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Influence of leadership styles on the business performance of family businesses in the Eastern Cape
No full textGiven the importance of family businesses with regard to the economic growth of South Africa, and the fact that their high failure rates have a negative influence on the country’s economy, this study focused on ineffective leadership among family businesses and the influence thereof on business performance. People’s perceptions of leadership are changing, and an ethical, people-centred, character-orientated approach to leadership may be what businesses require. In addition, innovation and employee well-being are being given high priority, and leadership that is ethical and caring is of great importance. The primary objective of this study was twofold, firstly to establish the levels of Ethical, Authentic, Participative and Servant leadership displayed by family business owners and employees in the Eastern Cape, and secondly to establish the influence on the Perceived business performance of the family business of displaying these styles. Poor leadership was identified as a major challenge that family businesses are faced with, and a challenge that contributes to their high failure rate. The literature dealt with the nature and importance of leadership, and both traditional and contemporary leadership styles were elaborated on. The traditional leadership styles identified were autocratic, laissez-faire, transactional, transformational and participative leadership, while the contemporary styles identified and discussed were ethical, authentic and servant leadership. From the literature it was evident that a more ethical, people-centred, character-orientated approach to leadership may be what businesses require to be successful today. The literature highlighted Ethical, Authentic, Participative, and Servant leadership as the more character-orientated leadership styles that positively influence the performance of any business, including family businesses. These leadership styles formed the main focus of this study. In this study a quantitative research design was adopted and a descriptive study of a cross-sectional nature was undertaken. A convenience sampling technique was used owing to the inaccessibility of a family business database. The sample size in this study consisted of 250 small family businesses. A survey was undertaken and a structured, self-administered questionnaire was used to gather the necessary data. The measuring instrument was developed by sourcing items from several existing studies. Family business owners and employees working in the family business were approached by fieldworkers and asked to participate in the study. In total, 266 questionnaires were usable, 133 from family business owners and 133 from family business employees. An effective response rate of 53.20 percent was achieved. The validity and reliability of the measuring instrument were confirmed by means of an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and by the calculation of Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Descriptive statistics were calculated in order to summarise the sample data, while t-tests were used to determine whether the differences in mean scores returned by the family business owner and employee sample groups for the leadership styles under investigation, were significantly different from each other. Pearson’s product moment correlations were used to assess the associations between the variables under investigation. A multiple regression analysis (MRA) was used to assess the relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variable Perceived business performance. Lastly, the relationships between selected demographic variables and leadership styles displayed by family business owners were tested by means of an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Five factors were extracted from the EFA, four of which were considered for further analysis. The four usable factors extracted could be identified as the theoretical dimensions of Ethical leadership, Participative leadership, Perceived business performance and Servant leadership. The items measuring Ethical and Authentic leadership did not load as expected, as several items measuring the two factors loaded onto one factor. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients returned for the four usable factors extracted from the EFA were greater than 0.7, and thus the scales measuring the independent and dependent variables provided satisfactory evidence of validity and reliability. The findings of this study show that for both the family business owner and employee sample group, Ethical leadership returned the highest mean score, followed by Servant and Participative leadership. The great majority of the family business owners therefore agreed that they adopted these leadership styles. In addition the majority of family business employees agreed that the family business owner, for whom they worked, adopted these leadership styles. T-tests were conducted to assess whether the differences in mean scores returned by the two sample groups were statistically significant. Significant differences were found between the means scores returned by both sample groups with regard to the level of Ethical and Servant leadership displayed by the family business owner. No significant difference was found between the mean scores returned by both sample groups for Participative leadership. This finding was not surprising, given that socially desirable bias occurs when individuals describe or rate themselves in a manner that is untruthful or in a way that they feel may be viewed favourably by others. From the MRA, no relationships were reported between the independent variables (Ethical, Participative and Servant leadership) and the dependent variable Perceived business performance. The results of ANOVA revealed that there was no relationship between the Gender, Age, Ethnicity, Tenure, Generation, Number of employees and the Nature of the family business and the Ethical, Participative, and Servant leadership styles. However, the results show that family business owners with a tertiary qualification are more likely to adopt a Participative leadership style. Despite no significant relationship found in this study, it is well supported in the literature that the leadership styles investigated have a positive influence on business performance. Family business owners should take cognisance of this, and measures should be taken to ensure that the leadership style implemented in their businesses is ethical, participative and servant-orientated. This study has attempted to enlarge the body of knowledge available on leadership, especially concerning the servant, ethical, people-centred and character-orientated leadership styles. The results of the study differ somewhat from existing literature, and therefore add to the body of knowledge on leadership. Furthermore, this study has addressed a gap in the current literature regarding the influence of leadership on business performance among family businesses in a developing economy such as South Afric
A positive clinical psychology approach to developing resilience among state employed nurses
No full textNurses are confronted with numerous work-related stressors that can result in burnout. This can contribute to absenteeism and high turn-over rates in the nursing profession. A review of the literature indicated that psycho-educational interventions to increase resilience could be an effective way of addressing this problem. The study aimed to develop a positive clinical-psychology approach to increasing resilience in State employed nurses.
The study used a mixed-method approach to determine the current psychological functioning of a sample of 87 nurses. Quantitative data on personality traits, character strengths and levels of resilience were obtained, using the NEO PI-R, VIA – IS, and Resilience Scale. Qualitative data on the coping responses of nurses were obtained through the thematic analysis of focus groups. These data were integrated to create a positive clinical psychology conceptualisation of resilience and to develop therapeutic guidelines for a group psycho-educational intervention.
The results of the study indicated a struggling psychological profile. This was defined as the ability to deal with work-related stressors – but with the potential risk of developing symptoms of burnout. The moderate levels of resilience were attributed to elevated character strengths in the sample. The distribution of personality traits indicated that the nurses in the sample were at risk of developing burnout; and this prevented them from flourishing.
These data were synthesised to create therapeutic guidelines for developing resilience aimed: (1) increasing emotional stability and invulnerability; (2) increasing agreeableness; and (3) increasing conscientiousness. These guidelines were based on the personality traits that were deemed to negatively impact the resilience of the nurses. These personality traits were correlated with several character strengths that displayed strong relationships with resilience.
This indicated that resilience could be developed through the cultivation of the following character strengths: perspective; perseverance; fairness; forgiveness; leadership; love; zest; hope; curiosity; and appreciation of beauty and excellence. These character strengths were identified to facilitate the positive adaptation of the personality traits identified in the therapeutic guidelines.
A group psycho-educational intervention was developed, using the positive clinical psychology conceptualisation of resilience. The literature was reviewed to identify techniques to cultivate the ten character strengths specified in the therapeutic guidelines. These techniques were adapted to create experiential learning processes for the intervention. This psycho-educational programme can be applied as a secondary and tertiary intervention. It can be used to increase resilience to prevent burnout among nurses. It can also be used to psychologically empower nurses that have existing symptoms of burnout
The consideration and improvement of the sustainability performance monitoring framework for South African water boards
No full textThe South African Constitution ensures the right to adequate water, health services and a healthy environment (Government Gazette, 1996: 1251, 1255). Associated legislation and national strategies require that water resources and water services are rendered in a sustainable manner to ensure the rights enshrined in the Constitution are realised (Trialogue, 2010: 34; Government Gazette, 1998(c):11; Department of Water Affairs (DWA), 2003:9).
South Africa is the 30th driest country in the world (DWA, 2013: iii), has impounded most of its surface water resources and has utilised 40 percent of the groundwater resource with remaining groundwater water quality uncertain (DWA, 2013:6-7). Despite achieving the basic water and sanitation Millennium Development Goals approximately 2.2 million and 4.5 million households still require access to basic services respectively (DWA, 2013:28-29).
South Africa’s ten water boards play a key role in bulk water service provision. They supply 57 percent of the countries domestic water supply (DWA, 2013:19) and are required to provide sustainable water services (Government Gazette, 1997:35). The Department of Water Affairs (Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) as of June 2014) is mandated to monitor the performance of water boards and monitors of water boards through a Share Holders Compact (SHC) (Government Gazette, 1997: 50).
The aim of the research is to achieve the following objectives:
1. Describe best practice for sustainability monitoring frameworks for water services.
2. Outline South Africa’s water services mandatory and voluntary requirements with regards to sustainability monitoring.
3. Evaluate South Africa’s current water services performance monitoring framework for water boards against findings from goals one and two.
4. Develop an improved framework for assessing South African water board’s performance in their compliance and sustainability journey.
5. Demonstrate the improved framework functionality with a sample of water boards audited performance data from the 2012/13 financial year.
A qualitative normative theory evaluation research method was utilised to achieve first three objectives of the research. The objectives to first understand current best practice for sustainability monitoring frameworks and the mandatory requirements for water services sustainability monitoring frameworks in South Africa was achieved via an extensive literature review. The evaluation research method was used where South Africa’s current water services monitoring framework for water boards was evaluated for its adequacy to monitor sustainability compared with legislated requirements, national and international best practices (Hall et al, 2004: 55).
Data collection for the evaluation research was sourced via documentation analysis. The 2012/13 water board audited annual reports, relevant national water services legislation, national and global water service sustainability monitoring best practices were critically reviewed. The review yielded a “thick description” of sustainability performance monitoring framework requirements that was used to evaluate the SHC (Holliday, 2002: 79).
Despite the mandatory participation requirement for successful sustainability performance monitoring being met, the SHC was found to have inadequate aspects. It lacks an outcomes based approach, does not include environmental indicators, does not allow water board sustainability performance comparison and cannot indicate where individual water boards are on their sustainability journey.
An improved sustainability performance monitoring framework for South African water boards is therefore proposed. This was developed with the assistance of an expert focus group drawn from multiple disciplines and organizations relevant to water board sustainability (Litosseliti, 2003: 8 and Hall et al, 2004: 51). The functionality of the framework is then demonstrated using 2012/13 audited performance data sourced from the annual reports of Overberg, Amatola, Rand and Umgeni Water boards. The proposed Water Services Sustainability Monitoring Framework (WSSMF) quantifies performance in terms of 10 water utility outcomes that are measured with 88 performance indicators that encompass the financial, social, environmental and governance dimensions of sustainability. The WSSMF demonstrated that the legislated intentions and best practice recommendations can be incorporated into an improved version of the SHC.
Further refinement of the WSSMF is required. In depth engagement with DWS and all the water boards would promote the refinement of the indicator set, performance thresholds for indicators and indicator weighting. Further testing through a pilot project initiative would allow the WSSMF to be developed into a robust and adequate sustainability performance monitoring framework for South African water boards (Rametsteiner et al, 2011: 64; Muga and Mihelcic, 2008: 438; McAlphine and Birnie, 2005: 247 and van Leeuwen et al, 2012: 2192)
Mathematics II: MATH2/0 & EATH2/0
No full textSupplementary Examination on Mathematics: MATH2/0 & EATH2/0, Jan 201
Water security amongst impoverished households in the Sundays River Valley Municipality : community experiences and perspectives
No full textWater security is influenced by the complex interplay between ecological, socio-political, governance and water management systems. Achieving water security is essential for ensuring sustainable development, and challenges with water security are closely linked to the overall experience of poverty that many countries throughout the world, including South Africa, confront. These problems can broadly be understood through three main factors: water availability, access and usage; water governance and management underpin these factors. Water insecurity can often be seen in townships within South Africa, where water service delivery and water access is precarious. This study provides a lens into the water security experiences of two poor township communities in the Sundays River Valley Municipality (SRVM) namely Nomathamsanqa in Addo and Aquapark in Kirkwood. The research assessed water security patterns amongst RDP, township and informal settlement households serviced by the SRVM and found that communities face severe water security problems. Specifically, it was found that all township households encounter frequent water shortages, cuts in municipal water supply and water quality concerns. Issues around the payment for water and dissatisfaction with water service delivery also emerged. The purpose of this research was to allow for community experiences and perspectives to be expressed in an academic space that has previously been dominated by water management and policy makers. The study concludes that these communities within the SRVM experience significant challenges in securing safe water and these are largely due to social water scarcity issues and the difficulties the municipality faces concerning water service delivery
Understanding policy making and policy implementation with reference to land redistribution in South Africa : case studies form the Eastern Cape
No full textThis thesis focuses on land reform in post-apartheid South Africa and specifically on land redistribution, as one of the main pillars of land reform. There have been many studies undertaken on land redistribution in South Africa and these studies offer deep criticisms of the prevailing land redistribution model (a market-led, but state-assisted model) and the ways in which this model has failed to meaningfully address colonial dispossession of land. Further, studies have focused on post-redistribution livelihoods of farmers and the many challenges they face. One significant gap in the prevailing literature is a sustained focus on the state itself, and particularly questions around policy formation and implementation processes pertaining to land redistribution. Delving into policy processes is invariably a difficult task because outsider access to intra-state processes is fraught with problems. But a full account of land redistribution in South Africa demands sensitivity to processes internal to the state. Because of this, it is hoped that this thesis makes a contribution to the existing South African land redistribution literature. In pursuing the thesis objective, I undertook research amongst farmers on selected redistributed farms outside Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, as well as engaging with both current and former state land officials. Based on the evidence, it is clear that the policy process around land in South Africa is a complex and convoluted process marked not only by consensus-making and combined activities but also by tensions and conflicts. This, I would argue, is the norm with regard to what states do and how they work
Structural controls of gold mineralisation in Seguelen pit of Siguiri gold mine, Guinea
No full textThe present study provides the results of detailed mapping and analysis of structures encountered in Seguelen pit of Siguiri gold mine, Guinea, where the Siguiri mine is geo-tectonically located in the Baoulé-Mossi domain of Man Shield in West African craton. The gold deposit is hosted in low-grade metamorphic sediments of turbidites sequences which form part of the Lower Proterozoic of Birimian Super group. Three rock formations of Balato, Fatoya and Kintinian underlay the overall pits. The Siguiri gold mine is characterized by the deep weathering profile, developed over the rocks reaching 200 m below the surface in some areas and often capped by the lateritic gravel or duricrust.
The rock formations at Seguelen area are characterised by strong bedding monotonously dipping towards SW and trending NW-SE. The lithology of the host rocks has strong control on the disseminated mineralisation throughout the deposit.
Two domains of rock formations are clearly distinguished at Seguelen:
Fatoya Formation(Ffm) domain ; and
Kintinian Formation (Kfm) domain.
The two domains are separated by a contact zone of 1.7 m wide parallel to bedding and characterised by the presence of quartz fragments as well as thinly sheeted shale and black shale. This contact zone is identified as disconformity.
The major tectonic deformation which has affected the region is known as D2 corresponding to the Eburnean orogeny. The major D2 related structures is the regional thrust striking N-S over an area of 12 km long and 3 km wide and within which corridors all Siguiri gold Mine open pits are located. In the N-S trending structures, there is east-northeast shortening and north-northwest extension.
There is pervasive hydrothermal alteration (carbonatization and sideritization) and supergene alteration in the all pits. The hydrothermal alteration attests the intensity of hydrothermal
fluid-flow over the host rocks. The hydrothermal fluids flowed along the fractures and within the wall rocks through bedding plans to form numerous auriferous quartz veins bearing disseminated sulphides through chemical reaction between fluids and wall rocks, which are remarkable at Seguelen pit.
Three quartz vein sets are distinguished at Seguelen:
NNE-SSW quartz vein set
NE-SW quartz vein set
NW-SE quartz vein set
The NE-SW and NNE-SSW quartz veins are often lenticular and associated with the bulk mineralisation
Entrepreneurial intention among Rhodes University undergraduate students
No full textThe entrepreneurial intentions of university students are important factors to consider when developing entrepreneurship offerings at tertiary level institutions. This research study reports on pertinent findings from a study which set out to determine Rhodes university undergraduate students‟ entrepreneurial intentions and their pull and push factors that have brought them to the decision to become entrepreneurs. A survey, using a 43 question structured web-based instrument was used to capture the responses from undergraduate students across different departments at Rhodes University, Grahamstown. Key findings suggest that few undergraduate students intend to enter into an entrepreneurship career immediately after completion of their studies, whereas many of the respondents were more interested in doing so five years after graduation. The vast majority of students were satisfied without having formal entrepreneurial education and factors such as previous employment in entrepreneurial activities, and family influence had a statistical significant relationship with entrepreneurial intention
Population estimates and spatial ecology of brown hyaenas in Kwandwe private game reserve
No full textDuring the last 25 years, the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa has seen the establishment of many small to medium sized (≤ 440km2) game reserves. These reserves have reintroduced many of the larger indigenous wildlife that had been extirpated by the early 20th century. As such, these reserves and wildlife introductions have created many research opportunities, including investigations on the ecology of reintroduced carnivores in the Thicket biome. Brown hyaenas (Hyaena brunnea) are one of the large carnivore species that have been reintroduced into the area. As these animals have predominantly been studied in more open, arid systems, their reintroduction has provided an excellent opportunity to study the species in an alternate natural habitat. Information gathered from such investigations adds to our knowledge of the species and also provides information for the management of brown hyaenas within small, enclosed reserves. Data were collected over the period of one calendaryear, from February 2013 to February 2014 at Kwandwe Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Brown hyaena population estimates were calculated using capture-recapture methods from individually identifiable images captured during a three month camera trapping survey. Images of brown hyaenas were separated into left- and right-side profiles. Twenty-eight individuals were positively identified from left-side images and 27 from right-side images. Non-spatial and spatially explicit capture-recapture analyses were both run in the program DENSITY 5.0. Density estimates ranged from 14 to 20 individuals/100km2 (equivalent to a total abundance of 26-37 individuals) depending on the method used. Despite the range of estimates, all are considerably higher than in other areaswhere densities have been calculated. Satellite/GPS collars were fitted to three individual brown hyaenas (two males and one female) to measure their home range size and use of space. Home range size was calculated using two different methods, Kernel utilisation distributions and Brownian bridges. Home range estimates were similar using both methods; however Brownian bridge methods appeared to exaggerate the use of space by individuals. Kernel home range sizes for the three individuals ranged between 42.62km2 and 79.88km2. These estimates are considerably smaller than previous findings from other parts of Africa and suggest that sufficient resources may be available within this enclosed system. The results from this study suggest that brown hyaenas are successful generalists in this enclosed system and are able to persist at high densities and occupy relatively small home ranges. This information is important for the managers of small reserves who wish to reintroduce brown hyaenas. Should brown hyaenas be introduced into reserves in the Thicket biome with sufficient resources, the numbers are likely to increase rapidly. If high numbers are not desired then preventative measures (e.g. contraception) should be investigated before release
An investigation into literacy development in Grade 4 English and isiXhosa home language textbooks : a comparative study
No full textThe 2006 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) painted a gloomy picture of South African literacy when South Africa came last out of 40 countries. It was from this background that my study set out to investigate two English and two isiXhosa grade 4 home language textbooks with their accompanying teachers’ guides from two publishing houses, together with the home language curriculum documents for English and Xhosa because they are an important component in literacy development. It is important to emphasise that this study examined textbooks, not how teachers mediate such textbooks in their classrooms. In other words, my focus was on the textbooks themselves, and it was primarily through textual analysis of this stable, readily available data that I have been able to compare and analyse the potential they offer learners and teachers to achieve the literacy goals prescribed by the curriculum. The study also investigated the likelihood of differential attainment for learners as a result of using these textbooks. This was done by looking at whether the textbooks were in line with the literacy outcomes for English and isiXhosa home languages. It also looked at the kind of reader/writer envisaged in the selected textbooks and the level of challenge the selected textbooks offer and how, if at all, learners are encouraged to be critical readers and writers.
The findings of the study were that the English and isiXhosa textbooks of each publishing house envisaged different learners. The English textbooks envisaged a cosmopolitan learner who has greater access to academic literacy. While the isiXhosa textbooks envisaged a parochial learner who has less access to academic literacy compared to the English learne