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The significance of centralised communication on a decentralised organisation : a case on railway safety regulator
No full textThe rationale for the study was to explore the significance of centralised communication in a strategically decentralised organisation. Organisations either centralise or decentralise their functions as part of adapting to the external environment. Whether the organisation's strategic direction is centralised or decentralised, communication remains significant because it is the glue that holds the organisational functions together. To remain relevant to innovations and circumstances, organisations change strategies from time to time. Today’s complex macro-organisations, such as the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) have taken a strategic decision to decentralise to regions. This is done rightfully so, as regional functions are needed at regions for timely responsiveness. It is, however, critically important to amputate the uncertainty on whether the communications function should be decentralised or not. Although literature exists on centralised and decentralised communication, it does not respond to or inform entities that are challenged by uncertainty on whether the communication should be decentralised or not. The study, therefore, intended to highlight the importance of centralised communication as a prevailing model for decentralised organisations. The research study was cross-sectional and took on a mixed-method approach, which included both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. A survey questionnaire with employees, as well as qualitative in-depth interviews with management, were conducted. The researcher administered an online survey questionnaire to solicit all 140 employees of RSR across three regions and its head office with the aim of acquiring their perception of the importance of centralised communication. Online in-depth interviews were conducted with seven (7) senior management members of the organisation; this afforded the researcher an opportunity to engage the organisation’s top structure employees and get a deeper understanding of the entity’s challenges when it comes to the uncertainty on whether communication should be decentralised or not so that an appropriate highlight of the importance of centralised communication be presented at the end of the study. The deployment of these two research methodologies enhanced the validity and reliability of the study.
The results reveal that centralised communication is significant and beneficial as it ensures uniformity and seamless messages, which contribute to transparency and promotes a good image of an organisation. Since complex macro-organisations are facing the challenge of the uncertainties on whether to adopt a centralised communication approach or not, the study recommends that the management of these entities should endorse the centralised communication approach because it will help build their reputation, and it is a strategic mechanism of responsiveness.M.A. (Communication)Communication Scienc
Ethical leadership, group learning behaviour and group cohesion in the energy sector: a psycho-social model
No full textOrientation: At present, it is essential for organisations to have a sound ethical context which will enable the organisation to achieve sustainability, and to maintain a positive corporate image. For these reasons, ethical leadership has garnered increased attention from academics and practitioners alike.
Research purpose: The purpose of the present study was to describe the phenomenological experiences of employees’ group learning behaviour and group cohesion as predisposed by ethical leadership, and to develop a psycho-social model that describes the influence of ethical leadership on group learning behaviour and group cohesion in the South African energy sector.
Motivation for the study: Ethical leadership is regarded as a key resource that can either reinforce or deteriorate the manifestation of ethical behaviour within organisations. A learning organisation is one that is continuously increasing its capacity to create its future. Thus, groups have become the basis that enables organisations to adapt to the emerging pressures in today’s world of work.
Research design: The study applied a qualitative approach within an interpretive framework. The research strategy led to an inquiry into the lived experiences of employees’ group learning behaviour and group cohesion as predisposed by ethical leadership. Purposive sampling, of eight individuals enabled a research method of face-to-face interviews and two focus group sessions to be conducted. Data was analysed by means of the content analysis technique.
Main findings: The general perception held by individuals may be that an ethical leader will yield an efficient and productive group or team, while an unethical leader will yield the opposite. This is not always the case, as was demonstrated by the findings in present research
iv
study. The study found that leaders who were perceived as unethical displayed the same personal characteristics and showed only slightly deviated behavioural characteristics from those who were regarded as ethical. With regard to leaders influencing groups or teams, although ethical leadership demonstrated a higher likelihood of influence, the study found that other mediating factors play a role in this link as well.
Contribution/value added: The projected practical contribution of the study involves an understanding of development of, and the potential application of the psycho-social model which will be able to accentuate the importance of leadership within group dynamics. An additional contribution pertains to the practical application of the findings which may also be used as a coaching or consulting tool within organisations to assist leaders in their leadership roles.Tlwaetsomafulo: Ga jaana go botlhokwa gore ditheo di nne le maitsholo a a siameng go di kgontsha go fitlhelela tsweletsego le go tsweletsa selebo se se siameng sa setheo. Ka ntlha ya seno, boeteledipele jo bo tsamaisiwang ka maitsholo a a siameng bo gapile leitlho la barutegi le baeteledipele.
Maikemisetso a patlisiso: Maikemisetso a thutopatlisiso ya ga jaana e ne e le go tlhalosa maitemogelo a tiragatso a badiri ka maitsholo a go ithuta ka setlhopha le tirisanommogo ya setlhopha jaaka e tlhagisiwa ke boeteledipele jo bo tsamaisiwang ka maitsholo a a siameng, le go tlhama sekao sa tlhaloganyo-loago se se tlhalosang tlhotlheletso ya boeteledipele jo bo tsamaisiwang ka maitsholo a a siameng mo maitsholong a go ithuta ka setlhopha le tirisanommogo ya setlhopha mo lephateng la maatla la Aforikaborwa.
Tlhotlheletso ya thutopatlisiso: Boeteledipele jo bo tsamaisiwang ka maitsholo a a siameng bo tsewa e le tlamelo ya botlhokwa e e ka tiisang gongwe ya koafatsa tiragatso ya maitsholo a a siameng mo ditheong. Setheo se se ithutang ke se se tswelelang go oketsa bokgoni jwa sona go aga isago ya sona. Ka jalo, ditlhopha ke ona motheo o o kgontshang ditheo go itlwaetsa dikgatelelo tse di tlhagelelang tsa tikologo ya tiro ya gompieno.
Thadiso ya patlisiso: Thutopatlisiso e dirisitse molebo wa khwalitatifi mo letlhomesong la thanolo. Togamaano ya patlisiso e lebisitse kwa tlhotlhomisong ya maitemogelo a nnete a badiri a maitsholo a go ithuta ka setlhopha le tirisanommogo ya setlhopha jaaka di tlhagisiwa ke boeteledipele jo bo tsamaisiwang ka maitsholo a a siameng. Go tlhophilwe sampole go ya ka maikemisetso a patlisiso mme ga tlhophiwa batho ba le robedi mme seno sa kgontsha gore go dirwe mmeo wa patlisiso wa dipotsotherisano tsa namana le ditlhophapuisano tse pedi. Data e lokolotswe ka thekeniki ya tokololo ya diteng.
Diphitlhelelodikgolo: Ka kakaretso batho ba ka bona e kete moeteledipele yo o nang le maitsholo a a siameng o tlaa tlhagisa setlhopha se se nonofileng e bile se tlhagisa bontle, fa moeteledipele yo o se nang maitsholo a a siameng a tlaa tlhagisa se se fapaaneng le seo. Ga go jalo ka metlha jaaka go bontshitswe ke diphitlhelelo mo thutopatlisisong ya ga jaana. Thutopatlisiso e fitlhetse gore baeteledipele ba ba tsewang ba se na maitsholo a a siameng ba bontshitse dintlhatheo tsa sebele tse di tshwanang le tsa ba ba tsewang ba na le maitsholo a a siameng fela ba bontshitse dintlhatheo tse di farologaneng go se kae tsa maitsholo. Malebana le gore baeteledipele ba tlhotlheletsa ditlhopha, le fa boeteledipele jo bo tsamaisiwang ka maitsholo a a siameng bo bontshitse kgonagalo e e kwa godingwana ya tlhotlheletso, thutopatlisiso e fitlhetse gore go na le dintlha tse dingwe tsa tsereganyo tse di nang le seabe mo ntlheng eno.
Kakgelo/boleng jo bo okeditsweng: Kakgelo e e bonelwang pele ya thutopatlisiso e akaretsa go tlhaloganya go tlhamiwa le tiriso ya sekao sa tlhaloganyo-loago go bontsha botlhokwa jwa boeteledipele mo setlhopheng. Kakgelo ya tlaleletso e ka ga tiriso ya nnete ya diphitlhelelo e le yona e ka dirisiwang jaaka sediriswa sa go katisa gongwe go gakolola mo ditheong go thusa baeteledipele mo ditirong tsa bona tsa boeteledipele.Oriëntering: Dit is deesdae noodsaaklik vir organisasies om ‘n gesonde etiese konteks te hê om die organisasie in staat te stel om volhoubaarheid te bereik en ‘n positiewe korporatiewe beeld te handhaaf. As gevolg hiervan het etiese leierskap toenemend belangstelling van akademici sowel as praktisyns ontlok.
Navorsingsdoel: Die doel van die studie was om die fenomenologiese ervarings van werknemers se groepsleergedrag en groepskohesie soos deur etiese leierskap bepaal te beskryf, en om ‘n psigososiale model te ontwikkel wat die invloed van etiese leierskap op groepsleergedrag en groepskohesie in die Suid-Afrikaanse energiesektor beskryf.
Motivering vir die studie: Etiese leierskap word beskou as ‘n sleutelhulpbron wat die manifestasie van etiese gedrag in organisasies hetsy kan versterk of verswak. ‘n Leerorganisasie is ‘n organisasie wat sy kapasiteit om sy toekoms te skep deurlopend verbeter. Groepe het dus die grondslag geword wat organisasies in staat stel om by die toenemende druk in die hedendaagse wêreld van werk aan te pas.
Navorsingsontwerp: Die studie het ‘n kwalitatiewe benadering binne ‘n interpretatiewe raamwerk toegepas. Die navorsingstrategie het gelei tot ‘n ondersoek na die geleefde ervarings van werknemers se groepsleergedrag en groepskohesie soos deur etiese leierskap bepaal. Doelgerigte steekproefneming van agt individue het ‘n navorsingsmetode van persoonlike onderhoude en twee fokusgroepsessies moontlik gemaak. Data is deur middel van die inhoudsontledingstegniek ontleed.
Hoofbevindings: Die algemene persepsie van individue is dat ‘n etiese leier tot ‘n doeltreffende en produktiewe groep of span sal lei, terwyl ‘n onetiese leier die teenoorgestelde resultaat sal lewer. Dit is egter nie altyd die geval nie, soos deur die bevindings in hierdie navorsingstudie gedemonstreer is. Die studie het bevind dat leiers wat as oneties beskou word, dieselfde karaktereienskappe getoon het en dat hulle gedragskenmerke slegs in ‘n geringe mate verskil van diegene wat as eties beskou is. Met betrekking tot die invloed wat leiers op groepe en spanne het, het die studie bevind dat ofskoon etiese leierskap ‘n hoër waarskynlikheid van invloed getoon het, ander bemiddelende faktore ook hier ‘n rol gespeel het.
Bydrae/waarde toegevoeg: Die beoogde praktiese bydrae van die studie behels ‘n begrip van die ontwikkeling en potensiële toepassing van die psigososiale model ten einde die belangrikheid van leierskap in groepsdinamiek te beklemtoon. ‘n Bykomende bydrae het betrekking op die praktiese toepassing van die bevindings, wat ook as ‘n afrigtings- of konsultasie-instrument in organisasies gebruik kan word om leiers in hul leierskaprolle te help.Ph.D. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)Industrial and Organisational Psycholog
Brand communication and its influence on brand loyalty in the banking industry : an evaluation of First National Bank Customers
No full textThis study was conducted with the aim to investigate whether brand communication is
effective in influencing South African customers to remain loyal to a specific bank, in
this case, First National Bank, or if there are other factors that influence brand loyalty.
The study was based on a quantitative research design. A non-probability convenience
sampling method was implemented to reach First National Bank customers. To collect
data, self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 500 First National Bank
customers in order to secure sufficient responses for the sample size of 400 responses
using online channels with customers residing in South Africa.
The study found that, overall, customers of First National Bank find the bank’s
communication to be effective and as a result reflect a positive influence on their loyalty.
The study also found other factors that positively influence brand loyalty, such as trust
of the security systems of the bank and trust of the bank itself.
The study concluded its findings by highlighting that a relationship between brand
communication and brand loyalty exists within the banking sector. The study
recommends that banks should incorporate communication strategies as part of the
overall business strategies to increase customer and brand loyalty.
The researcher further recommends future research to include and explain other
factors that influence brand loyalty in the banking sector, such as customers’ income,
culture, and access to technologyM.A. (Communication Science)Communication Scienc
Determination of the strong coupling constant from transverse energy-energy correlations in multijet events at s = 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector
No full textAbstract
Measurements of transverse energy-energy correlations and their associated azimuthal asymmetries in multijet events are presented. The analysis is performed using a data sample corresponding to 139 fb−1 of proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of
s
= 13 TeV, collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The measurements are presented in bins of the scalar sum of the transverse momenta of the two leading jets and unfolded to particle level. They are then compared to next-to-next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations for the first time, which feature a significant reduction in the theoretical uncertainties estimated using variations of the renormalisation and factorisation scales. The agreement between data and theory is good, thus providing a precision test of QCD at large momentum transfers Q. The strong coupling constant αs is extracted as a function of Q, showing a good agreement with the renormalisation group equation and with previous analyses. A simultaneous fit to all transverse energy-energy correlation distributions across different kinematic regions yields a value of
α
s
m
Z
=
0.1175
±
0.0006
exp
.
−
0.0017
+
0.0034
theo
.
, while the global fit to the asymmetry distributions yields
α
s
m
Z
=
0.1185
±
0.0009
exp
.
−
0.0012
+
0.0025
theo
.
Entrenched in politics and culture: negotiations of violence in selected texts by Dambudzo Marechera, Shimmer Chinodya, Valerie Tagwira and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Get PDFThis study investigates the negotiation of violence by analysing how the selected texts, The House of Hunger by Damudzo Marechera, Harvest of Thorns by Shimmer Chinodya, The Uncertainty of Hope by Valerie Tagwira and Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie represent characters responding to different forms of violence. I have adopted postcolonial theory, psychoanalytic theory, resilience theory and relevant strands of feminism as lenses in my literary analysis investigating how the selected corpus represents negotiations of violence. The novels, novella and short stories depict colonisation, anti-colonial wars and post-independence ethnic and cultural conflicts as the causes of outbreaks of violence. The narratives also portray individual and collective characters navigating violence by either acquiescing or fighting its manifestations in specific political, cultural, and socio-economic contexts. I will analyse textual representations of violence, trauma, and resistance to demonstrate how the authors give fresh insights into how characters negotiate spaces colonial and postcolonial violence creates in their experience. The texts depict oppressed individuals and communities using different strategies to resist political and cultural forms of violence. Those strategies are negotiations of violence entrenched in colonial and postcolonial political systems and cultures. I read negotiation of violence as reflected in different ways by characters as they remember, interpret, narrate, and memorialise their experiences of violence.M.A. (English)English Studie
Investigation of socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS experienced by people living with HIV in Zululand municipality
Get PDFBackground: People living with HIV and AIDS generally experience a range of social, economic and other challenges as a result of their condition.
Purpose: It is in that regard, that the purpose of the study was to investigate the socio-economic impact of HIV and AIDS experienced by people living with HIV in Zululand District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province.
Setting: The current research study was conducted at Enkonjeni HAST Clinic in the Ulundi Local Municipality. Ulundi is a small town in the rural areas of Zululand District Municipality of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Population: The targeted population in this research study were all people above the age of 18 years who are living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in the Ulundi Local Municipality of Zululand District Municipality and attending the Nkonjeni HAST Clinic for antiretroviral treatment.
Sampling: The study adopted a qualitative research approach in conjunction with the exploratory and descriptive research designs. Non-probability purposive sampling methods were used to select the study sample with the sample size of 30 participants. No data saturation occurred.
Data Collection Method and data analysis methods: Data collection was facilitated by means of in-depth semi-structured interviews Thematic data analysis was utilised in the organisation, processing and categorisation of the 30 interview-based and concerting them into meaningful statements that served as the appropriate framework for the development of the findings.
Results: The study has demonstrated that people living with HIV and AIDS in the Zululand District Municipality are socially affected as stigma and discrimination still prevail in families and in communities.
Recommendations: There is need that warrants immediate intervention of HIV and AIDS education to attain a high level of social behaviour change in the families and in communities.M.A. (Nursing Science)Health Studie
Exploring "hunhu" as an alternative to Western philosophies in accounting ethics undergraduate curricula in Zimbabwean Universities
No full textAccounting scandals that have been experienced at the onset of the 21st century have rekindled interest in accounting ethics education. There is a general consensus on the importance of accounting ethics education. At international level the IFAC prescribes the ethics education for accountants through International Education Standard (IES) 4. The Anglo-American worldview is dominant in accounting ethics education in Zimbabwe and most African countries. Zimbabwean students are denied the right to learn accounting ethics guided by African moral philosophies. This situation is in part explained by colonisation and coloniality that have and continue to side-line indigenous knowledge. The study employs a decoloniality conceptual framework informed by an indigenous worldview to interrogate the dominance of the Anglo-American worldview in accounting ethics. A qualitative survey is employed to explore how accounting ethics is currently taught, what views exist in terms of whether Hunhu should or should not be included in accounting ethics curricula, and how it might be included in light of the ongoing education sector reforms in Zimbabwe. The views of accountants and Hunhu scholars and philosophers were solicited in this regard. Data was gathered through semi-structured interviews from 26 participants. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis model was used in conjunction with ATLASti.8 to analyse the transcribed interview data. The study found insignificant teaching of accounting ethics in six of the seven universities sampled. In six of the universities, accounting ethics was integrated in mostly in auditing modules, whereas one university had a standalone module. All participants motivated for the inclusion of Hunhu in accounting ethics curricula though for different reasons. Learning is never on a tabula rasa, argued some participants. Hunhu thus, provides continuity between informal moral education and formal education. Further to that Hunhu answers to the clarion call for decolonisation of curricula across disciplines in Africa. The accounting ethics pedagogy should be based on the African peoples’ philosophy of life such as Hunhu. A popular strategy to decolonise curricula is having Hunhu centred in curricula without sideling other epistemologies. The study recommends further research on the conceptual linkages between accounting premised on capitalism and Hunhu among others.D. Phil. (Accounting Ethics)College of Accounting Science
Teachers’ strategies to support retained learners in the primary schools of the Kingdom of Eswatini
No full textAbstracts in English, Zulu and SwatiTeachers’ support strategies are critical in supporting retained learners in primary schools. However, several studies reveal that resources and strategies currently used globally have not been able to mitigate challenges faced by teachers in supporting retained learners in primary schools. Furthermore, despite the prevalence of grade repetition in Eswatini, there is limited research on the subject as in many other developing countries. To address the challenge, this current qualitative study explored the strategies that teachers use to support retained learners in primary schools of the kingdom of Eswatini. The study was anchored in Piaget’s theory of cognitive development which emphasizes that knowledge is acquired through manipulating the environment. Using a phenomenological research design, eight primary school teachers from four schools (two teachers from each school) in the Shiselweni region were purposively sampled. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Qualitative thematic content analysis by Forbes (2022) and Cresswell (2013) was used to analyse the data. Four findings emerged from this study; first: uncertainty surrounds the usefulness and effectiveness of grade repetition among teachers in primary schools; secondly, the teachers’ support strategies for retained learners are not standardised and documented; thirdly: a positive learning environment reduces the learners retention rates and lastly; different stakeholders are crucial for the enhancement of teacher support strategies for retained learners. The study concludes by presenting the cyclic PeH teachers’ support strategies that show the interrelatedness of the positive learning environment, effective teaching strategies and the holistic support for retained learners. Implications for practice, limitations of the study and recommendations for further research are highlighted in this study.Izindlela zokusekela zawothisha zibalulekile ekusekeleni abafundi abaphindaphinda amabanga ezikoleni zamabanga aphansi. Kodwa-ke, ucwaningo oluningi luveza ukuthi izinsiza nezindlela ezisetshenziswayo njengamanje emhlabeni wonke awakwazanga ukunciphisa izinselele othisha ababhekene nazo ekusekeleni abafundi abaphindaphinda amabanga ezikoleni zamabanga aphansi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngaphandle kokuvama kokuphindaphinda kwamabanga Eswatini, kunocwaningo olulinganiselwe ngale ndaba njengakwamanye amazwe amaningi asathuthuka. Ukubhekana nalenselelo, lolu cwaningo lwekhwalithi luhlole izindlela othisha abazisebenzisayo ukweseka abafundi abaphindaphinda amabanga ezikoleni zamabanga aphansi zombuso wase-Eswatini.Lolu cwaningo belugxile kuthiyori kaPiaget yokukhula kwengqondo egcizelela ukuthi ulwazi lutholwa ngokuxhaphaza imvelo. Ngokusebenzisa umklamo wocwaningo olumangalisayo, othisha bezikole zamabanga aphansi abayisishiyagalombili bezikole ezine (othisha ababili besikole ngasinye) esifundeni saseShiselweni bakhethwa ngamasampula. Idatha yaqoqwa ngezingxoxo ezingahleliwe kanye nokuhlaziywa kwemibhalo. Ukuhlaziywa kokuqukethwe kwe-Quality thematic kaForbes (2022) kanye noCresswell (2013) kwasetshenziswa ukuhlaziya idatha. Okune okutholakele kulolu cwaningo; okokuqala: ukungaqiniseki kuzungeze ukuba wusizo nokusebenza ngempumelelo kokuphindaphinda ibanga phakathi kothisha ezikoleni zamabanga aphansi; okwesibili, izindlela zothisha zokusekela abafundi abaphindaphinda amabanga awekho ezingeni futhi akabhaliwe phansi; okwesithathu: indawo yokufunda enhle inciphisa amazinga okuphindaphinda kwabafundi futhi okokugcina; ababambiqhaza abahlukene babalulekile ekuthuthukiseni izindlela zothisha zokusiza abafundi abaphindaphinda amabanga. Ucwaningo luphetha ngokwethula umjikelezo i-PeH okuyindlela yawothisha yokusekela ekhombisa ukuhlobana kwendawo yokufunda enhle, izindlela zokufundisa ezisebenzayo kanye nokwesekwa okuphelele kwabafundi abaphindaphinda amabanga. Imithelela yokusebenza, imikhawulo yocwaningo kanye nezincomo zocwaningo olwengeziwe kugqanyisiwe kulolu cwaningo.Tindlela tabothishela tekusekela bafundzi labaphindzaphindza emabanga tibaluleke kakhulu etikolweni temabanga laphansi. Nanobe kunjalo, lucwaningo lolunyenti luveta kutsi imitfombo netindlela letisetjentiswako nyalo emhlabeni wonkhe atikakhoni kunciphisa tinsayeya bothishela labahlangabetana nato ekusekeleni bafundzi labaphindziswako etikolweni temabanga laphansi. Ngetulu kwaloko, ngapandle kwekuvama kwekuphindzaphindza emabanga Eswatini, kunelucwaningo loluncane ngaloludzaba njengakulamanye emave lasatfutfuka. Kute kusombululwe lenkinga, lolucwaningo lwekucophelela luhlolisise tindlela bothishela labatisebentisako kute basekele bafundzi labaphindziswako etikolweni temabanga laphansi Eswatini. Lolucwaningo belusekelwe emfundzisweni yaPiaget yekutfutfuka kwemcondvo lokugcizelela kutsi lwati lutfolakala ngekusebentisa indzawo lesihlala kuyo. Ngekusebentisa indlela yekucwaninga ngekusebentisa tintfo letentekile, bothishela labasiphohlongo besikolwa semabanga laphansi labavela etikolweni letine (bothishela lababili besikolwa ngasinye) esifundzeni saseShiselweni bakhetfwa ngekusampula. Imininingwane yahlanganiswa ngekusebentisa luhlolo loluhleleke kahle kanye nekuhlola imiculu. Kuhlolwa kwelizinga lokucuketfwe ngu Forbes (2022) kanye na Cresswell (2013) kwasetjentiswa kuhlola lemininingwane. Kulolucwaning kwavela imiphumela lemine; kwekucala: kunekungabata mayelana nekusebenta nekuphumelela kwekuphindvwa kwemabanga etikolweni temabanga laphansi; kwesibili, tindlela tabothishela tekusekela bafundzi labaphindziswzko atikahleleki kahle futsi atikabhalwa phasi; kwesitsatfu: simo sekufundza lesikahle sinciphisa lizinga lekuphindzaphindza emabanga kubafundzi; kwekugcina; labatsintsekako labehlukene babalulekile ekutfutfukiseni tindlela tekusita bothishela kunakekela bafundzi labaphindzaphindzako. Lolucwaningo luphetsa ngekwetfula umjikeleto we-PeH wetindlela tabothishela tekusekela letikhombisa kuhlobana kwesimo lesihle sekufundza, tindlela tekufundzisa letisebentako kanye nelusito loluphelele lwebafundzi labaphindziswako. Imitselela yekusebenta, nemikhawulo yalolucwaningo kanye netincomo telucwaningo lolwengetiwe kuyagcanyswa kulolucwaningo.Ph. D. (Inclusive Education)Inclusive Educatio
Examining the non-adoption of mobile phone technologies for agricultural activities by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe
No full textThe introduction of mobile phones and their associated technologies has impacted
every aspect of human existence, particularly in the developing world. This increase
in mobile phone usage has given developing nations a window of opportunity to use
mobile phone technologies as a means of achieving development. However, most of
the research across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Zimbabwe, reported minimal
usage of mobile phone technologies by a few smallholder farmers. There is an
underusage of mobile phone technologies for agricultural purposes by most of the
smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, while these farmers use mobile phone technologies
productively in their everyday lives.
This research sought to understand why most smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe do
not use their mobile phones in their agricultural activities when they successfully use
them in their everyday lives. The study explores the perceptions of smallholder farmers
in Zimbabwe on the role of mobile technology in the sustainable development of
smallholder agriculture in the country. The researcher employed a qualitative
technique to understand smallholder farmers' perspectives on mobile phone
technology use in their agricultural activities. The research adopted an inductive
approach to theory creation based on interpretivism, a philosophical theory that
recognises the possibility of multiple realities and subjectivity during the formation of
knowledge. Qualitative techniques including observations, a focus group discussion
(FGD) and in-depth interviews were used to gather empirical data.
The study was conducted following the key tenets provided for conducting a
progressive case study. The researcher analysed the literature on smallholder farmers
and mobile phone use in agriculture and offered a detailed overview of the study's
context. The factors influencing mobile phone uptake and use in agriculture and
attitudes and perceptions toward technology are identified and discussed. The main
contribution of this research to the body of knowledge is the constructed eclectic
theoretical model with nine constructs. The empirical research results affirmed the
findings from the literature analysis for six constructs Perceived Costs (PC), Perceived
Ease of Use (PEOU), Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Compatibility (PComp),
Perceived Subjective Norms (PSN) and Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC). The
Page II of 338
research also proposed three new constructs, which are Perceived Expressiveness
(PE), Perceived Support of Service Provider (PSoSP), and Perceived Mobility (PM).
This research has found the proposed model to irradiate the adoption and usage
patterns, and variations of mobile phone technologies by smallholder farmers in
Zimbabwe. The model emphasises the significance of the role of agricultural extension
service officers in the adoption and usage processes. That is why it incorporates
agricultural extension services officers as a vital cog in the model because of the
moderating effect on eight constructs of the proposed model. According to the
research findings, agricultural extension service personnel in Zimbabwe play a crucial
role in teaching smallholder farmers and assessing the utility of mobile phone
technology applications as a supplemental tool in agricultural extension processes.
The study's secondary aim is to contribute to practice by creating a framework for
guiding the adoption and usage of mobile phone technologies to advance smallholder
agriculture in Zimbabwe. The proposed framework integrates the key agricultural
stakeholders in the layers and places the agricultural extension services officers at the
epicentre of the operationalisation of the framework since they are a vital part of the
smallholder agriculture information dissemination and agriculture development matrix.
The framework intends to support the integration of agricultural information sources
into a centralised repository which should be accessible to all agricultural information
dissemination platforms. All developed mobile phone technology for agriculture
platforms should be integrated into the framework after evaluation. The agricultural
extension services officers, who work directly with smallholder farmers, should
evaluate the intrinsic conditions of the smallholder farmers under their jurisdiction and
recommend the best mobile phone technology agricultural application suitable for
each farmer's circumstances.School of Computin
Meaning centred equine assisted psychotherapy as a complementary technique of logotherapy in the treatment of psychiatric disorders
Get PDFThe study undertook to describe how using equine assisted psychotherapy as a technique of logotherapy could support those who have been diagnosed and placed in a long-term care facility with a psychiatric disorder to find a sense of meaning and value in their lives. This alternative therapeutic modality is a response to gaps and limitations identified in the traditional approach to the diagnosis and treatment of these psychiatric disorders.
A qualitative, descriptive, multi-case study was conducted over a period of six weeks. The inclusion criteria were psychiatric patients who had been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder and were, at the time of the study, placed in a long-term psychiatric care facility. Eight participants were purposively selected. Written informed consent was obtained and participation was voluntary. The researcher held ethical boundaries regarding the values and principles of psychotherapy.
Each participant was seen weekly during the study period by a clinical psychologist, who is also the researcher. The therapeutic intervention was Logotherapy, combined with equine assisted psychotherapy as a technique – a therapeutic modality in its own right - to build on logotherapy’s tenets and principles.
Data collection consisted of audio-recordings of each of the individual sessions with participants, personal reflective journals by participants and researcher, researcher’s process notes and each participant’s ‘letter to the horses’.
Thematic analysis was conducted on audio-recording transcriptions and all documents for in-case studies and across-case studies. Themes were corroborated with Frankl’s logotherapy concepts.
The findings showed that all participants benefitted from the short-term intervention, and that equine assisted psychotherapy is an effective technique for incorporation with Logotherapy.
This study has contributed to the under-researched area of combining logotherapy and equine assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of psychiatric patients. It also contributes to the substantial body of research in these respective modalities.
The value of this research is that it offers an opportunity for those who are caught in a sense of fate and loss of meaning to find their sense of movement towards self-transcendence. Additionally, research on general psychological constructs such as meaning, purpose and value in life, which are pertinent today, would benefit.D. Phil. (Psychology)Psycholog