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Factors affecting the representation of women in management positions in the petroleum sector in Gabon
Full text linkThesis (MTech (Human Resource Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Gender inequality in the workplace occurs worldwide, but more so in developing countries where women have been marginalised. In a society where gender roles are culturally constructed, this inequality extends into the workplace, affecting job opportunities, specifically those involving women’s career advancement. Complicating the situation are male-dominated industries that further limit women’s career progression and firmly keep the glass ceiling intact. It is against this background that this research study aimed to investigate factors affecting the representation of women employees in the Gabonese petroleum sector, particularly in management positions.
Triangulation involved adopting a mixed methods approach, with quantitative and qualitative information collected from employees in Gabonese petroleum companies. Purposive sampling involved selecting a target sample of women to complete the questionnaires in lower, middle and top level management; and snowball sampling was then used to identify top managers, both male and female, for the interviews. The Statistical Package for Social Software (SPSS 23) was employed to scrutinize the quantitative data, with content analysis of qualitative data.
Outcomes of this research study converged on three factors, namely: women’s constraints in the workplace; men versus women in the workplace; and government and organisations’ level of commitment towards women. The main findings were, firstly, that few training and mentoring opportunities for women exists in the petroleum companies in Gabon; secondly, that perceptions of women are based on beliefs and preferences influenced by culture and tradition; thirdly, that hegemonic gender roles contribute to perpetuate barriers (such as gender stereotype, male dominance and family conflict), keeping women at the same level in management positions in the Gabonese petroleum sector; and, lastly, for women to progress in their careers, they need to be supported by Gabonese government policies and organisational commitment.
Following on these findings, the researcher proposes a framework to address the three identified factors that restrain females from advancing in their careers and increasing their representation in management positions in the petroleum sector in Gabon. Those factors are detailed towards four themes characterised by different key elements influencing the situation of women in industry, either positively or negatively. Finally, the study concludes with recommendations, aligned to the researcher’s objectives and the findings, to improve the conditions and environment offered to women working in the petroleum sector in Gabon and Africa
The use of management accounting tools to improve the business performance of small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Cape Town
Full text linkThesis (Master of Management Accounting)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019This study investigates the extent to which manufacturing small and medium enterprises use management accounting tools (MATs) to improve their business performance. The study was based on two MATs, namely budgeting tools and the strategic management tool (SMT), such as the balanced scorecard (BSC), which are considered critical for the sustainability of SMEs. The study was positioned within a quantitative research approach and data was collected from 82 respondents by means of a questionnaire consisting of closed-ended questions. The collected data was analysed using SPSS (version 25.0) software and presented in the form of tables, frequencies and figures, such as bar and pie charts, in order to understand the trends. The findings revealed that of the two MATs, only a few respondents used the BSC while the majority of respondents used budgeting tools. The results also indicate that certain respondents mostly used MATs, such as the BSC and budgeting tools, for improving their business performance. The BSC was perceived to be the most effective MAT, while the budgeting tools were rated second. This study suggests that some training programmes could be developed for use within the various sector education and training authorities (SETAs) which will assist in educating the SMEs‟ decision-makers on the importance of implementing MAT
Employee perceptions on service quality at a selected outsourcing company in Cape Town
Full text linkThesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Over the last decade, business process outsourcing (BPO) has become increasingly important in the South African context. For economic and strategic reasons, organisations have embraced an outsourcing strategy as one of their core activities in order to be competitive in the business arena. On this matter, the standard of services delivered by BPOs is crucial to achieve customer satisfaction. However, the lack of effective quality management practices, which impact on service delivery negatively, ultimately paves the way for customer dissatisfaction with service quality in BPOs. This issue needs to be considered carefully by BPOs. Thus, this study has investigated employee perceptions in relation to the key measurements for service quality, namely reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy and tangibles through the SERVQUAL model to measure the quality of service delivery at a BPO in Cape Town, South Africa.
A quantitative research method was applied and data were collected through a semi-structured survey questionnaire from the group of employees (n=188) at the selected BPO in Cape Town. The statistical software program SPSS Version 25 and Microsoft Excel were used for data analysis. Descriptive statistical results were generated as well as the validity and reliability of the dataset determined.
The research findings revealed that the key factors to which particular attention needs to be given are reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy. It is revealed that it is imperative for the BPO to intensify continual training and skills development for their employees. Given the findings of these key factors as focus areas for good practice, this study has drawn special attention to the selected BPO and other BPOs in the South African context to advance their service quality to maintain their services up to standard and to remain competitive. The research could benefit BPOs in South Africa and Africa in general as more and more companies are outsourcing their services on the continent
Factors that affect digital transformation in the telecommunication industry
Full text linkThesis (MTech (Business Information Systems))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019The internet, mobile communication, social media, and other digital services have integrated so much into our daily lives and businesses alike. Companies facing digital transformation experience this as exceptionally challenging. While there are several studies that state the importance of digital transformation and how it influences current and future businesses, there is little academic literature available on factors that affect the success or failure of digital transformation in companies. It is unclear what factors affect digital transformation in an established telecommunications company. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the factors that affect digital transformation in a telecommunications company in South Africa, and to what extent.
One primary research question was posed, namely: “What factors affect digital transformation in a telecommunications company in South Africa?” To answer the question, a study was conducted at a telecommunications company in South Africa.
The researcher adopted a subjective ontological and interpretivist epistemological stance, as the data collected from the participants’ perspective were interpreted to make claims about the truth, and because there are many ways of looking at the phenomena. An inductive approach was selected to enable the researcher to gain in-depth insight into the views and perspective of factors that influence digital transformation in the specific company. The explorative research strategy was used to gain an understanding of the underlying views, reasons, opinions, and thoughts of the 15 participants by means of semi-structured interviews. The participants were made aware that they do not have to answer any question if they are uncomfortable, and they could withdraw their answers at any time. The data collected were transcribed, summarised, and categorised to provide a clear understanding of the data. For this study, 36 findings were identified. From this research, it was inter alia concluded that successful digital transformation of companies depends on how Management drives digital transformation, and the benefits of new digital technologies should be carefully considered when planning to implement digital transformation
Investigating the use of electronic communication and its impact on faculty staff members at a selected university of technology in South Africa
Full text linkThesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019The Fourth Industrial Revolution has entrenched the use of communication technologies in the workplace owing to their advantages. However, these same technologies can also present challenges for organisations, especially when employees become too dependent on them, for example, using emails as a sole form of communication. Consequently, this impacts staff interaction, their interpersonal communication, as well as staff cohesion negatively. The main objective of this research study was to establish if faculty staff rely excessively on email communication, resulting in reduced interpersonal communication, staff cohesion, and staff interaction.
The researcher used an interpretive phenomenological quantitative research approach in a case study at the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences at UoT X with the aim to understand participants’ email experiences. The sample frame comprised 438 staff members, while the study adopted a non-probability sampling method. The findings revealed that a majority of the employees rely on electronic communication to communicate important information to other staff members in spite of the fact that they did not receive any formal training to use email in a professional business environment. Moreover, the research found that over-reliance on email communication impacted negatively on relationships amongst faculty staff, whilst poor interpersonal communication was a major cause of conflict and misunderstandings, as shown in the literature.
Faculty staff should be encouraged to interact with their colleagues on a face-to-face basis, and should only resort to using electronic communication in urgent contexts. Staff relations are built and strengthened by sharing experiences, interacting both formally and informally, resolving disagreements, and encouraging interpersonal dialogue, diversity and tolerance through interactions. Furthermore, faculties should create social environments such as off-campus research retreats, university sports events, conferences, recreational tours, and subject clusters to aid sharing experiences, and staff cohesion
Design and Implementation of an Integrated Solar Panel Antenna for Small Satellites
Full text linkThesis (PhD (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019This dissertation presents a concept for a compact, low-profile, integrated solar panel antenna for use on small satellites in low Earth orbit. To date, the integrated solar panel antenna design approach has primarily been, patch (transparent or non-transparent) and slot radiators. The design approach presented here is proposed as an alternative to existing designs. A prototype, comprising of an optically transparent rectangular dielectric resonator was constructed and can be mounted on top of a solar panel of a Cube Satellite. The ceramic glass, LASF35 is characterised by its excellent transmittance and was used to realise an antenna which does not compete with solar panels for surface area.
Currently, no closed-form solution for the resonant frequency and Q-factor of a rectangular dielectric resonator antenna exists and as a first-order solution the dielectric waveguide model was used to derive the geometrical dimensions of the dielectric resonator antenna. The result obtained with the dielectric waveguide model is compared with several numerical methods such as the method of moments, finite integration technique, radar cross-section technique, characteristic mode analysis and finally with measurements. This verification approach was taken to give insight into the resonant modes and modal behaviour of the antenna. The interaction between antenna and a triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cell is presented demonstrating a loss in solar efficiency of 15.3%. A single rectangular dielectric resonator antenna mounted on a ground plane demonstrated a gain of 4.2 dBi and 5.7 dBi with and without the solar cell respectively. A dielectric resonator antenna array with a back-to-back Yagi-Uda topology is proposed, designed and evaluated. The main beam of this array can be steered can steer its beam ensuring a constant flux density at a satellite ground station. This isoflux gain profile is formed by the envelope of the steered beams which are controlled using a single digital phase shifter. The array achieved a beam-steering limit of ±66° with a measured maximum gain of 11.4 dBi.
The outcome of this research is to realise a single component with dual functionality satisfying the cost, size and weight requirements of small satellites by optimally utilising the surface area of the solar panels
The influence of economic factors on South Africa’s civil engineering consulting firms
Full text linkThesis (MEng (Civil Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019The infrastructure and construction activity of a country are strong drivers of economic development and the prosperity of a nation. This has been studied and discussed by various scholars such as Ruddock (2008) and Ofori (1990). As the construction industry prospers, employment is provided to many citizens, thereby improving living conditions due to the newly built infrastructure. This state of prosperity is often followed by a state of recession in the economy where jobs are scarce, interest rises and the price of commodities rises.
In recent years, it has become glaringly evident that economic cycles have influenced several industrial sectors, including the construction industry and its civil engineering consulting (CEC) firms. In order to ensure that CEC firms remain financially sustainable throughout different macroeconomic cycles, it is necessary to study the economic factors with the highest impact on CEC firms. The aim of this work is to determine the economic factors that affect CEC firms through the different macroeconomic cycles and in which phase of the cycles these economic factors impact CEC firms.
To address the aim of the study, mixed methods research was employed. Semi-structured interviews formed part of the qualitative methods used and statistical econometric tests formed part of the quantitative tests used. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted, with five interviews at CEC firms, one with an employer, in this case South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), and one with the Consulting Engineers of South Africa (CESA) association. The econometric data analysis made use of ADF Unit Root tests, Johansen Co-Integration tests and Granger Causality tests.
The quantitative results showed that gross domestic product (GDP) and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) of total investment indicate a change in total revenue of construction consulting firms. The Granger Causality results showed that construction value added (CVA) and GFCF of construction investment tend not to cause nor indicate a change in revenue of construction consulting firms, and vice-versa. The semi-structured interviews identified 16 economic factors that affect CEC firms. These factors were determined to be caused primarily by the South African economic activity, construction activity and CEC industry.
It was observed that these factors can occur in different phases of a macroeconomic cycle, with business confidence and foreign investment having the highest influence during the recovery phase, capacity of firms and tender roll out having the highest influence during the peak phase, training of governmental staff and diversification having the highest influence during the downswing cycle, and strategic planning of CEC firms having the highest influence during the through phase of the cycle
Photocatalytic disinfection of patulin using titania in apple juice
Full text linkThesis (MEng (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019The food industry is facing many challenges to provide safe food free from microbial contamination and especially free from mycotoxins, which seems to bypass the pasteurisation treatment frequently used for microbial deactivation in industry. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by numerous microorganisms. Among mycotoxins, patulin is well known to affect apples and is therefore found in apple juice and apple cider. Patulin is in fact a mycotoxin produced by Penicillium expansum. It is toxic; hence, there is a need to remediate the toxin from juices. After the ingestion of patulin, gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and may ensue leading to death.
In this study, different method of patulin treatment was elaborated on but the emphasis was on photocatalysis. The purpose of this thesis was to treat patulin in apple juice by the means of photocatalysis. Photocatalysis requires nanoparticles and light. The choice of nanoparticles was (TiO2) which were synthesized from titanium chloride (TiCl4) in different solubilising matrices using a wet chemical method. The quantification of patulin from apple juice was measured using the LC/MS instrument. As a result, the best TiO2 nanoparticles derived from TiCl4 dissolved in water. Photocatalysis experiment was done in 2 different conditions under different Ultraviolet (UV) light intensity of 15V and 30 V. The results shown that UV 30 provided the greater percentage degradation as compared to UV 15 demonstrating that, the efficiency of photocatalysis depends on the light intensity. Overall, the patulin level, were reduced to below 10 ng/L within 180 min of treatment, with the juice adhering to the internal quality standard of patulin in apple juices. In conclusion, photocatalysis was determined as an efficient treatment for patulin degradation in apple juice. This is therefore, a cheap and easy method of patulin treatment for small-scale juice producers
The influence of globalisation on store image in South African apparel retail design
No full textThesis (MTech (Interior Design))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Globalisation and rapid responses to competition and technology have reshaped the retail industry and consumer's expectations toward store design. In the constantly changing globalised world, retail design is so inextricably connected to economic markets and trends as drivers for consumption that we ask whether there is still a place for local design? This study is aimed at understanding how globalisation has influenced store image in South African apparel retail design and to identify to what extent global and local brand stores speak a common design language. A comparative study was done of two local and two global brand stores, all of which are represented locally within retail malls in South Africa. Data gathered through observations and a focus group was analysed using a store image model developed by Janse van Noordwyk (2008) and used as a conceptual framework to gain insights. The South African apparel retail sector is constantly confronted with a fundamental challenge whether to take part in global processes or to do so in ways that promote and provide sustainable growth locally. The findings indicate that the design of global branded stores is absorbed into the design of local branded stores thus acculturating to the language of the global market. The language of retail design has become universal at the cost of local identity and situated relevance driven by advanced capitalism; the author argues that these need not be mutually exclusive
The characterisation of a nucleopolyhedrovirus infecting the insect Trichoplusia ni
No full textThesis (MSc (Biomedical Sciences))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019Background: Baculoviruses have great potential as alternatives to conventional chemical insecticides. The large scale adoption of such agents has however been hampered by the slow killing times exhibited by these bio-insecticides, limitation to single target insect and difficulty of large scale production of these preparations. Trichoplusia ni single nucleopolyhedrovirus (TnSNPV), initially identified in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, has potential as a biocontrol agent as it possesses a higher speed of kill compared to other baculoviruses. Aims and methods: The main objective of this study was the identification, molecular characterisation and cloning of a structural core gene (polyhedrin) and three auxiliary genes, the inhibitor of apoptosis (iap2 and iap3) and the ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyltransferase (egt) genes, from TnSNPV in order to delineate its phylogenetic relationship to a Canadian isolate of the same virus and to other baculoviruses. In addition, the genes were expressed in an Escherichia coli (E. coli) based system as a prelude to genetic modification to increase the pesticidal property of the virus. Results: The genome size of the South African strain of TnSNPV was estimated at 160 kb and is significantly larger than the Canadian isolate of TnSNPV and may reflect genetic variation as the two strains have adapted to varying environmental conditions. Occlusion bodies of the South African strain of TnSNPV were visualised by Transmission Electron Microscopy and consisted of rod shaped single virions composed of a single enveloped nucleocapsid. Insect bioassays showed that the median lethal time (LT50) of the virus strain averaged 1.8 days which is significantly faster than other baculoviruses. The South African and Canadian strains of TnSNPV share nucleotide similarities greater than 95% for the genes analysed in this study, which indicates that they are closely related. From this analysis, the South African strain of TnSNPV identifies as a Group II NPV with the closest relatives being the Canadian strain of TnSNPV and ChchNPV. The topology of the tree for the polyhedrin protein was better resolved than that of the IAP2, IAP3 and EGT proteins and was comparable to the tree inferred from a concatenated data set consisting of complete polyhedrin/granulin, LEF8, and LEF9 proteins of 48 completely sequenced genomes. For the IAP2, IAP3 and EGT proteins, the separation of the lepidopteran and hymenopteran specific baculoviruses was not evident while the separation of Group I and II Alphabaculoviruses diverged from that observed from the baculovirus core gene polyhedrin as well as the tree inferred from complete polyhedrin/granulin, LEF8, and LEF9 proteins. Five distinct groups relating to IAP-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 could be distinguished from the tree inferred from all IAP proteins from 48 fully sequenced baculoviruses. From this analysis, the IAP protein from the South African isolate of TnSNPV can be designated as an IAP3 due to sequence homology to other IAP3 proteins. Similarly, the IAP2 can be confirmed as an IAP2 protein as it clusters with other IAP2 proteins. RNA transcripts of the four genes were detected by RT-PCR at one hr after induction with Larabinose in BL21-A1 E. coli and persisted until four hrs post induction. Antisera directed against the C-terminal 6X His tag was able to detect the recombinant proteins at two hours after induction confirming the rapid rise in expression of the proteins which persisted at high levels until four hrs after induction. The discrepancy observed with the predicted molecular mass of the EGT protein and the migration on SDS-PAGE may be due to the absence of posttranslational modification in the E. coli expression system and the hydrophobic residues present in the N-terminal signal sequence. Conclusion: Sequence and phylogenetic analysis suggest that the two isolates of TnSNPV have been exposed to similar evolutionary pressures and evolved at similar rates and represent closely related but distinct variants of the same virus. The difference in genome size between the two strains is likely to reflect actual genetic differences as the strains have adapted to their local environments and hosts and the extent of the differences will only be apparent as more sequencing results become available. Phylogenetic analysis of the IAP and EGT proteins yields a tree that varies from the phylogenetic reconstruction observed for the polyhedrin gene as well as the concatenated data set consisting of complete polh/gran, LEF8, and LEF9 proteins and highlights the risks inherent in inferring phylogenetic relationships based on single gene sequences. The tree inferred from the concatenated data set of polh/gran, LEF8, and LEF9 proteins was a quick and reliable method of identification particularly, when whole genome data is unavailable and mirrors the accepted lineage of baculoviruses. Expression of the recombinant IAP2, IAP3, EGT and polyhedrin was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis and rose rapidly after induction and persisted at high levels. It is as yet unclear if the expressed proteins are functional particularly as post translation modifications are lacking in this system