7490 research outputs found
Sort by
Exploring African vs Western values: A Case Study of Managing Conflict of Interest in the Public Sector
Get PDFThis study explored African versus (vs) Western values on managing conflict of interest in the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (ECPDWI). This research was evoked by the ethical challenges of gift giving, procurement and recruitment processes, which give rise to conflicts of interest. These challenges are caused by difficulties in applying public sector policy instruments to manage such conflicts of interest. These policies were developed on foundations of Western values, whereas most public servants subscribe to an African value system, hence there is conflict. This study explored the implications of these values in the management of conflicts of interest. The study was conducted using qualitative research and purposive sampling was used. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and a 60% participation rate was attained. This research enhances policy instruments to manage conflicts of interest within ECDPWI. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse, interpret and report on the data. Findings were reported under thematic headings of gift giving and receiving, conflicts of interest in procurement and recruitment, including relevance of the code of conduct and policies. The study found dichotomous views on gift giving from African and Western values perspectives. African perspectives believe that conflict of interest policies do not reflect the values of Ubuntu, which drives Africans’ human behaviour. The study observed that the mechanisms of managing conflicts of interest in procurement and recruitment are inadequate and ineffective from both an African and Western perspective. The study established that a code of conduct was irrelevant in managing conflicts of interest from African perspectives. Recommendations included amongst others, a review of the gift policy to consider observations identified on African gift giving, structured awareness programmes, strengthened accountability on managing conflicts of interest within procurement and recruitment respectively. Additionally, the development of a framework to manage conflict of interest within ECDPWI taking into consideration both African and Western values perspectives, was recommended. This study enhances scholarly debate on exploring African ethics within a business context, by suggesting a synthesis of African and Western values towards managing conflicts of interest in the South African public sector.Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 202
A Combined Experimental and Computational Study of Hydridospirophosphorane Ligand Systems Featuring Halogenated Mandelic Acids
Get PDFThe search for new stereoselective catalysts remains important for the isolation of enantiomeric products from racemic mixtures. The need exists for these catalysts to be more efficient, to be more cost effective as well as be stable over time without undergoing changes in molecular structure and selectivity. The purpose of this research project was to experimentally synthesise and characterise asymmetric catalysts for the use in enantioselective synthesis. The catalysts consisted of the main group element phosphorous as central atom, with the phenyl rings of mandelic acid ligands monosubstituted with halogen atoms fluorine, chlorine and bromine in different configurations. Ligand binding resulted in the formation of hydridospirophosphorane structures, from which the molecular properties and binding geometry of these molecules could be explained by the theory of apicophilicity. Characterization was performed by NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as diffraction studies that provided the experimental crystal structures. The structural, energetic and spectroscopy results were compared to the theoretically obtained molecular properties using DFT analysis. Various interand intramolecular interactions that existed between molecules found in crystal packing environments were discussed. Additional properties that were investigated included modelling solvation effects, molecular orbital analysis, Hirshfeld surfaces, orbital and atomic energy and population analysis as well as ESP energy calculations with the optimized crystal structures as input. Molecular overlay comparisons were also performed between the experimental and optimized structures where the effectiveness of various DFT functionals and basis sets could be determined. The method with the best overall cost-to-accuracy ratio was found to be the triple-zeta def2-tzvp basis set with B3LYP functional theory and the addition of Grimme’s dispersion correction. Results indicated differences in crystal packing depending largely on the given halogen atoms present in the substituted phenyl rings, with differences observed in electronegativity and steric effects. One of the crystal systems showed additional interactions with solvent molecules, giving the impression that obtaining crystal void formation was possible. Alterations in the transition state activation energies between the isomers of each molecule were found to be present and supported the theory behind the mechanism of stereochemical induction. The studied compounds were therefore effective in isolating different enantiomeric ligands by means of energy differences between conformers and displayed unique catalytic properties resulting from the phosphorous main group element. The hydridospirophosphoranes conformers responsible for the lowest theoretically calculated activation energy induced crystallization as was seen by diffraction results for all compounds. Even as an intriguing observation, crystallization will largely depend on solubility rather than a specific conformer’s amount in solution.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, 202
The socio-economic impact of communal property associations in O.R. Tambo district in the Eastern Cape
Get PDFLand is the most valuable resource in every nation since it supports all aspects of life by giving people food, shelter, and water. In South Africa, the legacy of the colonial past remains with ongoing poverty, landlessness, inequality, and insecurity to this day. Large tracts of property are still owned by the minority who benefited from apartheid colonialism, the land issue continues to be a major concern in South African politics. After 1994 the Department of Land Affairs released a White Paper on Land Reform that served as the model for many subsequent land reform initiatives, including land restitution. Former Bantustans contain a sizable quantity of unsurveyed land that is kept in trust and administered by traditional leaders who serve as custodians. In order to return the land to its rightful owners through land restitution as well as other land reform initiatives, the government established a legal organization, the Communal Property Association (CPA), against which the land could be registered. This study focuses on CPAs located on unsurveyed communal land in the Eastern Cape Province's OR Tambo District. There has been discussion in parliament and among academics about the effectiveness of CPAs in addressing socioeconomic needs. Various studies and departmental assessments have revealed that CPAs are not in compliance with the Act that governs them, and the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Land Reform developed a regularization intervention strategy to close administrative gaps in slow land transfer, membership, financial reporting, asset management, and accountability. This study investigates whether CPAs provide socioeconomic benefits, and assesses their current practicability. Five CPAs were sampled, each located in different towns in the OR Tambo District of the Eastern Cape. The findings are that while there has been a socio-economic impact in the broader community where CPAs are located there has been limited benefit to intended beneficiaries. CPAs and their administration are in dire need of change. Too large CPA groupings, a lack of understanding of the constitution, a lack of business skills, a lack of asset management, corrupt transactions on CPA land, traditional leadership interference, delays in land surveying and transfer, a lack of government support, and land invasions are all challenges. The government needs to prioritize land surveying and transfer to beneficiaries in order to reduce land invasions and conflicts with traditional leaders.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 202
NSFAS-funded Students’ Financial Wellness Perceptions and Experiences as a Component of Holistic Wellbeing: An Exploratory Study
Get PDFThousands of students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds are funded annually by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Since its inception in 1995, it has had great success providing opportunities for those in poverty, working towards rectifying the injustices of Apartheid. However, attrition rates are high. Higher Education research has recently focused on student wellbeing and wellness. The latest research in 2020 from Nelson Mandela University (NMU) recommends further studies in financial wellness, as it lacks representation in the literature. A qualitative, explorative study was conducted with NSFAS-funded student participants who are currently registered at NMU. Six participants were recruited using a snowballing sampling technique and were interviewed using a face-to-face semi-structured interview. The aim was to explore NSFAS-funded students’ perceptions of financial wellness and their financial experiences during university. The financial experiences were reviewed as a component of holistic wellbeing. Prilleltensky’s ecological model of justice and wellbeing provided the theoretical framework with a financial wellness model integrated into Prilleltensky’s model. Data analysis, using thematic analysis, was carried out, and a model of trustworthiness was utilized to ensure the reliability and validity of the qualitative data and research process. Findings from the research conducted revealed that financial wellness is perceived as the meeting of basic needs whereas associations of financial wellness are perceived in greater quality and quantity of possessions and greater psychological wellbeing. Obtaining financial wellness is dependent on family, personal choice, and financial literacy skills. NSFAS errors generates stress and the NSFAS process creates a reciprocal financial relationship between the student and the family system. The university provides institutional support which can assist or create more stress for students. Participants’ financial experiences impact their psychological and social wellbeing, but despite these difficulties participants show resilience when faced with adversity.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Science, School of Behavioral Sciences, 202
Performance management of the academic staffs in Ugandan public and private universities
Get PDFThis study, at the outset, seeks to assess the effectiveness of a performance management system (PMS) in determining the academic staffs‟ performance in teaching and research in selected Ugandan public and private universities. The participants of this study comprised full-time and parttime academic staffs from public and private universities located in the four regions in Uganda. The purposive sampling method was used to select the universities for this study. Convenient sampling was used to select the academic staffs in the universities. An online structured questionnaire collected quantitative data and analysed it using descriptive and inferential statistics. The quantitative analysis of the responses showed that many participants were made up of public university academic staffs, lecturers, assistant lecturers, master‟s degree holders and permanent fulltime staffs. Factor analyses were run for each section and sub-section within the questionnaire to explore the dimensionality of the scales and generate composite factor scores to be used for further analyses. While, internal consistency was examined using Cronbach‟s alpha. In addition, descriptive statistics for the factors within sections were determined. Pearson‟s correlation coefficients were calculated for each pair of factor scores for each section and sub-section to explore the relationships between the factors identified in this study. Additionally, the comparison of factor scores across selected demographic variables and independent samples t-tests for the equality of means was used to establish whether there were significant differences between the factor scores of various demographic variables. Finally, one-way ANOVAs were considered to compare the composite factor scores across various demographic variables. Factor score analysis showed that 44.9% of the academic staffs had a moderate attitude towards the PMS process; whereas 84.9% had a high attitude towards PA criteria and 64.2% had a high attitude towards PFPS. The results of the study suggest a high attitude of the academic staffs towards PA and PFP in teaching and research. In addition, the majority (78.0%) of the academic staffs had a high attitude towards their self-performance planning in their institution. The results of the study suggest a high level of self-performance planning of the academic staffs in teaching and research in the selected Ugandan HEIs. A reasonable number (45.4%) of the academic staffs from public universities and 49.1% from private universities had a high attitude towards supervisors‟ participation in performance planning and performance feedback. Moreover, 44.0% of the academic staffs from public universities and 66.7% of the academic staffs from private universities rated the workload as high. The results of the study suggest that the academic staffs‟ workload was high. In xx addition, factor score analysis showed that the academic staffs‟ performance rewards were low. Only 24.9% of the academic staffs had received more than 67% of the available rewards suggesting that the academic staffs‟ managers in the surveyed institutions did not use a variety of performance rewards to compensate for the academic staffs‟ performance. In addition, the average factor score for teaching skills was 94.8%, while perceived teaching abilities were 95.1% high on average. Besides, the factor score analysis results showed that teaching skills were 84.81% and 86.34%, respectively. Only 29.1% of the academic staffs from both public and private universities had high research skills. The results suggested that the academic staffs‟ teaching skills were high while their research skills were low. The findings thus suggested that the academic staffs in Ugandan public and private universities were highly involved in teaching activities, but their involvement in research activities was low. Similarly, results from testing hypotheses suggested that academic staffs in the surveyed Ugandan public and private universities rated PA criteria and PFPS higher than the PMS process. The study results indicated that self-performance planning and supervisors‟ involvement in performance feedback improved academic staffs‟ teaching skills. In contrast, performance planning, review, clarity on feedback, evaluation and rewards increased academic staffs‟ performance in perceived teaching abilities. In addition, an increase in the research workload contributed to an increase in the academic staffs‟ perception of their research knowledge and skills. The study made major conclusions regarding academic staffs‟ PM in Ugandan public and private universities. First, correlation results on performance planning and teaching skills and abilities for public and private universities were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Therefore, the study concludes that the academic staffs‟ performance planning in the selected Ugandan HEIs positively affected the academic staffs‟ performance in teaching. In addition, correlation results for supervisor involvement in feedback and teaching skills for both public and private universities were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Thus, the study concludes that supervisors‟ involvement in feedback improved academic staffs‟ performance in teaching skills. In addition, correlation results showed that performance reviews and teaching abilities were statistically significant for public universities (p=0.001), and (p=0.034) for private universities. Thus, the study concludes that the academic staffs‟ performance reviews improved academic staffs‟ teaching abilities in selected public and private universities. Equally, correlation results for performance evaluation and perceived teaching abilities for public universities was statistically significant (p< 0.001) for public universities, and (p=0.006) for private universities. Therefore, the study concludes that performance evaluation increased xxi teaching abilities of the academic staffs in both Ugandan public and private universities. In addition, rewards significantly impacted academic staffs‟ perceived teaching abilities in private universities. Correlation results for rewards and perceived teaching abilities for private universities was statistically significant (p< 0.011). Therefore, the study concludes that the more academic staffs were rewarded, the more they participated in setting, administering and marking tests, assisgnments and examinations, and adhering to deadlines set for administering tests and assignments. Similarly, the study made various recommendations to improve academic staffs‟ performance in teaching and research in Ugandan public and private universities. To achieve the required performance in teaching and research, the study recommends that the academic staffs be involved in the entire planning process to be aware of the required performance and the kind of results expected from their performance and work towards achieving the set performance in teaching and research. Additionally, performance reviews and feedback should be one-on-one discussions between the managers and the academic staffs to identify how far the staffs are performing towards the set goals. The study recommends that the academic staffs need information regarding their performance for feedback to be effective. In addition, the study recommends that the academic staffs‟ managers should increase financial and non-financial rewards to motivate the academic staffs to increase their performance in teaching. Correlation results showed that rewards had a significant impact on teaching abilities (p=0.011). Thus, rewards should as well be increased to improve academic staffs‟ teaching abilities.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, School of Research and Engagement, 202
A model for integrating user experience into Agile software development
Get PDFThe Agile software development methodology has progressed over time and has become the most popularly used methodology for many projects owing to its adaptable and advanced nature. Agile is an iterative and incremental method that supports project teams to maintain the growing demands of present-day organisations. In software development, it is imperative to build software that ensures a holistic user experience and meets requirements. Software Developers and User Experience Designers focus on users’ preferences and requirements while navigating an application through an approach called user-centred design (UCD). The purpose of Agile user-experience (UX) methods is to build user-centric software solutions using the Agile methodology. Literature indicates a scarcity of Agile-UX models to integrate user experience design processes effectively within Agile software development. Hence, the motivation for this study was to create a practical model for integrating user experience design processes into Agile software development for implementation by software development teams. Initially, the study defines the problem that formed the basis for the initiation of this research, followed by the research questions and objectives that are the fundamental portion of the development of this study. This study highlights the benefits and challenges of Agile-UX methods through a case study of Agile software development teams in South Africa. Furthermore, additional best practices are recommended. A survey questionnaire was distributed to software development teams to identify the various factors that lead to implementing Agile-UX methods. The distribution of the survey questionnaire supported the theoretical perspective of this study. Furthermore, Agile development (AD) and UCD are not easy to combine as UCD aims to understand users before software product development, and no activities are performed before development starts in AD. Lastly, a significant benefit is that user-centred software systems create and promote team collaboration and communication and, ultimately, successful software projects.Thesis (MIT) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Information and Communication Technology, 202
Diet and lifestyle changes during the Covid-19 pandemic among health care professionals in the Eastern Cape province
Get PDFBackground: The unprecedented COVID-19 era is one that posed drastic changes and challenges to healthcare professionals and healthcare system at large. During disastrous events such as the pandemic, psychosocial stress is expected among health care professionals with the development of different copying mechanisms. It is therefore important to ensure preparedness among these individuals in the event of future pandemics. It is essentials for healthcare professionals to practice healthy dietary habits and regular physical activity which has a positive impact on the immune system by improving its response to viral and bacterial infections and supports mental health. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine dietary and lifestyle changes among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive, and explorative research approach was followed. Data was collected through an online survey and analysed using MS Excel® version 2209, SPSS version 27, cross tabulation and Pearson’s chi-square test (p-value<0.05) The questionnaire consisted of four sections that had demographics, lifestyle, dietary and COVID-19 related questions. The study sample were Eastern Cape healthcare professionals. Results: The findings indicated that health care professionals’ dietary habits and lifestyle were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 37.5% (n=131) had indicated that their weight had increased, while 20.4% (n=71) indicated a decrease in weight during the pandemic. It is understandable that there was weight gain during the pandemic as these professionals consumed more alcohol and fast foods with less exercise. There was a high caffeine consumption and decreased sleep time, which can affect productivity, resilience and mental health. The negative impacts posed by the pandemic need to be mitigated as it has the potential to lead to non-communicable diseases and cause even more of a burden to the health system. Authorities need to work with different healthcare professionals to develop programmes relating to coping mechanisms during any state of disaster and support wellness initiatives. Dietitians should be involved in order to coordinate and promote healthy eating through regular training and education of other HCP.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural & Lifestyle Sciences, 202
Enhanced peoples housing process and income generation: a case study of the Vulindlela self-help housing programme in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Get PDFThe study presented in this thesis examines the effects of the Vulindlela self-help housing programme’s governmentality on income-generating opportunities by beneficiaries; the rationale and assumptions underpinning the self-help housing programme; and evaluates whether the programme was implemented according to policy. The study also investigates the relationship between the Vulindlela self-help housing programme’s beneficiary involvement, beneficiary satisfaction, and skills development provided by the programme on income opportunities for beneficiaries. Using the empirical case study of the Vulindlela self-help housing programme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, this study verifies the EPHP’s view that self-help housing programmes provide fertile ground for livelihoods, income generation and asset ownership. The study is underpinned by the interpretivist paradigm, which relies on qualitative and quantitative data, comprising primary data (individual key-informant interviews and survey data); as well as secondary qualitative data from desktop research. It utilises a Foucauldian approach, in which the rationalities and practices of the self-help housing programme, and the effects of the technologies of self, power, self-esteem, self-responsibilisation and the market, are evaluated to see how these factors have influenced income generation by beneficiaries in one of the largest self-help housing policy programmes in SA. These technologies are examined in the context of the Vulindlela programme using Foucault’s theory of governmentality. The findings confirm that the Vulindlela programme was implemented according to its policy. However, not all aspects of the policy programme were understood or may have been implemented during the programme. As such, not all participants (i.e. housing beneficiaries, government officials and cooperative directors) understood the intended outcomes nor how these policy outcomes would be realised. Despite many challenges that confronted the implementation of the Vulindlela self-help housing programme, the study concludes that the governmentality of the Vulindlela self-help housing programme had a positive impact on income opportunities for beneficiaries. The programme is one that finds itself held between two contradicting rationalities: neoliberal aspirations (provision of market and income opportunities for cooperatives that vii act as contractors), and moral aspirations (initiating empowerment of disadvantaged beneficiaries/ community development). The rationale behind the Vulindlela self-help housing programme was about providing income opportunities for beneficiaries and was heavily influenced by the neoliberal ideas of the UN-Habitat and the World Bank. Key policy recommendations, informed by implementation challenges of the Vulindlela programme, are offered for policy adjustments, as well as a conceptual framework for the design and implementation of self-help housing programmes to realise intended policy outcomes, that is income generation by housing beneficiaries and enhancement of local economic opportunities through the programme.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Engineering Built Environment and Technology, School of Built Environment and Civil Engineering, 202
Factors contributing to operational excellence in a pharmaceutical manufacturer in East London, South Africa
Get PDFTo ensure that high quality, secure and effective pharmaceutical goods are consistently produced and supplied to the appropriate end user, pharmaceutical manufacturing companies operate in a highly regulated environment. The idea that quality is not assessed is incorrect; rather, it is built, is at the heart of this production environment. Since fulfilling deadlines on time in full is the benchmark for good customer service, to achieve this results in numerous quality limits that have an impact on the quick delivery of medicines. Companies are often competing for the same clients; thus, there is increasing competition, which is mostly due to the availability of reasonable and inexpensive generics. The most profitable company will be the one which operates and produces at low cost, with great efficiency and economies of scale. Furthermore, the generic pharmaceutical firm is not immune from the fundamental purpose of business, which is to make money for the shareholders and add value for the clients. In order to maintain competitiveness in a pharmaceutical company which operates in East London, South Africa, this study aims to identify the factors that lead to perceived operational excellence. Respondents were given a standardised questionnaire; thus the study employed a quantitative research methodology. The sample size for the study was determined by randomly selecting 100 employees, composed of Operators, General Assistants, Production Team Leaders, Production Pharmacists, Pharmacist Assistants and Artisans from Pharmaceutical Company X. With the aid of a research assistant, the questionnaire was distributed to and answered by respondents. The gathered data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27 for Windows. The results of the study were then shown in cross tabulations, pie charts and bar graphs. The main outcomes of the study revealed that the majority of consumers believed pharmaceutical products were of a high calibre in terms of quality. Furthermore, the majority of participants agreed that operational excellence is important in companies that produce fast-moving consumer goods, like the pharmaceutical industry does. The survey also revealed the need for operational excellence in the pharmaceutical industry. Given that quality in the pharmaceutical industry has grown to be a crucial issue, the study suggests that the importance of pharmaceutical product quality needs to be more widely understood. Academics, pharmaceutical companies and legislators will all benefit from the study.Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 202
Key drivers for enhancing sustainable livelihoods of national park adjacent communities in Uganda: subtitle if needed. If no subtitle follow instructions in manual
No full textThe growing concern about the negative impact of tourism on the social, cultural, and economic systems of local communities has caused policymakers to envision improved methods of tourism management. Governments realise that the feasibility of protected areas is dependent on giving considerable attention to the livelihoods of host communities and, according to them, a greater role in the management of protected areas. The worrying poverty rate of national park adjacent communities in Uganda has prompted an inquiry into the key drivers that could enhance sustainable livelihoods. As such, an inquiry into the intervention of tourism social enterprises in enhancing the livelihood of park adjacent communities has been sought. Presently, limited academic research has been conducted on the influence of vulnerability context, livelihood capital access and livelihood strategies on enhancing the sustainable livelihood outcomes of national park adjacent communities. Furthermore, the links between tourism social entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods have hardly been explored in literature. Against this background, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of vulnerability context, livelihood capital access and livelihood strategies on the sustainable livelihood outcomes of national park adjacent communities where tourism social entrepreneurship is practised in Uganda. Considering the primary objective of the study and the researcher’s assumptions, a positivistic research paradigm with a deductive approach to theory development was adopted. A quantitative methodological approach was selected, and a survey research strategy and a cross-sectional approach were employed. The study used a questionnaire to gather primary data from potential respondents who were selected through simple random sampling. From the data collection, 364 usable questionnaires from Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA) – exemplifying a tourism social enterprise were obtained. The primary data collected was analysed to investigate the hypothesised relationships between the independent and dependent variables. An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed to establish the factor structure of the variables and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for each of the factors was assessed based on various goodness-of-fit indices. The suitability of the measuring instrument was determined by the validity and reliability tests from which the average variance extracted (AVE) estimates and squared correlations between the constructs and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were reported; validity and reliability assessments of the factors were conducted to confirm the suitability of the measuring instrument. A modified hypothesised model was derived based on these analyses, after which the descriptive statistics and correlation results on the dependent and independent variables were then reported. The study used Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) statistical technique to test the significance of the hypothesised relationships. Significant relationships between resilience to shock and sustainable livelihood outcomes (improved well-being) and also resilience to seasonality and sustainable livelihood outcomes (improved well-being) for the case of vulnerability context. With regard to livelihood capital access, a significant relationship was found between social capital access and sustainable livelihood outcomes (improved well-being). A significant relationship between tourism-related strategies and sustainable livelihood outcomes (improved well-being was also found).This study has contributed to the body of knowledge of sustainable livelihoods in general as well as how vulnerability context, livelihood capital access and livelihood strategies influence sustainable livelihood outcomes of national park adjacent communities where tourism social entrepreneurship is practised. Theoretically, this study contributes to the application and extension of the sustainable livelihood framework by integrating a theory of access and the capability approach in assessing livelihoods. Practical recommendations were made that could enhance the sustainable livelihood of national park adjacent communities.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Management Sciences, 202