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A study on visual inspection of citrus sorters in a packhouse in the Eastern Cape of South Africa
Get PDFBackground and Purpose. The South African citrus industry is a major global producer of citrus as well as the second largest exporter of citrus fruit in the world. This industry provides employment to an estimated 112 000 workers in South Africa and is vital in providing economic opportunities to communities such as those in the Sunday’s River Valley in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa due to the low employment and education levels within this province. Citrus sorting is a visual inspection task that requires workers to sustain attention and remain vigilant for the duration of a working shift. Their role in the packhouse is to ensure that no defective products are packed for export or the local market and that the fruit meets the customers’ expectations. Since the demands of sorting citrus are poorly understood, this study attempted to assess the effect that sorting citrus has on vigilance performance as well as attempt to quantify perceived workload while taking into account different contextual factors that affect perceptions of this working task. Methods. This study was conducted within a citrus packhouse in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The sample was comprised of individuals employed by the packhouse as citrus sorters. In addition to a recruitment and information session, testing was conducted at three intervals during a working shift on four consecutive days. Each time, indicators of vigilance, such as correct responses, sensitivity, reaction time, false alarms and misses, were collected during a 5-minute computerised version of the Mackworth Clock-test, while perceived workload was assessed with the NASA-TLX scale, and sleepiness was recording using the WITS Sleepiness Scale. Furthermore, an open-ended question was asked to further understand factors affecting the ability of participants to concentrate during their task of sorting. Results. 18 participants consented to participate in this study. 16 of these individuals identified as female with an average age of 30 years (± 7). 83% of participants were of Black African descent and were isiXhosa speakers, while 17% of participants were of Coloured descent and Afrikaans speakers. This study found that performance, as measured by the percentage of correct responses, sensitivity and reaction time on the 5-minute long Mackworth Clock Test was not significantly affected as time-on-task for sorting citrus increased during a working shift, neither did performance on the vigilance test change as days of the week proceeded. However, ‘misses’ during the vigilance test were found to significantly decrease over the course of a working shift, thus contradicting the expected outcomes of this study. Perceived workload of sorting citrus, as well as perceived sleepiness, significantly increased with time-on-task during the course of a working shift. The major contributions for this increase in perceived workload while sorting citrus were derived from the Mental Demand and Physical Demand sub-scale for the NASA-TLX. However, responses from the open-ended question indicated that participants generally enjoyed their work, although there were factors, such as the nature of fruit and social set-up of work, that negatively affected this perception. Discussion. The results from this study contradicted the researcher’s expectations. It was anticipated that measures of correct responses and sensitivity would decrease and misses, and reaction time would increase with time-on-task for sorting citrus, yet vigilance indicators from the Mackworth Clock Test generally indicated no change in vigilance, and, according to “misses” even improved with time-on-task. A likely explanation for this is that the use of a 5-minute Mackworth Clock-test was unsuitable in this context, or rather, the time of this test was not long enough to induce a ‘vigilance decrement’. Furthermore, in order to administer this vigilance test, participants were taken off the production line and led to a testing room which most likely increased their levels of arousal, thus affecting performance on the vigilance test. However, even though perceived sleepiness was found to significantly increase over the course of a working shift, these data correlated poorly with the vigilance results, thus contradicting the expected outcomes of the study. Mental demand significantly increased, possibly due to the demand of attentional informational processing required for sorting, as well as various environmental factors present within the packhouse. Physical demand, too, significantly increased as workers were required to remain standing throughout their working task as well as to make use of their upper extremities to remove defective fruit. Correlation analyses showed significantly weak correlation for Mackworth Clock Test variables and sleepiness ratings to all other variables. NASA-TLX variables, however, generally showed significantly moderate correlations with one another. Conclusion. It remains unclear how vigilance changes and sustained attention while sorting citrus, since the experiment did not show changes in performance. This is largely attributed to the methodological set-up which could have increased arousal and therefore affected vigilance. It is recommended that future studies research vigilance and sustained attention during the sorting itself, rather than attempting to infer vigilance results from a computerised vigilance test. Perceived workload of sorting, however, increased over the course of a working shift due to significant increases in perceptions of the physical and mental demands of sorting. Future studies should address concerns relating to the physical demand of sorting. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to compare responses of day and night shift sorters to further understand how the relationship between these variables may change.Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, 202
Factors that influence the success of total quality management (TGM) practices in a South African (SA) automotive organisation
Get PDFThe South African automotive industry is a key driver of the economy and industrialisation of the country. The Covid-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on many industries globally. In the automotive industry, Covid-19 affected the supply chain resulting in a shortage of semi-conductors, which are essential in the microchips used in the vehicle assembly process. The delays in supply resulted in decreased production volumes and thus a decline in sales which has had an adverse effect on the economic growth of the industry. Therefore, the automotive industry must be sustainable and agile to be competitive globally. This study aimed to focus on total quality management (TQM) practices as a tool for competitive advantage. TQM is significant for sustainability, business continuity and competitive advantage. The study highlights the relevance of TQM practices in the global automotive industry and in South Africa where the study was performed. The organisations at the base of the study are multinational original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that manufacture passenger vehicles for both local and export markets. This quantitative study investigated the relationship between leadership support, quality culture, education and training, structure and resources, and strategic quality plan as the independent variables and TQM practices as the dependent variable. A closed-ended online survey with 70 respondents was employed to collect the data from the OEMs. The findings are that there is a positive and significant correlation between the variables. Leadership support, quality culture and strategic quality planning have more influence on the success of TQM practices. Education and training, and structure and resources have a moderate influence on TQM practices. Managers in quality assurance and production in automotive organisations need to prioritise leadership support, quality culture and strategic quality planning for TQM practices to succeed.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, 202
Investigating the determinants of economics growth in South Africa
Get PDFEconomic growth is regarded as one of the prime macroeconomic objectives of any economy. The study aimed to investigate the determinants of economic growth in South Africa for the period 1994 to 2021 using yearly data obtained from World Bank and IMF. The analysis of all the variables has been provided to show the relationship that the variables have with economic growth in the South African economy. The independent variables used were capital stock, financial development, employment and inflation. In achieving this aim, an Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) was used since it examines both the short-term and the long-term dynamics of the determinants of economic growth. In addition, Granger causality was used to determine whether the explored variables were causally related to one another. In the long run, the results point out that financial development was significant at 5%, while capital stock and employment were significant at 10%. In the short run, all variables were significant at 1%. The study recommends employment stimulation, investment in capital stock and financial development in order to boost economic growth.Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Economics and Financial Sciences, 202
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Traumatic Lumbar Puncture in Children at Nelson Mandela Central Hospital, Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Get PDFTraumatic lumbar puncture signals improper procedural and proceduralist factors working on existing patient attributes. Occurrence is very common though believed to be overestimated and cut-off definitions are vague. Complications that follow incurs economic implications to the hospital setting due to high admission rate, long hospital stay and unnecessary use of antibiotics. None of these concepts around this topic is known in the present setting thus necessitating this research. The findings thereof would cause a fundamental change in the manner in which this procedure is performed in the present setting. Aim To determine the prevalence and risk factors of traumatic lumbar punctures, with the secondary goal of developing a protocol for performing appropriate lumbar punctures in order to reduce the rate of traumatic lumbar punctures. Methods An analytical cross-sectional data using retrospective data of 82 lumbar punctures performed over a four (4) month period from March to June 2022 at the paediatric emergency department of Nelson Mandela Central Hospital. Results Demographics characteristics: The median age was two (2) years (IQR = 0.83 – 3.35 years) and the highest proportion (53.66%) was observed for the age group two years and younger. Males constituted more than half (63.41%) of the population. Clinical features: Most of the children presented with seizures (56.10%) and high fever (46.34%). The top three conditions diagnosed were febrile seizures (40.24%), meningitis (17.07%) and acute gastroenteritis (9.78%). More females (20% p=0.047) suffered from acute gastroenteritis than males (3.8%).Thesis (Masters) -- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, 202
Pragmatic necessity for breaching Gricean maxims in fiction: Towards a literary plot theory
Get PDFUnlike in most literary studies involving the analysis of the Gricean Cooperative Principle, where the main thrust has been to expose where and how the Gricean maxims were violated, the focus in this study was to investigate the utility or functionality of breached maxims in fictional works. This novel approach, issuing from the presupposition that breached maxims add value to literature, warranted the speculation that it is necessary to breach Gricean maxims for the success of the literary plot. To prove such necessity, the researcher sampled three texts consisting of two novels and a play for in depth analysis. Using two theories (Relevance Theory (RT) and Pragma-crafting theory (PC), and methodologically applying Discourse Analysis (DA) and Conversation Analysis (CA), the researcher sought to establish the effect of breached maxims in the sampled texts. Furthermore, the researcher utilised both quantitative and qualitative methods, even though the former was minimally applied. As expected for a study of this nature, the analysis was largely qualitative. Findings confirmed that breached maxims have the effect of generating literary content and hence are purposefully used to achieve literary creativity and convenience. This affirms the necessity of expediently breaching the maxims in the interest of the literary plot. In this regard, literary works have traditionally thrived on breached Gricean maxims, but the act of violating maxims has hardly been viewed in a positive light. Thus, this research partly fills the gap of articulating the efficacy of breached maxims in literary works, and ultimately proposes a literary plot theory premised on the efficacy of breached maxims.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 202
The nature of competition in the banking sector and its effect on financial inclusion in South Africa
No full textCompetition and access to financial services are lauded as key ingredients in the fight against poverty. While competition enhances markets, fosters innovation, productivity and growth, financial inclusion allows the poor to save, access credit and insurance thereby allowing them to meaningfully contribute to economic growth and also smooth their consumption. Moreover, competition reduces the cost of finance, thereby further expanding the availability of financial services. This suggests an important relationship between competition in the banking sector and financial inclusion. Research in this area is still in its infancy and little consensus exists on both whether the relationship is a robust one or not. There is no unanimity on the direction of causality or whether competition in the financial sector is good or bad for markets. This study examines the nexus between banking competition and financial inclusion in Upper-middle income countries. It employed a panel data set over the period 2011-2017 and Generalized Methods of Moments technique was employed to answer this enquiry. The findings of this study suggest that market power is not bad for financial inclusion in upper-middle income countries. Moreover, the study found that bank competition does not matter in banking the unbanked population in Upper-middle income countries. The implication of the findings of this study is that the focus of the policy makers should not be on policies that reduces concentration and market power in the banking sector, but be on measures that encourages contestability. The threat of entry is sufficient to make banks behave in a competitive manner.Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 202
Formulating an operational efficient strategy for the national health laboratory services in the Eastern Cape
Get PDFThis treatise presents the formulation of an operational efficient strategy for the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) in the Eastern Cape. Operational inefficiency in the NHLS has the potential to delay laboratory results delivery for necessary health intervention, which may have a negative impact on individuals’ health or lead to death. The aim of the study is to highlight inadequacies that may cause poor service delivery and formulate an operational plan for the NHLS in the Eastern Cape. Strategic efficiency is derived from the resource-based and agent theories. Even though there is a difference between service and manufacturing industries, the operational strategic framework can be used in both. A strategic framework is implemented by assessing market requirements and using the top-down or bottom-up approach. To monitor and regulate these strategies, one can utilise, among others, scorecards, corporate social responsibility and risk management. This is a qualitative research study using semi-structured interviews to gather information from 11 participants. The study targeted managers in the NHLS Eastern Cape region, with a non-probability method, as the large number of managers in the entire region made it impossible to do a random study. Furthermore, the data were analysed by the thematic analysis method. The literature review identified six factors that influence public sector efficiency, namely, compliance issues, ethics, financial expense management, resource optimisation, accountability and service delivery. The primary study revealed several inadequacies in the NHLS Eastern Cape, namely, inefficient human resources practices, underutilising technology, ambiguous policies, delayed turnaround time, lack of financial training for management and lack of support from cross-functional departments. In addition, the results of the study warrant the following recommendations: Proper orientation of staff, with modules pertaining not only to their duties and reporting structure but also to the policies of the organisations and conduct; SWOT analyses and surveys could also be used to assess internal staff and external factors that may hinder efficiency; the installation of solar panels for laboratories, starting with the vulnerable labs in remoteThesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 202
Perceived critical factors impacting digital literacy at a South African automotive manufacturer
Get PDFThis treatise explores the critical factors affecting digital literacy within a South African Automotive Manufacturer. Previous research conducted within the organisation revealed that employees were not using digital tools to its full potential, and according to the literature, digital capabilities are one of the main drivers for organisational agility. There is a lack of research on digital literacy and organisational agility in a South African automotive context. As technology progresses rapidly, organisations must innovate to remain agile and relevant. This qualitative research study was conducted through a constructivist worldview, allowing the researcher and participant an opportunity to interact during an interview session to uncover experiences and thoughts relating to digital literacy within the organisation. The study enrolled 14 participants, and this was sufficient to achieve meaningful saturation of the data. The study highlighted low confidence levels in technology adoption within the organisation, often causing anxiety and apprehension among employees. This psychological barrier stems from a lack of digital literacy skills underpinned by insufficient training to fully understand the benefits technology may provide to the user and the organisation. The lack of awareness may be linked to ineffective communication techniques the organisation employs when relaying training or information relating to available resources. Furthermore, to enhance digital literacy skills, the study found that individuals need to have good foundational knowledge from which to build and have supportive leadership that assists in acquiring the necessary resources and training. This study provides insights into digital literacy within a South African Automotive Manufacturer. It will allow management to develop strategies to improve digital literacy levels and establish a learning culture where employees have higher levels of self-efficacy. When an organisation embraces digital technology, it increases productivity and fosters innovation.Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 202
Financial deepening and economic performance in South African commercial banks
Get PDFFinancial deepening and economic growth have received much attention in the literature. However, there remains a significant gap in understanding the relationship between financial deepening, and bank performance especially within the context of South African commercial banks. This research aims to investigate the empirical relationship between financial deepening and the performance of all South African commercial banks from 1987 to 2019. The research adopts a descriptive research design and utilizes secondary data along with time series analysis techniques. The research empirically investigates the relationship between financial deepening and bank performance, using financial deepening indicators such as Market Capitalisation (MC), Credit to the private sector (CR), Money Stock (MS), and Bank liquidity (BL). Control variables such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Inflation rate (IF), and Lending interest rate (LR) are also considered. The autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing (ARDL) method is employed to test the relationship between financial deepening and bank performance. The autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing (ARDL) method is employed to test the relationship between financial deepening and bank performance of South African commercial banks. The findings indicate that financial deepening has both short-term and long-term impacts on bank performance. Each component of the financial deepening indicators demonstrates a strong and statistically significant relationship with bank performance. This empirical evidence suggests that financial deepening has made a positive contribution to the profitability of South African commercial banks. Furthermore, the analysis reveals a long-run equilibrium relationship between financial deepening and the economic performance of the South African banking sector. This research addresses the gap between theoretical beliefs and empirical evidence by establishing a robust and positive contribution of financial deepening to the profitability of South African commercial banks. The findings highlight the significance of financial deepening in enhancing bank performance in South Africa.Thesis (MCom) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 202
Esibelekweni: Ingqokelela Yemibongo ngesiXhosa nangesiNgesi
Get PDFMy thesis is a collection of poems that is written in isiXhosa and English. It explores African spirituality, my relationship with God, heartache from romantic and platonic relationships. I make use of dual languages because some themes that I write about such as African spirituality I find words that capture their truest emotion in my Xhosa vocabulary, and I cannot find them in English. My poems use the narrative form because it allows me to tell stories through poetry without having to commit my writing to musicality or rhyming that a lyric poetry normally has. My work is shaped by writers such as Kate Beinhemer, Mangaliso Buzani, Amy Saul Zerby, Nontsizi Mgqwethio, Simphiwe Nolutshungu and Oiu Miaojin. Buzani makes use of images and few lines in his writing but still manages to capture a story with brevity. Saul-Zerby makes use of text lingo in some of her poems, and I make use of it to close a gap that I have identified with the books that I was reading that are all written in a formal and serious format. Mgqwetho’s poems explore Christianity and African Spirituality which is one of the subjects that my work is exploring too but in a manner that differs. I talk about how they have been my guidance instead of praising their powers like Nontsizi normally does in her poems. Simphiwe Nolutshungu’s poems has influenced the structure of my poems. Fairy tales written by writers like Kate helps my writing to bring to life issues that sound too dreamy to be true but have manifested as visions and memories that I cannot wipe out from my conscience. Oiu Miaojin’s novel “Last words from Montmantre” I am fascinated by how the writer detail emotions such as vulnerability and heartbreak in his storytelling.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Languages and Literatures, 202