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Investigating the competitiveness of small and medium-sized management consulting enterprises in serving state-owned enterprises: subtitle if needed. If no subtitle follow instructions in manual
No full textThis dissertation examines the competitiveness of management consulting (MC) of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in serving state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in South Africa (SA). The research focused on the preparedness, scalability, and sustainability of MC SMMEs in addressing the strategic challenges faced by SOEs. The mixed-method approach combined self-administered interviews with management consultants and a comprehensive literature review. The qualitative research method allowed for an in-depth exploration of the factors influencing the competitiveness of MC SMMEs. The interviews revealed that MC SMMEs possess the necessary technical expertise and skills, yet they face hurdles related to scalability and sustainability inherent in SMMEs. These challenges include limited access to funding, inadequate marketing capacities, and delayed payment for services rendered. The study highlights that MC SMMEs can handle high-value projects for SOEs but they encounter difficulties within the SOE environment, which is marked by ethical concerns. It emphasises the importance of vigilance and maintaining discipline in service delivery to address these challenges. Additionally, the research provides practical recommendations for SOEs to support and facilitate the growth of MC SMMEs, enabling innovative solutions in their services. By evaluating the competitiveness of MC SMMEs in serving SOEs, this research contributes to understanding the MC industry landscape in SA. It aims to assist in strengthening the capabilities and credibility of local MC SMMEs, fostering their growth and sustainability. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, industry practitioners, and stakeholders seeking to enhance the role of MC SMMEs in driving economic growth and innovation within the context of SOEs.Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 202
The State of the Adoption of BIM in South Africa (A Kwa Zulu Natal Evaluation)
Get PDFThe construction sector is a key role player in South Africa’s economic development but is also known to have poor quality standards, and efficiency and lacks sustainable development. Building information modelling (BIM) has internationally been leveraged to improve the industry’s efficiency and could allow the local built environment sector to attain the same kinds of productivity gains that have been realised in other sectors. The value proposition of the wholescale BIM adoption in South Africa is irrefutable, given the widespread adoption by other nations. However, in South Africa, there is no known official position regarding mandating BIM for Infrastructure Projects. The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has maintained that the initial adoption of BIM in South Africa must be market and client driven. This study explores the issues surrounding the implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) through the research lens of built environment professionals based in Durban by ascertaining the state of BIM implementation amongst role players in the local construction industry. An understanding of the relative level of knowledge of BIM and its potential uses will be analysed. It explores the barriers to BIM and how it affects its uptake in organisations and pervasive use in the local construction sector. The methodology for this paper is based on a literature review of the key global trends relative to BIM implementation and thereafter a quantitative research methodology was then employed. A key finding was that the lack of knowledge about what BIM is and its potential uses, which is pervasive among the built environment professions affects the extent of its adoption. Other important outcomes were found to be the prevalence of the notion that scarcity of appropriately trained or experienced professionals in BIM in organisations retards its adoption and implementation, and the overarching perception that the implementation of BIM is constrained by resistance to change by staff and leadership at an organisational level. The paper concludes with observations and recommendations that flow from the research findings.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, School of Built Environment and Civil Engineering, 202
Management strategies for reducing pathogens to improve project delivery in Thembisile Hani local municipality
Get PDFThis study focused on exploring management strategies that can be used to reduce pathogens in order to improve project delivery in Thembisile Hani Local Municipality (THLM). The main motivation behind this study is to identify the critical role that is played by municipalities in ensuring effective and efficient service delivery in the country. Municipalities are tasked with implementing service delivery and developmental projects in their communities with the aim of enhancing the quality of life of residents and contributing to economic development. However, the implementation of such projects often faces several obstacles which result in delays in their completion, ultimately incurring higher costs than initially budgeted for. The study sought to achieve the following objectives: to determine how people’s deliberate practices delay project delivery; to determine how project situations such as scope changes delay project delivery; to determine how the nature of task such as approvals by the client delay project delivery; to determine how THLM organisational structure or operations stall the smooth delivery of projects; and to recommend management strategies that will reduce pathogens and improve project delivery in THLM. The study was conducted using the quantitative approach, with a survey questionnaire being used to collect primary data from a sample of 78 employees from the municipalities. The sample was selected using the stratified sampling technique. The study found that there are a number of challenges that result in delays in the delivery of infrastructure projects in THLM. These include supply chain and procurement management challenges, lack of senior management support, lack of skills and competencies, changes in the scope of projects during implementation, delays in project approval, poor planning, and ineffective communication. The study recommended that THLM should enhance the skills of employees in the organisation to ensure that they have the right knowledge and skills that are required to implement infrastructure projects effectively. In addition, the project design stage should be carried out thoroughly to ensure that each project has a clearly defined scope. Furthermore, it is critical for the municipality to improve project planning and communication. Proper planning of projects ensures that the correct scope, schedule, and critical paths are developed, which ensures the smooth running of the project. Finally, management should improve supply chain and procurement management practices in the organisation as they are critical for the success of project delivery. Some limitations of this study relate to the focus on one municipality only as well as the use of only one method of data collection. iv Further research can be conducted on the same topic, focusing on a number of municipalities in the province in order to obtain better understanding of municipal project management and the overall challenges that affect project delivery in the organisations. The study can adopt a mixed-methods approach in order to obtain in-depth understanding of the research problem.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Technology, 202
'N polisistemiese ondersoek na die poësie van instagram-digters
Get PDFDie doel van hierdie studie is om die opkoms van Afrikaanse Instagrampoësie en die literêre en sosiale status daarvan te ondersoek met spesifieke verwysing na die volgende Afrikaanse aanlyn digters en hul selfpublikasies: Skakerings van geel (@skildermetdigkuns) en Alles wat ek wou sê (@ontmasker), sowel as die sogenaamde Rupi Kaur van Afrikaanse Instagrampoësie, (@kaalwoorde), se digbundel Kosmos en komete wat onlangs deur LAPA Uitgewers gepubliseer is. Daar word ondersoek ingestel na die manier waarop die metamodernistiese konteks waarbinne digitale of e-letterkunde ontwikkel het, in dié skryfstyl manifesteer. In my ondersoek fokus ek op metamodernisme eerder as postmodernisme, omdat metamodernisme groter klem op die waarheid en die objektiewe realiteit plaas, wat ʼn opvallende tema in die werk van die gekose digters is. Die impak van aanlyn poësie op die identiteit en voorstelling van die Zoomer-generasie (individue wat ná 1996 gebore is, andersins bekend as generasie Z) word nagespeur ten einde die impak van hierdie poësie op die gemiddelde Afrikaanse Zoomer-leser te bepaal. Verskeie vrae rakende die posisie van Instagrampoësie binne die Afrikaanse literêre diskoers en kanon word ook onder die loep geneem. Die analise en interpretasie van die gedigte is daarop gemik om die literêre status van hierdie gedigte te ondersoek op grond van skryfpatrone, die evolusie daarvan en die gewildheid wat gemeet word in terme van followers (voortaan volgelinge), likes (voortaan bekend as voorkeure) en comments (voortaan kommentaar).1 Daar is bewys dat die metamodernistiese konteks (wat breedvoerig in die studie gekonseptualiseer en in terme van Suid-Afrika gekontekstualiseer word) waarin hierdie gedigte geformuleer en versprei is, ʼn beduidende invloed het op die toon en temas daarvan. Daar word getoon dat die tematiese stryd met kwessies soos identiteit, geloof en liefde in dié woordkuns verband hou met die sosiopolitieke konteks van die Zoomer-generasie. Hierdie metamodernistiese toestand word gekenmerk deur progressiewe denke, diversiteit en ʼn samelewing wat voortdurend verander. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat Afrikaanse Instagrampoësie ʼn literêre diskoers skep met die doel om nuwe idees met betrekking tot die waarhede van ʼn generasie wat dikwels misverstaan en misgekyk word, voor te stel. Die vryheid van Instagrampoësie bied met ander woorde ʼn geleentheid vir Zoomer-denkers om hulle stempel binne ʼn metamoderne samelewing af te druk. Deur Even-Zohar se 1 Instagram-terme wat verwys na die hoeveelheid mense wat die digter volg, sy/haar/sig gedigte lees en dan ook daarop reageer op ʼn “hou van/hou nie van nie” glyskaal. 4 polisisteemteorie en die leser-reaksie-teorie by die ondersoek na die skep en ontvangs van aanlyn poësie te betrek, word aangetoon dat e-letterkunde wel ʼn plek binne die Afrikaanse literêre diskoers vind. Hoewel die skeppingsproses, publikasie en ontvangs van aanlyn poësie verskil van dié van ander literêre vorme, stel die studie hierdie vorm van poësie aan die Afrikaanse literêre diskoers en kanon bekend.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, 202
Teacher's perceptions of the policy on progression in the Further Education and Training phase in New Brighton high schools, Gqeberha
Get PDFThe South African education system is severely faced with high dropout challenges. In recent years, the Department of Basic Education witnessed a significant improvement in learners' dropout rates. To address the high rates of learners dropping out of school, the government introduced the Policy on Progression (2013). This study aimed to explore teachers’ perceptions of the Policy on Progression. The qualitative research approach guided this study. A phenomenology was employed in this study. Purposive sampling was chosen to select the participants of this study. Teachers teaching in the FET Phase in New Brighton high schools participated in the study. The participants consisted of ten (10) teachers, two (2) Post Level 1, and three (3) School Management Team (SMT) members from each school. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data for this study. The research procedure involved interviewing teacher participants about their lived experiences within the context of their teaching environments. Raw data were transcribed, analysed using thematic analysis, and reduced into smaller units to understand them. The raw data were categorised into units of meaning for analysis and the identification of themes. A policy can negatively impact teaching, learning, and assessment if not interpreted correctly and implemented appropriately. This impact of interpretation and implementation of this policy has behavioural implications that affect the well-being of learners and teachers. In this study, the researcher sought to understand whether teachers and the school management teams believe that the Policy on Progression has yielded the intended results by exploring teacher perceptions dealing with high school progression. Thus, new understandings of the policy would emerge, and the participants would advise the stakeholders about the policy from an informed position. The findings of this study reveal the fair part of the Policy on Progression on learners, as it allows continuity. The findings further reveal that the Policy on Promotion has yielded the intended results. However, the findings of this study revealed a partial relationship that exists between the parents of the progressed learner. Furthermore, the findings indicate challenges in the Policy on Progression such as favouritism, inconsistency, lack of monitoring from the Department of Basic Education, and inferences with the progression process.Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, 202202
Adherence narratives of COVID-19 in KwaNobuhle Township, Eastern Cape
Get PDFThe emergence of COVID-19 triggered a global health crisis that not only took many lives but disrupted economies, strained healthcare systems, and impacted social relations globally. KwaNobuhle township in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa falls under the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. This municipality experienced some of South Africa’s highest COVID-19 fatalities, with the lowest levels of testing, active cases and hospitalisation in the country. This study investigates the narratives about COVID-19 prevention measures in KwaNobuhle. Primarily, it seeks to reveal how young and elderly peoples’ perceptions about COVID-19 influenced their compliance with prevention measures such as lockdown, testing and self-admission to hospital when sick. Fifteen residents of KwaNobuhle, who identify as Black people between 18 and 30 years and 50 and 65 years, were recruited as participants in this study. The two groups of study participants were recruited in order to enable an investigation into intergenerational narratives about infectious disease. In this study, Intergenerational narratives encompass stories, beliefs, and cultural traditions that transmit values, historical experiences, and a shared sense of identity, fostering connections between generations. This study provides an historical overview of how communities dealt with previous epidemics in South Africa and analyses how COVID-19 disrupted the lives of people with the preventative measures and changes that were implemented by the government. Social constructivism is a theory that emphasizes the role of social interactions and cultural context in shaping individuals' understanding of the world. Social constructivism theory is employed to frame the investigation of narratives of COVID-19 and is based on qualitative data collected through in-depth telephonic individual interviews. The data reveals that participants’ perceptions and narratives of diseases are shaped and influenced by their experiences and knowledge of the same. The findings confirm that the two different age groups of participants have distinct perspectives of COVID-19. Older participants rely on their past experiences of diseases, while younger participants form their understanding through mainstream and social media. This study further examines the inadequacy of healthcare system preparedness in South Africa to adequately address the onset of infectious diseases. Furthermore, this investigation unveils the way preventive measures against COVID-19 imposed inconvenience upon individuals' daily lives and overall lifestyles. These measures included curfews, a limitation on crowd size in public spaces vii such as markets, and the prohibition of alcohol consumption. Individuals who were reliant on the alcohol industry as their primary source of income were adversely affected. African traditional practices were also impacted, as burial custom alterations resulted. Lastly, the study illuminates that the acceptance and uptake of vaccinations was influenced by vaccine hesitancy, with social media serving as a prominent conduit for the proliferation of conspiracy theories in the context of COVID-19.Thesis (Ma) -- Faculty of Humanities, 202
Honouring the Dead: The Psychological Consequences of the COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions on Burial Practices and Rituals, amongst AmaXhosa from the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Get PDFHonouring the dead is upheld in religions and cultures across the world and embedded in rituals and rites of passage that must be adhered to. In many instances, religio-cultural beliefs synthesise or overlap, creating a mutual influence on the person. These religio-cultural rituals are symbolic and important for the living, but they are also equally important for the dead in order to ensure that their souls are returned to the source of their belief system. The COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in South Africa altered death ceremonies and rituals by limiting social gatherings to 50 people to ensure safety protocols like mask wearing and physical distancing. Additionally, family members were prohibited from interacting with the deceased’s body, including performing rituals like washing and dressing, to prevent virus spread. The resultant psychological consequences of these changes to burial practices have not been fully explored in the South African context, and given the importance rituals play, it becomes important to understand them. Studying the psychological consequences of the changes provided insights into individuals’ grief and loss coping in the absence of traditional burial rituals and practices. This is aimed at assisting with the development of interventions for mental health and well-being in future crises. The study explored the psychological consequences of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on AmaXhosa burial practices and rituals in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. AmaXhosa have a rich cultural heritage that places great significance on death and burial rituals. These rituals serve as a way to honour and remember the deceased, provide closure for the bereaved, and maintain social cohesion within the community. The absence of these rituals during the COVID-19 lockdown had consequences for the AmaXhosa’s psychological and religio-cultural well-being. The exploration of their experiences was thus important because it shed light on the importance of these rituals and will help devise innovative ways to address their psychological needs during times of loss. The study utilised a qualitative method, conducting interviews with AmaXhosa aged 18 and older. ParticipantsThesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Health Science, 202
Experiences of mothers who are on tuberculosis treatment While caring for their children in Nelson Mandela Bay health district
Get PDFWomen and mothers have an important role to play as caregivers of their children. However, mothers are often faced with challenges with fulfilling this important role. Many women value the caring role as a mother over other areas of their lives, and for ill women, such as those with tuberculosis (TB) and those on TB treatment, it can be difficult to relinquish maternal responsibility. Indeed, many mothers in South Africa and other low- and middle-income countries develop TB during pregnancy and postpartum because their immune systems are compromised. For a mother who is chronically ill, carrying out a mother’s caregiving role presents a range of challenges. However, few studies have addressed this problem or explored the experiences of such mothers. The purpose of the study was to understand the experiences of mothers who are on TB treatment while caring for their children in order to establish their support needs and thereby develop recommendations to assist CHWs, nurses and nurse managers at primary healthcare (PHC) clinics to provide optimum care to such women. The Socio-Ecological model was used as the theoretical lens to explore the phenomenon under investigation. A qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research design was identified as most suited to respond to the research question. Purposive sampling was used to select both the participants and the clinics in the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District (NMBHD) for the purpose of this study. The population was mothers on TB treatment caring for their children (aged five years or younger) who were attending either one of the two of the largest PHC clinics in Sub-district C in the NMBH. Altogether ten mothers on TB treatment caring for their children took part in individual semi-structured interviews conducted telephonically. Ethical clearance was obtained from Nelson Mandela University and permission was obtained from the Department of Health (DoH), district office, operational managers at the respective clinics, and the participants involved in the study. Trustworthiness was enhanced by ensuring credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Ethical principles were upheld throughout the course of this study namely respect for persons, beneficence and justice. All interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the data was analysed using Tesch’s method of data analysis to identify the themes. Three themes came out of the data, namely: Theme 1: Mothers expressed having to navigate a range of physical and psychosocial challenges while caring for their v children; Theme 2: Mothers struggled to perform motherly roles while on TB treatment; Theme 3: Mothers described their relationships with their family, community members and clinic health practitioners. The experiences of the participants were described using direct quotations from the interviews followed by a literature control used to verify the participants’ experiences. Thereafter, the findings were used to develop recommendations to optimise the care and support of mothers on TB treatment who are caring for their children. Four recommendations were developed: Recommendation 1: Prepare and support mothers with TB to care for themselves and their children; Recommendation 2: Assist CHWs and nurses to care and support mothers with TB and their children; Recommendation 3: Prepare and support family members to support mothers with TB and their children and Recommendation 4: Educate community members regarding the needs of mothers with TB. There is limited existing research on mothers who are on TB treatment while caring for their children. This research study helped to fill this gap, particularly in an urban Eastern Cape context. The findings illustrated mothers’ physical and psychosocial challenges, as well their role-related challenges and finally the challenges related to the various spousal, family, community and clinic relationships that influence their experience of caring for their child while on TB treatment.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Health Science, 202
Evaluation of the antidiabetic potential, safety and efficacy of selected natural products using zebrafish larvae and in vitro bioassays
Get PDFAbstract.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, School of Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, 202
Marine benthic (epilithic) diatom communities along the coast of South Africa: A contribution to their diversity, spatio-temporal variations, and ecology
Get PDFDiatoms remain one of the most diverse and ecologically important microorganisms within microphytobenthos. The highly variable South African coastline, comprised of heterogeneous rocky intertidal habitats provides the ideal study area to investigate epilithic microphytobenthos and their associated influential drivers. In South Africa, in-depth taxonomic research on marine littoral diatoms exists, however, quantitative research and knowledge on their abundance, diversity, community composition and distribution remain limited. Thus, the main aim of this research was to explore the spatial and temporal variability of marine benthic (epilithic) diatoms, in relation to the variable physico-chemical conditions in the nearshore intertidal environments along the coastline of South Africa. To achieve this, field-based observational (natural substrata) and experimental (artificial substrata) studies were conducted on selected locations around the coastline, with a large focus on south coast localities. For the Spatial studies, large (i.e., encompassing all three biogeographical regions) and small-scale (i.e., coastal island in the warm temperate region) surveys of epilithic diatom assemblages from natural rocky substrata were conducted. Large-scale investigation results revealed highly variable diatom assemblages, diversity and distribution, with compositional differences observed between the coastal sections (around the coastline). A total of 85 diatom taxa from 31 genera were observed at 15 sites, and the number of taxa varied un-systematically along coastline. Genera with noticeable contribution included Nitzschia, Cocconeis and Achnanthes. On the coastal Bird Island (small-scale), similar variability was observed, but with a much higher diatom diversity and number of rarely observed species (e.g. Actinoptychus senarius (Ehrenberg) Ehrenberg, Cocconeis capensis (Cholnoky) Witkowski, Fragilariopsis kerguelensis (O’Meara) Hustedt, Striatella unipunctata (Lyngbye) Agardh. Seventy-two (72) species from 35 genera were recorded with a varied abundance and diversity around the island. The study also revealed a high contribution of typical benthic diatom species to the surf zone environment around the island. To study temporal variations, medium-term compositional differences on natural substrata were assessed monthly over an annual cycle at a single site. A paucity of diatom material was evident during this study and observations indicated a trend of presence and absence of diatom taxa from the study site. Nineteen (19) diatom genera were identified and those observed, albeit as one or two individual valves, included taxa from several genera including Biddulphia, Diploneis, Campyloneis, Trachyneis and Triceratium. Noteworthy was a seasonal increase in the number of diatom valves encountered, with the highest diatom abundance observed during spring (September) and the genera Cocconeis, Grammatophora and Navicula appearing regularly. To complement the sparse data from the long-term temporal study, a short-term experimental study on artificial substrata (Plexiglass) revealed rapid temporal variations of benthic diatom assemblages. The composition differed spatio-temporally during the experimental period, with fluctuating species occurrences and abundances between the two study sites. The experimental study also revealed the highest number of diatom species observed during this research (134 species belonging to 44 genera). While Cocconeis (13 species) and Nitzschia (9 species) were the dominant genera, 48% of the diatomcomposition was composed of rarely observed taxa that included Cocconeis testudo Giffen, Donkinia sp., Paralia sulcata (Ehrenberg) Cleve. Regarding environmental drivers, the findings indicated the importance of temperature and nutrients in driving diatom spatial abundance and composition along the coastline, as well as the island. However, the potential influence of the interplay between measured variables and unexplored coastal oceanographic processes (e.g., wave action) was noted. Temporally, from the annual study, the nature of the rocky substrate (rock type) rather than environmental conditions was postulated to have been the influential factor that resulted in the low diatom abundance data, however this requires further in-depth investigations on the influence of rock microtopography on microphytobenthos in this region. Contrastingly, the experimental study results indicated environmental variables having varying influences on the diatom diversity indices, however, study site and sampling occasion were revealed as the most important predictors of the observed variability. Further, site-specific biofilm processes, including biological interaction (e.g. grazing), were shown to alter biofilm succession, thus influencing the observed diatom assemblages. Overall, this research provided new and relevant knowledge on the variability of benthic (epilithic) diatom composition, biodiversity and distribution along the coastline, further contributing to our understanding of marine benthic diatoms ecology, their ecological role in the context of intertidal food web and their potential as bioindicators of change in the coastal ecosystems in Southern Africa.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, School of Environmental Sciences, 202