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A Framework For Improving Stakeholders’ Acceptance Of Public Transportation Infrastructure Projects In Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa
Get PDFDissertationQuality and resilient transportation infrastructure plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of any nation. To underscore this, Goal 9 of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is devoted to the provision of quality and resilient transportation infrastructure. Despite its obvious significance, providing quality and resilient infrastructure is hampered by the chances of its non-acceptance by critical stakeholders from both developed and developing nations. Practical aftermaths of such a scenario can be seen in such transportation problems as traffic congestion, delays and accidents. This in turn leads to a slow pace of socio-economic development. A careful survey of available literature indicates that the prevailing non-prioritisation of this critical socio-economic infrastructure is traceable to the aloofness of stakeholders, poor communication among them, the location of projects, inadequate knowledge of infrastructure, project environmental impact, lack of trust, and administrative bottlenecks. However, the Bloemfontein Courant (15 December 2016; 22 July 2019) and Vaidyanathan, King and Jong (2017) have indicated that the rejection of some public transportation infrastructure projects or assets is closely related to planning and design parameters of the projects. For instance, the Mangaung Intermodal Transport Facility, the Bloemfontein Bus Station and the Bangalore Municipal Road projects are being opposed by some stakeholders on this basis. Nevertheless, critical studies on the planning and design parameters that influence stakeholders to accept or reject public transportation infrastructure, particularly in South Africa, are few. This study is, thus, aimed at developing a framework of planning and design parameters of public transportation infrastructure for improving their acceptability chances by stakeholders in South Africa. Put differently, this study evaluates the nexus between stakeholders’ acceptance factors and the planning and design factors of public transportation infrastructure and proposes a framework for improved acceptance of such infrastructure projects by stakeholders in the cities of South Africa. For this purpose, two important public road transportation infrastructure, namely the Central Park Interstate Busline Terminal and Mangaung Intermodal Transport Facility served as the sources of data. The data were collected through a survey method that included physical observation, measurements and administration of a questionnaire among selected stakeholders. Empirical models and statistical methods were used for the quantitative data analysis. The Interpretive Structural Model (ISM) was subsequently employed to develop a framework for planning and design of the public transportation infrastructure. The findings of this study demonstrate that public transportation infrastructure projects should be planned with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders in the process. The study also established that the choice of design parameters should be in accordance with approved standards and specifications. A careful consideration of these during the pre-construction stage of a project enhances proper public transportation infrastructure project delivery and minimises mobility challenges. The developed framework can provide a project management team with guidance on identifying critical planning and design parameters that influence stakeholders’ acceptance
Performance Appraisal Practices In The Office Of The Auditor General Of South Africa (Agsa), Bloemfontein, Free State: Challenges And Implications
Get PDFDissertationThis study focuses on emerging challenges of implementing performance appraisal practices in the South African Public Services context. It develops from a consideration of existing criticism on the way several studies on performance appraisal practices and their associated problems in the public service, use developed countries as a sample. The criticism makes the insight from the developed world-based studies inadequate regarding a developing country such as South Africa. The nation of South Africa faces teething problems with service delivery and public service employees’ performance. The study examines and seeks to provide an important building block for further studies and understanding of current performance appraisal practices and their difficulties within the South African public organisations, and by extension, developing countries.
Drawing on an explanatory case study design, data was collected from 16 employees of the 187 employees at the Auditor General of South Africa, Bloemfontein Office, in the Free State, using semi-structured in-depth interview questionnaire. The data was analysed manually. The key findings of the study are that: employees know and understand performance appraisal practices; employees consider the individual performance contract as part of performance appraisal practices and important for them because it contains targets and actions that contribute to the balance score card of AGSA; and that, employees experienced challenges, which have an impact on performance appraisal practices. As a result, the study recommends that performance appraisal practices should have clear objective in order for them to function effectively and achieve the service excellence needed by the organisation
Bioaerosol Composition and Associated Hazards in a Prominent Fruit Beverage Production Facility
Get PDFThesisBioaerosols are defined as aerosols that comprise particles of biological origin or activity that may affect living organisms through infectivity, allergenicity, toxicity, or through pharmacological or other processes. Interest in bioaerosol exposure has increased over the last few decades. This is mainly due to the association of bioaerosols with a wide variety of adverse health effects that have a major public health impact such as contagious infectious diseases, acute toxic effects, allergies, and cancer. Exposure to bioaerosols may cause three major problems in the food industry, namely: (i) contamination of food (spoilage); (ii) allergic reactions in individual consumers; or (iii) infection by means of pathogenic microorganisms present in the aerosol. Unfortunately, there is limited information available with regards to the specific organisms/biological agents involved in these processes and how exactly these processes occur. This deficiency in knowledge can be attributed to a lack of research on these processes, possibly because the importance of bioaerosols has not been considered. Furthermore, international standards on acceptable maximum bioaerosol loads are not uniform, which creates confusion as to what the acceptable limit of microorganisms in bioaerosols should be. There is also a lack of standardised methods for the collection and analysis of bacterial and fungal bioaerosols, making it difficult to compare the data released by various researchers.
According to the literature, controversy exists regarding: (i) the effect of the environment and season on bioaerosols; (ii) types of sampling procedures; (iii) whether the detection of the culturable fraction of bioaerosols is efficient; and (iv) whether these bioaerosols can in actual fact affect the product or cause occupational health problems. The aim of this study was therefore to address the above-mentioned questions by means of an investigation in a selected fruit juice production facility. The culturable and non-culturable fraction of bioaerosols were collected in this facility by active sampling using SAMPL’AIR LITE (AES Chemunex), a standard bioaerosol sampler, in different areas of the facility during the peak and off-peak seasons.
It is noteworthy that the microbial counts observed during this study were high, with high total microbial counts detected during both sampling periods. This indicates that the air in the selected facility created ideal conditions for all types of bioaerosols. Traces of presumptive positive pathogens as well as yeast and mould were observed in the samples collected from five designated areas. Several environmental factors were analysed, but temperature was the only concrete environmental factor observed in the facility during this study. However, statistical analyses indicated that temperature had no statistically significant effect on the presence of bioaerosols in the facility. More than 380 bioaerosols were detected during culturable identification, with 92 different species confirmed. A unique group of controversial bioaerosols was identified, ranging from highly probable pathogens such as Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp. and even Candida spp. Not only were harmful microorganisms identified in the bioaerosols, but microorganisms that are capable of bio-diesel production, that possess anti-tumour activities and that are capable of post-harvest control were also detected. Data obtained by PCR-DGGE analysis were used to determine the similarity, richness and diversity of the bacterial composition in the different areas of the facility during the two sampling seasons. The highest microbial diversity and richness was obtained in the air of the area where the bottles were filled with the final product and where a large number of personnel was present.
Data obtained during this study indicated high microbial counts and species diversity in the air of this specific production facility. Even though this does raise concern, it is important to note that the dose-relationship of microorganisms, even for pathogenic agents, has not yet been established. This is mainly due to a lack of valid methods to qualitatively assess exposure. It is therefore clear that there is still a need for the development of an environment/sample/facility sampler for bioaerosols in order to facilitate the immediate evaluation of the specific health risks associated with a specific industry. The information obtained by means of this study will be useful to address this gap in knowledge and will aid the fruit juice industry to better understand and control bioaerosols in their facilities. This may also relate to other industries where it is necessary for more specific, valid risk assessments and control of bioaerosols in order to ensure product and occupational health safety
The Implications Of Industrialisation On The Language And Identity Of Black Urban Families In South Africa
Get PDFThesisThis research study investigates how industrialisation has affected Black urban families in respect of their language, culture and identity. The study attempts to reveal how language is intrinsic to the expression of culture and is a fundamental aspect of cultural identity. Through language we transmit and express our culture and its values. Language, culture and identity are intricately entwined and dependent upon each other, as language is formed by culture, culture is influenced and impacted by language and members of a specific culture influence identity through their assumptions, beliefs and shared values. In this study the researcher employed the qualitative research methodology to indicate the interdependent relationship between the concepts of language, culture and identity, by investigating how industrialisation has impacted negatively in the demise of indigenous languages, cultures and the identity of Africans in South Africa.
Aspects such as proverbs and idioms, songs and riddles, as well as philosophical beliefs which were used to hold communities together as unified entities by their language are disappearing. The future adults are not interested in learning about their languages and culture. Thereby they lose important information that could steer their lives in the right direction. Hence the emergence of aspects such as the moral corrosion of youth, family disintegration, and lawlessness, to name but a few.
The respondents in this study are South Africans currently living in urban areas. The data were collected from 24 respondents living in Gauteng and the Free State Province. Video recordings of 3 prominent cultural celebrations formed part of the study as fieldwork (observations) to bring validation to some of the research questions addressed in the study. Literature was presented, which outlined the relationship between culture, language and identity. The conceptual framework presented the aspects, rituals and organisational behaviours of different cultures in South Africa. The data were presented and analysed, with the differences and similarities between the current urban and the traditional settings clearly outlined and analysed. The causes/reasons and corrections of the impact of industrialisation on the Black South African’s culture, identify and language, were presented through findings and recommendations, which emanated from the findings by the participants of the study
Collaborative Leadership and Sustained Learner Academic Performance in Secondary Schools: A Blaming Game?
Get PDFArticleThis article reports on a study that investigated how collaborative leadership can influence
sustained learner academic performance in secondary schools. The key problem resounds
about secondary schools that are unable either to sustain or improve learner academic
performance when intervention strategies rolled out from the district offices are concluded.
The literature pursued in the study covered collaborative leadership from both schools and
district education offices and their impact on learner academic performance. Participants
were circuit managers, subject advisors, principals and teachers. They completed openended
questionnaires that sought to explain the relationship between collaborative leadership
and sustained learner academic performance. Major findings indicated that participants (at
the various levels of leadership) attribute low learner academic performance to all other
involved parties except themselves. Thus, collaborative leadership within the school and
between schools and district education offices is not enabling sustained learner academic
performance
A Bibliometric Analysis of Recycled Concrete Research (1978–2019)
Get PDFArticlePurpose – The use of recycled concrete (RC) can reduce the greenhouse emissions associated with the
production of cement, which is one of the primary materials used for the execution of construction projects.
This research aims to review the state of knowledge in the field of RC research. An understanding of the state of
the art in the RC domain justifies future research in this field.
Design/methodology/approach – A systematic and comprehensive search of RC-related literature was
conducted using the Scopus database. In this research, the bibliometrix R-package was used for the analysis of
bibliometric information of the selected papers. The software was used to create a map, which highlights the
trends and gaps in the RC knowledge domain.
Findings – The results reveal the research themes, clusters, collaboration networks and advancement of
knowledge in the field of RC research. The study integrates the literature focussed on RC research and provides
a platform for progression of knowledge in this field.
Originality/value – The study contributes to the growing body of knowledge by providing an up-to-date RC
knowledge map based on an analysis of bibliographic data. Information gleaned from previous studies
suggests that bibliometric review can strengthen and complement the findings emerging from other forms of
literature reviews. The study reported here is one of the first studies to provide insights into the evolution of RC
research
Embracing The Role Of Finance In Sustainability For SMEs
Get PDFArticleBusinesses are being faced with increasing expectations to take an active role in meeting the world’s environmental, social and economic challenges. For this to be achieved, there is a need for a paradigm shift in the functional aspects of businesses. This study aimed at exploring the role of the finance department in promoting sustainable business practices for SMEs and the actions taken by finance to manage sustainability risks. The study adopted a quantitative approach where questionnaires were distributed to SME owners and managers in the Pietermaritzburg area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A total of 182 SMEs participated in this study. The results indicated that the finance department has a significant role to play in the development of metrics for measuring sustainable practices and that operational risk management was the main action taken by the finance function to manage sustainability related risks. SME finance professional bodies are urged to help SMEs develop their skills base beyond those normally associated with financial accounting. This is important in order to equip finance officials in SMEs with skills to make key decisions pertaining to sustainability practices
Investigating The Mechanical Properties Of Reinforced Coconut Shell Powder/Epoxy Resin Composites
Get PDFArticleExperimental investigations were conducted to determine the mechanical properties of coconut shell powder filled epoxy resin composites. The results obtained showed that the modulus of elasticity and hardness of the composite increased with increasing percentage weight of both the 150 μm and 212 μm CSP particle sizes. The tensile strength, percent elongation and impact toughness of the composite were all seen to decrease as the reinforcement increased. The investigations carried out showed that the addition of coconut shell powder to epoxy resin only raised the values of the specific mechanical properties of tensile stiffness and hardness. Different models were used to predict the mechanical properties of the CSP composites. The method of Nicolais-Narkis predicted values of tensile strength that depicted a decreasing trend with increasing weight fraction of the reinforcing filler, in a manner similar to that of the experimental results obtained here. Nielsen’s equation gave rise to predicted values of percentage elongation that were much less than the experimental results obtained in the present work. Einstein’s and Voigt equations predicted values of tensile stiffness that were higher than the experimental values obtained here, whilst the Reuss equation predicted values that were lower than these experimental values. The model of Guth and separately Smallwood predicted values that were closest to the experimental values obtained here
A Review of Methods Used to Determine the Overall Stiffness of Unitary Automotive Body Structures
Get PDFArticleA review of the methods that are used to determine the overall stiffness of automotive body structures was conducted. The review showed that the overall stiffness of body structures is affected by the geometry of the body structure as well as the material used to build the body structure. However, only a limited amount of literature was found that demonstrated how the stiffness behaviour of the body structure is affected by the change in geometry or material. It was also found that the deformation and applied load are directly proportional for body structures that are deformed within the elastic range. However, most of the studies have demonstrated this occurrence by considering the loads that are way less than the approximate, real-life running loads. Therefore, there is a need to study the effects of different materials as well as different geometries on the overall stiffness of body structures when considering the approximate real-life load cases, particularly during the early stages of the development of new vehicle body structures
An Artificial Neural Network Approach to Predicting Most Applicable Post-Contract Cost Controlling Techniques in Construction Projects
Get PDFArticleThe post-contract phase of the construction process remains critical to cost management.
Several techniques have been used to facilitate e ective cost management in this phase. However,
the deployment of these techniques has not caused a reduction in the incidence of cost overruns
hence casting doubts on their utility. The seeming underwhelming performance posted by these
post-contract cost control techniques (PCCTs), has been traced to improper deployment by construction
project managers (CPM) and quantity surveyors (QS). Utilizing the perspectives of CPM and QS
professionals, as elicited through a survey, produced 135 samples. The instrumentality of the artificial
neural networks (ANN) in this study enabled the development of a structured decision-support
methodology for analysing the most appropriate PCCTs to be deployed to di erent construction
process phases. Besides showcasing the utility of the emergent ANN-based decision support
methodology, the study’s theoretical findings indicate that CPM and QS professionals influence
decisions pertaining to PCCTs choice in distinct phases of the construction process. Whereas QS
professionals were particularly responsible for the choice of PCCTs during the initial and mid-level
phases, CPM professionals assumed responsibility for PCCTs selection during the construction
process close-out phase. In construction cost management practice, the crucial PCCTs identifies more
with the application of historical data and all cost monitoring approaches