behaviours do play important roles in determining levels of affective commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment. These findings also reveal that the laissez-faire leadership behaviour had a negative relationship with affective commitment. This research therefore adds a new dimension to the body of literature that will help researchers’ efforts to understand the relationship between leadership style and organisational commitment. As this research takes place in the South African context, it contributes to the bank of findings relating to the development of organisational commitment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2007