Central University of Technology
Central University Of Technology Free State - LibraryCUT, South AfricaNot a member yet
2545 research outputs found
Sort by
Identification of cytotoxic constituents of selected plants and the synthesis of liposome-stabilized metal oxide nanoparticles for delivery into cancerous cells
Get PDFThesis (Master: Health Sciences: Biomedical Technology)--Central University of TechnologyNanotechnology has led to synthesis of small molecules that are used in pharmacology and many other fields. Historically, plants were used to treat a variety of ailments and currently nanotechnology and ethnomedicine is being adjoined to created safer and smaller medicinal molecules for treatment of these ailments. Brain cancer is one of the difficult ailments to treat due to the presence of the blood brain barrier which is very selective of molecules it permits. In this research, three plants were selected: Dieffenbachia camilla, Adenium multiflorum, and Pechuel-loeschea leibnitziae. Plant-based molecules were extracted from these plants, and the phytochemicals of these plants was analysed. Furthermore, to mimic the brain and the normal human cells, cancerous brain cells and two normal cells were selected to observe the effect of the plant the plant-based molecule and nanoparticles. The inhibitory activity of these molecules was calculated and graphed. The research found that the plant P. leibnitziae exhibited the highest - inhibitory activity against the cancerous cell line. The fractionation of P. leibnitziae extract showed the presence of Xerantholide compound. This plant extract was further used to synthesize silver nanoparticles which were further stabilized in liposomes. The inhibitory effect of the plant P. leibnitziae (3 µg/mL) extract was shown to have increased when silver nanoparticles were synthesized using this plant, which ranged from 0, 64-0, 71 µg/mL
Assessing the perceived impact of the influx of illegal foreign nationals on service delivery and selected socio-economic conditions in Senqu local municipality in the Eastern Cape province
Get PDFThesis-(Master of Management Sciences: Public Management)--Central University of Technology, 2022Migration, and in particular migration of illegal foreign nationals (undocumented immigrants), which involves cross-border movement of neighbouring and non-adjoining countries in Africa and from other countries, is a widespread phenomenon within the Southern African context. There is a general perception in the context of South Africa (SA) that foreign migrants and illegal foreign nationals have a negative impact on cities and towns service delivery provision and other socio-economic matters. Since 1994, with the establishment of the new democratic dispensation in South Africa, foreign migrants were welcomed into the country, but it was important that all foreign migrants did so lawfully. Many migrants from politically unstable and war-torn countries in Africa migrate to South Africa seeking a better life and better living conditions and make it past South African borders, but as undocumented and illegal foreign nationals. Many of these illegal foreign nationals are forced to live on the fringes of South African cities and towns with limited protection and poor living conditions. Due to the presence of large numbers of foreign migrants, including illegal foreign nationals, two major incidents of xenophobic attacks took place in South Africa in 2008 and 2015. As a result of the two xenophobic attacks, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) had to ensure that there was identification of all illegal foreign nationals, and in relevant circumstances, legal documentation or permits was provided to the undocumented migrants who qualified. The National Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Annual Report of 2017/2018 (2018:98) states that people from countries such as Angola, Zimbabwe and Lesotho are allowed to apply for work, business, study and retired permits as well as permits for relatives. These permits have a duration of four years.
The main purpose of the study was to assess the perceived impact of illegal foreign nationals on selected socio- and economic conditions in Senqu Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province. The study was based on a qualitative research approach and a descriptive case study design. The literature of the study shows that the governance of foreign migrants and illegal foreign nationals must take place in accordance with the Immigration Act (Act 13 of 2002) and the Immigration Amendment Act (Act 19 of 2004). The Border Management Authority Act, 2020 makes provision for the establishment of the Border Management Authority (BMA) with the aim to achieve an integrated border law enforcement at ports of entry, and to promote cooperation and coordination of border management.It is inferred in the study that the effective implementation of applicable legislation such as the Immigration Act, 2002, the Immigration Amendment Act, 2004 and the Border Management Act, 2020 remains a challenge to reduce the continued influx of illegal foreign nationals into South Africa. It is further emphasised in the literature of the study that the law enforcement authorities such as the BMA and other role players responsible for regulating the influx of legal and illegal foreign nationals into South Africa are working in silos, which has a further negative effect on the influx of illegal foreign nationals into the Senqu Local Municipal area. Furthermore, it is accentuated in the literature of the study that the Department of Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) have no confirmed reliable data available of the number of illegal foreign nationals living in South Africa. The incomplete and inconsistent data available on the number of illegal foreign nationals has an impact on the financial resources transferred from national and provincial governments to local government, which in turn, has a negative effect on a rural local municipality’s ability to provide effective basic service delivery or to address the socio-economic needs of local communities in an effective manner. The findings from the literature and the empirical study show that the presence of a large number of illegal foreign nationals has had a negative effect on selected socio-economic conditions such as access to health care services, housing, basic education and the provision of basic service delivery including the provision of water, electricity and sanitation services in the Senqu Local Municipal area.
The findings from the study revealed that the continued influx of a large number of illegal foreign nationals in the Senqu Local Municipal area has compounded serious challenges in the provision of selected socio-economic conditions, namely health services, education opportunities, employment and job creation opportunities to local communities through local economic development (LED) and the provision of basic service delivery, such as electricity, water, sanitation and housing.
Based on the literature and empirical research undertaken, recommendations are provided to improve the way that the Senqu Local Municipality and other mandated role players manage and regulate the influx of illegal foreign nationals into the area to ensure the promotion of the selected socio-and economic conditions of communities in the area. It is recommended that municipalities, including Senqu Local Municipality, have up- to- date by-laws aligned with the Constitution, 1996 and relevant legislation to address the challenges posed by the continued influx of illegal foreign nationals. The applicable legislation such as the Immigration Management Act, 2002 amendments and the Border Management Authority Act, 2020 must be effectively implemented and the relevant mandated role players must protect the borders. In addition, the BMA must manage all ports of entry in a sufficient manner to prevent illegal crossings of foreign nationals into Senqu Local Municipal Area. Furthermore, Senqu Local Municipality and relevant provincial departments must do more to address the negative effect of illegal foreign nationals on the socio-economic conditions including the provision of health care services, basic education, housing and basic service delivery such as the provision of water, electricity and sanitation in the area
Investigating the current and potential distribution of lightning on a building to determine adequate protective measures
Get PDFThesis-Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering--Central University of Technology, 2022Lightning is one of the most powerful and spectacular natural phenomena that mankind has ever encountered. Approximately 3 billion lightning flashes occur around the world every year. In South Africa, lightning is responsible for millions of deaths, which is significantly more than the global average. In particular, Bloemfontein is classified as having a high susceptibility to direct lightning strikes, making it a focal point for imposing lightning education and protection measures, owing to the city's rapid population growth.
The challenge exists when people are not educated in lightning protection measures and is considered last when constructing new structures, thus leaving a blank space when it comes to budgeting. There is a widespread misconception that people are immune to the effects of lightning because they are protected by structures and believe that lightning will never come into direct contact with them or have any impact on their daily life. This research’s first objective is to identify appropriate buildings that would clearly distinguish the type of impact that lightning would have on a building, considering various structural and environmental factors. The second objective is to propose a lightning protection system (LPS) for each building based on the outcomes of the lightning risk analysis. The third objective is to conduct a lightning analysis on the pre-defined buildings to outline the types of buildings that are highly susceptible to lightning side effects. The fourth objective is to evaluate the proposed LPS in terms of mitigation to demonstrate the economic impact that lightning would have on a building and focus on the various ways it could interact with people, causing injuries and fatalities. To address each objective of the study, simulations were performed with appropriate computer-based software.
A lightning risk analysis was performed using the DEHNsupport Toolbox software to determine the occurrence of lightning strikes, the source of damage and identify the lightning-related risk components for buildings that will be occupied by people. This analysis was performed in accordance with the methods outlined in the lightning standard SANS 62305. The analysis focused on three specific buildings: Boet Troskie Hall, the Free State Provincial Government and Loch Logan Park. After establishing the lightning sources and risk components, a proposed LPS was implemented on the buildings using architectural software, SketchUp, which was the subject of the lightning simulation study. The lightning study was carried out with an earthing and lightning simulation software, XGSLab, focusing on the frequency and time domains and considering a first negative lightning impulse of 50 kA to visualise the engineering aspects of the current and potential distribution across the LPS.
It was concluded that each building considered for the analysis showed differing results. First, the ground potential rise (GPR) is highly dependent on the earthing resistance by altering the number of conductive materials buried in the soil surface and the magnitude of impulse injected into the LPS. Secondly, the quantity and length of a down-conductor had a significant impact on the current distribution and potential difference simulated at selective points over the LPS. The separation distance that needs to be maintained to prevent dangerous sparking of any metallic elements, resulting in unsafe conditions for people, electrical and electronic equipment, depends on the length of the down-conductors. Thirdly, the current distribution measured over each down-conductor in the LPS for each building did not exhibit any significant variation from the current injection point and the conductors further away. However, as demonstrated on three buildings, adjusting the length and quantity of the down-conductor produced varying results.
Communities should acknowledge the impact of lightning strikes and the extent of damage that could be inflicted on a structure and the consequences that can result from a lightning event. This implementation of an adequate, compliant LPS should be paid attention to by adhering to the appropriate standards. It is recommended not to be designed or implemented with a lack of knowledge, as the effects of lightning may outweigh the benefits, considering the expense of the system
Drivers of Small-Scale agribusiness performance in Ghana: Evidence from the Nkoranza South district
Get PDFThesis (Master of Philosophy in Management Sciences (Entrepreneurship))--Central University of Technology, 2022This study investigated managerial expertise, information asymmetry, transaction cost, and access to credit as drivers of small-scale agribusiness performance in the Ghanaian context. Sales and employment growth were used in measuring performance. A cross-sectional study based on a positivist philosophy was adopted, and a multiple linear regression analysis was executed to test the impact of these drivers on the sales growth and employment generation of SSABs, measured in terms of employment and sales growth. The same technique was implemented to assess the predictive effects of business technology, business age, and managers' educational level on the SSAB performance.
The research employed the Resource Based View (RBV) as the theoretical lens. Primary data were collected in the survey by administering structured questionnaires to a sample of 200 SSABs in the Nkoranza South District of the Borneo East District. Of the 200 questionnaires distributed,192 were returned, generating a response rate of 96 %. After that, multiple regression analyses and the spearman correlation coefficient were employed to determine the relationships among the variables and their combined predictive power.
The findings revealed that managerial expertise, information asymmetry, transaction cost, and access to credit positively impact SSAB sales and employment growth at a 1% significant level. Secondly, firm and business owner characteristics such as business technology, business age, and managers' educational level correlate positively with sales and employment growth. The correlations are statistically significant at the 1% level.
This study adds to the limited research on SSABs. The findings have important implications for policy and practice regarding improving SSAB performance in Ghana. It also creates a knowledge base for SSAB owner managers to acquire the correct information for management decision-making, reduction in transaction cost, and sources of government financial support for SSABs to achieve higher performance
Geochemical characterisation of soil and road dust from an informal settlement and their possible health implications: a study of Winnie Mandela informal settlement, Gauteng, South Africa
Get PDFThesis (Master of Health Sciences: Environmental Health)--Central University of TechnologyIn Africa, different types of informal settlements are rising in quantities, capacities and population. The large population in urban informal settlements lead to a huge accumulation of wastes and the release of chemicals such as heavy metals to the surrounding environment. The aim of the study was to give an overview on the current heavy metal content in soil and road dust from the Winnie Mandela informal settlement in Gauteng, South Africa, and to evaluate its possible health risks. The current major and trace elements in soil and road dust samples were analysed by the wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence method, whereas the mineralogical compositions of soil and road dust were analysed by the X-ray diffraction method. The pollution status of soil and road dust were assessed by a geo-accumulation index, contamination factor, pollution load index and enrichment factor, while health risks were assessed by a health risk assessment model.
The findings of the study exhibited quartz as a dominated mineral in both soil and road dust. The concentrations of major elements in soil were descending as silicone dioxide, aluminium oxide, iron oxide, manganese oxide, potassium oxide, titanium dioxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, phosphorus pent-oxide, sodium oxide, with iron oxide, phosphorus pent-oxide, silicone dioxide and titanium dioxide higher than their average shale values. In road dust, major elements were as silicon dioxide, aluminium oxide, iron oxide, calcium oxide, potassium oxide, sodium oxide, magnesium oxide, manganese oxide, titanium dioxide, phosphorus pent-oxide with silicon dioxide and phosphorus pent-oxide above their average shale values. Moreover, seventeen (17) trace elements (As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sc, Sr, Th, U, V, Y, Zn, Zr) were analysed in soil and road dust. Their mean concentrations in soil samples were descending as Cr > Ba > Zr > V > Zn > Ni > Cu > Rb > Sr > Co > Pb > As > Y > Sc > Nb > Th > U, with As, Co, Cr, Cu, Nb, Ni, Pb, Zn, Zr, V and Zr above their average shale values. In road dust, they were Cr > Ba > Zn > Zr > Sr > V > Rb > Cu > Ni > Pb > Co > Y > Nb > As > Sc > Th > U. Trace elements such as Ba, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn and Zr surpassed their average shale values.
The assessment of pollution through the geo-accumulation index revealed that the quality of soil and road dust was moderately to heavily contaminated by Cr, whereas all other elements were categorised as uncontaminated to moderately contaminated. According to the contamination factor, Cr was classified as very high contamination in soil, whereas As, Co, Cu, Nb, Ni, Pb, Sc, V, Zn and Zr were categorised as moderate contamination. Elements such as Ba, Rb, Sr, Th, U and Y were regarded as low contamination. It further exhibited road dust to be very highly contaminated by Cr, moderately contaminated by Ba, Cu, Pb, Zn and Zr, and lowly contaminated by As, Co, Nb, Ni, Rb, Sc, Sr, Th, U, V and Y. Additionally, the pollution load index also affirmed that soil and road dust in this study were very highly polluted by heavy metals, which substantiates the findings that human activities can exacerbated the level of trace elements in urban settings. Moreover, the results of the enrichment factor in soil and road dust categorised Cr as significant enrichment, possibly from the influence of human activities. In soil and road dust, Co and Zn were elucidated as minimal enrichment, respectively, whereas all other trace elements in soil and road dust were of natural origin. The results of the pollution indices also revealed that trace elements in this study had natural and anthropogenic origins.
Furthermore, the results of the noncarcinogenic risk assessment in soil revealed a possibility of noncarcinogenic risk to children and adults. In road dust, a possibility of noncarcinogenic risks to children and adults were also found. Children were at higher risk of non-carcinogenic than adults in both soil and road dust. For carcinogenic risk in soil, the total carcinogenic risk values in children and adults were above the acceptable limit signifying a likelihood of carcinogenic risk to the local inhabitants. In road dust, the carcinogenic risk assessment also exhibited a chance of carcinogenic risk to children and adults. The study revealed that children are at higher carcinogenic risk than the adult population. Exposure to As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Nb, Ni, Pb, Zn, V and Zr, which were above their average shale values, may lead to cancer, miscarriages, hearing and visual impairment, asthma, renal failure, high blood pressure, headaches and dizziness, or reproductive system problems and cardiovascular disorders among the local residents.
Therefore, this study concluded that activities in urban informal settlements contribute significantly to the rise of heavy metal in soil and road dust. Furthermore, the local residents may suffer non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks due to high concentrations of trace elements in soil and road dust. Thus, proper waste management, remediation, cleaning and regular monitoring of heavy metals are recommended for the safety of the population and sustainability of the settlement
Impact of urban development on climate and river systems: implications for the environmental health sustainability of the Mangaung metropolis, South Africa.
Get PDFThesis (Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Health)--Central University of TechnologyThe emigration to urban areas puts pressure on available resources, thereby increasing the scarcity of natural resources and changes in lifestyles. The overpopulation of urban centres accelerates land use patterns, slum creation and generation of contaminants. Urban centres are known to generate carbon dioxide and other compounds that increase greenhouse gases. In the process of combating food insecurity, farmers resort to chemicals such as fertilisers, pesticides and fungicides. Likewise, unplanned human slums and unregulated industries generate a lot of known and unknown emerging contaminants that pollute urban soils and water sources. Rapid urbanisation alters living styles and standards in the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM). The MMM is faced with environmental challenges such as unplanned urban slums, incessant water and air pollution due to rapid urban development and human activities. Likewise, urbanisation in the study area triggered rural-urban migration that accelerate population growth in the study area; hence, the population rate in the MMM has shown an increase with numbers reported as 603 528 in 1996, 747 431 in 2011, 759 693 in 2016, 853 141 in 2018 and 861 651 in 2019. As such, this research sought to investigate the impact of rapid urban development in the MMM on water sources and environmental health sustainability. Systemic scientific methods were employed to investigate the urban land cover change, water quality and environmental health of the MMM. Remote sensing and geographic information systems were employed to analyse land use / land cover, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index, Normalised Difference Moisture Index, Normalised Difference Built-up Index and Normalised Difference Water Index changes for a period from 1978 to 2018 in the MMM. Furthermore, the historical water quality of important river systems and dams located on these rivers were studied to detect the impact of urban contamination. Consequently, the challenges accompanying rapid urbanisation in the MMM has led to the development of an urban health sustainability index to assess the status of environment health of the MMM. This is to ensure sustainability in all spheres of our environment and to mitigate the impact of urbanisation confronting us as people. The urban health sustainability index tracks a set of environmental and social environmental indicators that influence sustainability in an urban setting. The developed model observes the relationship between urban sprawl, land use / land cover changes, climatic variables, vegetation and water in terms of its sustainability. Furthermore, this research simulates the future land cover classification focussing on the urban growth development and water sources availability for the years 2028 and 2038. The result of the land use / land cover from satellite imagery revealed that an exponential increase in urban areas led to loss of vegetation cover and shortage of water availability in the MMM. This suggests that urbanisation accelerates the loss of vegetation cover, thus causing an increase in temperature and reduction in the amount of rainfall, thereby reducing the surface water quantity in the MMM. The change detection analysis observed between 1978 and 2018 revealed that agricultural areas increased by 22.6%. This can be linked to the increase in population growth and the upsurge in demand of farm products in the MMM. In addition, the Water Quality Index (WQI) of most of the water sources revealed deterioration in water quality from 1988, with a WQI of 20.1, 23.2 and 18.6 indexed as excellent, to 2018 with a WQI of 25.6, 41.0 and 49.0 indexed as good. This suggests the impact of urbanisation on water sources in the MMM. Conclusively, the results from the land cover classification and water quality assessment informed that the expansion in agricultural areas to enhance food security has led to the generation of more contaminants polluting the urban water system in the MMM. The urban health sustainability classification in the MMM ranged from low (30–50) to high (65– 80) sustainability scores. The low sustainability class is typical of areas with a high concentration of built-up areas, agricultural landmass and human activities where pollutants are mostly generated. Meanwhile, the high sustainability class is typical of areas with lowgenerating polluting media to the atmosphere and water sources. Likewise, the comprehensive environmental pollution index method categorised selected areas in the MMM into high, moderate and low polluted areas with index scores of 51–68, 42–44 and 32–37, respectively. The high and moderate polluted areas should be kept under environmental monitoring and pollution control for sustainable environmental health. The research recommends that control measures should be implemented in the township and urban slums in the MMM to reduce generation of solid waste through mandatory regulation and education. Policymakers in the MMM should curtail increases in unplanned settlements and control internal migration. This is to meet the urban sustainability goal by 2050 as campaigned by the United Nations. Finally, an environmental geochemistry study should be carried out to trace the sources of emerging contaminants across the MMM
Chemical profiling and determination of antioxidant and antibacterial properties of selected essential oils
Get PDFThesis (Master: Health Sciences: Somatology)--Central University of TechnologyAromatherapy is a complementary therapy that is popularly known as massage treatment in the field of Somatology. Its holistic effects on emotional and physical well-being have gained interest in the cosmeceutical industry. Various studies have been conducted to search for advanced novel compounds with improved chemical composition and properties. The purpose of the present study was to assess the chemical composition of the essential oils extracted from Citrus var. arauntium, Lavendula augustofilia, Citrus arauntium var. bergamia, Artemisia afra, Petroselinum crispum, Matricaria chamomilla, Salvia stenophylla, and Ocimum basilicum. The composition of the oils of these plants was analysed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results revealed a range of between 13-49 compounds in the eight oils tested, and these compounds represented between 97.24-100% of the oils. Some of the same compounds were detected in the eight the oils, but the percentages of their presence differed greatly. Some compounds were dominant in some oils, while they were present in minimal quantities in others. The overall profile of the compounds is as follows: • thujone (69%), thujene (14.8%), and pinene (0.18-0.87%) were detected in A. afra. • phenethyl alcohol (26.23%), linalyl anthranilate (26.56%), and D-limonene (7.33-27.4%) were detected in C. aurantium var. amara; • myrcene (0.17-0.27%), bisabalol (0.29-10.50%), cymene (0.19-2.81%), and eucalyptol (0.59-11.86%) were detected in S. stenophylla; • linalyl acetate (48.43%), D-limonene, and sabinene (0.14-0.53%) were detected in C. aurantium var. bergamia; while • linalyl butyrate (29.1%) was detected in lavender. • Both Ocimum bacilicum and Lavendula angustofolia contained estragole (79%) and linalool (3.9-27.9%); while • Petriselinum crispum contained salinene (6.14-26.33%) and apiole (11.82%). • M. chamomilla had 9-Amino-1-phenyl-3,6-diazahomoadamantane (10.59%) and some unknowns. The detection of these unknown dominant compounds could mean that the oil was adulterated or that the compounds were not available in the GC-MS library. The findings of these analyses may serve as a guide for the selection of ideal oils for an intended treatment. The chemical composition of oils extracted from lavender, neroli, bergamot, chamomile, and sweet basil have been investigated in earlier studies as well, and adulterants like linalool, linalyl acetate, terpineole, pimaric acid, and abietic acid have been reported
The utilization of fly ash as a filler to strengthen the properties of polybutylene succinate
Get PDFThesis (Master: Health Sciences: Environmental Health)--Central University of TechnologyThe use of coal as a primary raw material in electrical power generation has been growing exponentially since the 1960s. One of the major drawbacks of concern in electrical power generation through coal utilization is the bulk production of coal fly ash (FA). Fly ash, as a waste product poses a threat to the environment as it contains heavy metals such as aluminium, calcium oxides, potassium, magnesium oxides, silica oxides, and sulphur oxides. When it rains, the heavy metals contained in the fly ash is transferred to nearby water sources through run-off. This can potentially contaminate groundwater and freshwater course posing a threat to humans as well as wildlife and sea-life. Over the recent decade, researchers have been exploring various innovations that can be employed in order to resolve this pollution impediment caused by fly ash. As such, the use of fly ash in various industries ranging from construction, agriculture, and wastewater treatment has gained significant attention. Subsequently, this growing interest has also infiltrated the polymer industries. The excess availability of fly ash (FA) and its high mechanical performance when added to polymer matrices make it an exceptional substitute for commonly used fillers in the industry, thereby enhancing their widespread applications. This study aims to investigate the effect of fly ash at various concentrations viz 1, 3 and 5 %, and how they enhance the properties of polybutylene succinate (PBS). In order to further enhance the flammability resistance of the composites, zinc borate has been added to the polymer composite. The synergistic effect of zinc borate is also examined in this study. Characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), underwriters laboratory testing 94 (UL 94), rheology, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) were utilized to analyse the properties of neat PBS, PBS/FA, and PBS/FA/Zinc Borate (ZB) composites. SEM results revealed a better dispersion of fly ash particles in the PBS matrix at 1%, in addition to silane- treated fly ash. Furthermore, silane-treated fly ash showed an enhancement thermal stability when compared with 1% non-treated FA, however, both of them showed better thermal stability than the neat PBS. The FTIR and EDS results suggested that the type of fly ash used in this study is a silicate class (Class F). The water absorption results also showed a decrease in water absorption with silane-treated fly ash samples
Development of an information system for geotechnical engineers towards improved decision making
Get PDFThesis (Master: Engineering: Civil Engineering)--Central University of TechnologyA desktop study is an initial, relatively inexpensive study performed by a geotechnical engineer before a site investigation to provide an understanding of the site, identifying potential risks and enabling the engineer to make decisions on the approach of the site investigation. Desktop studies often also include relevant geotechnical data from previous construction works on and around the site in addition to other information. Developing an information system for South Africa that is easily accessible for engineers to view data geographically and transform the data into reliable, meaningful information will assist towards informed decision-making by these engineers during the desktop study phase and later phases of a project. The Information System for Geotechnical Engineers (ISGE) was developed with all the specifications, identified during the literature review, to assist South African geotechnical engineers (and other experts). The database and interface use the SANS3001 codes which are currently not available in other software, as determined through a thorough study of available software. The geotechnical engineering database was developed using Microsoft Access to store the geotechnical engineering test and site data. This avoids the need for physical space for paper filing. The database allows users to find specific information quickly and with ease and enables them to sort through the data seamlessly. This allows users to process existing data for better decision-making while also being very secure and preventing users from accidentally deleting records or accessing private information. An information interface was developed that transforms data from the information in the database to create geotechnical outputs on Microsoft Excel. This allows the user to search for any existing samples, layers or test pits and to view the relevant inputs and outputs for those tests. To improve decision making, a summary page interface that summarises the geotechnical information was developed in the information interface as well. This access to information allows engineers to observe a large quantity of different information in detail to compare and make a comprehensive assessment of the site and all the geotechnical properties of that area. The ISGE has the capability to export the information in a file format supported by GIS software. Using GIS makes interpreting the potential problems of areas much easier for engineers who can observe the surrounding data and make valid assumptions about their study areas
The influence of ict competences, knowledge management and operational efficiency on competitiveness of retail smmes in the Mangaung metropolitan area (MMA), Free State
Get PDFThesis (Master: Management Sciences: Business Administration)--Central University of TechnologyDespite the increasing prominence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the operations of small firms, there is still a need to understand fully how small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) owners and managers appropriate ICT competences to support the management of business knowledge and improve their firms’ operational efficiency. There also exists wide acknowledgement on the contribution of SMMEs to economic growth, profitability and creation of employment opportunities, and yet there still exists limited knowledge on enterprises’ capacity to manage the knowledge of their business operations, operate efficiently, and on the way the possession of ICT competences affects these variables to improve the competitiveness of such firms. The under-exploration of these relationships in entrepreneurship literature stems from SMMEs’ limited appreciation and mastery of innovative strategies such as ICT competences, knowledge management and operational efficiency, which are variables deemed to drive competitiveness of firms. The main argument of this study is that business competitiveness is not necessarily an automatic or inevitable event for any small business but rather depends on the capacity of SMMEs to harness their ICT competences, knowledge management and operational efficiencies skilfully and strategically. Drawing on a positivist epistemology and an explorative quantitative design, the study investigated the effects of ICT competences, knowledge management and operational efficiency on the competitiveness of SMMEs in the Mangaung Metropolitan Area of the Free State Province of South Africa. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 343 retail SMMEs in this province and a corresponding number of questionnaires (i.e., 343) was distributed to them. A total of 300 questionnaires were successfully completed and returned, representing a response rate of 87.5 percent. Descriptive statistics, especially graphs and frequency tables, inferential statistics such as correlation and regression analytics were also employed for the analysis of the data. The major empirical findings were that there is a strong positive relationship between ICT competences and knowledge management (KM), between ICT competences and operational efficiency, as well as between ICT competences and firm competitiveness. Moreover, the findings also reveal a positive, statistically significant relationship between knowledge management and operational efficiency, and operational efficiency and firm competitiveness. Most importantly, the study exhibits a positive correlation between all these variable and firm’s competitiveness. Finally, the study recommends that government agencies employ more direct approaches, such as the use of incubation structures and provision of mentoring to owners and managers of SMMEs to promote ICT competence appropriation and knowledge management implementation. These efforts can contribute to increased knowledge sharing and transfer, which enhance the operational efficiency and improve the overall competitiveness of SMMEs in South Africa. Therefore, the study which builds on mainstream literature and the validation of empirical findings, contributes a conceptual model on firm competitiveness that integrates ICT-based competences, knowledge management and operational efficiency in one investigation. The study also contributes to the development of theoretical and practical knowledge on the joint impact of ICT competences, knowledge management and operational efficiency on the competitiveness of SMMEs. For instance, the study demonstrates how knowledge management recognition and implementation lead to better firm operations and communication. Therefore, the study which builds on mainstream literature and the validation of empirical findings, contributes a conceptual model on firm competitiveness that integrates ICT-based competences, knowledge management and operational efficiency in one investigation. The study also contributes to the development of theoretical and practical knowledge on the joint impact of ICT competences, knowledge management and operational efficiency on the competitiveness of SMMEs. For instance, the study demonstrates how knowledge management recognition and implementation lead to better firm operations and communication