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Abuse, power and discourse in the public trial of Timothy Omotoso
No full textExposure of gender-based violence (GBV) has recently received attention from both scholars and the public. However, GBV within Christian discourse, and specifically as it occurs among pastors of the new Prophetic Pentecostal Churches (PPC), is yet to be explored in detail. This article begins to address this research gap by highlighting the difficulty of proving sexual and spiritual abuse in a secular court of law, as shown in the public trial of Timothy Omotoso. The study uses critical discourse analysis (CDA) as the methodology to examine aspects of the trial and the social media discourse commenting on the trial. In doing so, the article highlights three different discourses surrounding the Zondi trial, namely the discourse of GBV in Pentecostalism; the secular legal discourse and how it reshapes faith, spirituality and the abuse of believers; and the public trial victims endure on social media if they chose to come forward to testify against a church leader. By examining these discourses, the study shows how each of these need to be taken seriously and should inform pastoral care given to victims who experienced GBV by Christian leaders. Using the findings from Zondi’s testimony, this article proposes a framework of pastoral care that can support people who experience GBV within a Christian context and consider bringing their abusers to trial.Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiolog
Parental involvement and progressed grade 11 geography learners in Soweto
No full textAbstracts in English, Zulu and SothoThe relevance of parental involvement in the education of learners is no longer considered to be a matter subject for further debate. There is tremendous evidence that confirms that parental involvement is a critical ingredient in the education of learners. It is, however, recorded that most parents, and, in particular, those from among the low socio-economic strata are rarely fully involved in the education of their children. This research study has aimed at investigating the causes of the lack of parental involvement among progressed grade 11 geography learners.
The main research question pertained to what the causes of the lack of parental involvement among the progressed learners are. Progressed learners are learners who are allowed to proceed to the next grade despite having failed to meet the minimum promotional requirements.
To answer the main research question, an interpretivist paradigm was adopted. The research was exclusively qualitative in nature and used a phenomenology research design. Six learners from three different schools and their parents were purposively sampled to take part in the investigation. Three educators, one from each of the three schools teaching Geography to the progressed learners, also participated during the investigation. All participants were involved via video recorded interviews lasting between 20 to 40 minutes.
The comprehensive framework for school, family and community partnership by Epstein, Coates, Salinas, Sanders, and Simon, (1997) was used as the theoretical framework that guided this research. After data collection, the explicitation method recommended by Groenewald (2004) was used during the data analysis stage.
The results from the interviews were analysed and evaluated against the framework of Epstein et al (1997). The interviews showed that the causes of lack of parental involvement among progressed learners are multi-faceted. They range from poor parenting methods that sometimes lead to dysfunctional families, poor communication between the schools and the parents, and to unclear government policies on strategies to involve parents. Schools themselves also appeared to be posing a stumbling block in parental involvement with parents accusing teachers of being disrespectful towards parents. Improved communication between schools and parents is recommended to enhance more parental involvement.Ukufaneleka kokubandakanyeka kwabazali emfundweni yabafundi akusabhekwa njengento okusazoqhubeka kudingidwe ngayo. Kunobufakazi obuningi obuqinisekisa ukuzibandakanya kwabazali njengesithako esibalulekile emfundweni yabafundi. Nokho, kuqoshwe phansi ukuthi iningi labazali, futhi ikakhulukazi labo abavela ezigabeni eziphansi zenhlalo-mnotho, abavamile ukuzibandakanya ngokugcwele emfundweni yezingane zabo. Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuphenya ngezimbangela zokungabi bikho kokuzibandakanya kwabazali phakathi kwabafundi abadlulisiwe bebanga le-11 beJografi futhi le nhloso yabonakala embuzweni omkhulu wocwaningo. Abafundi abadlulisiwe ngabafundi abavunyelwe ukudlulela ebangeni elilandelayo, naphezu kokuba behlulekile ukuhlangabezana nezidingo ezincane zokukhushulwa. Kwamukelwa ipharadigm yokutolika ukuze iphendule umbuzo oyinhloko wocwaningo. Lolu cwaningo beluluhle kakhulu ngokwendalo futhi lusebenzise idizayini yocwaningo lwefinominoloji. Abafundi abayisithupha bezikole ezintathu ezahlukene bathathwe ngenhloso ukuba ngamasampu;a wokuthi babambe iqhaza ophenyweni nabazali bomfundi ngamunye othintekayo. Othisha abathathu - oyedwa esikoleni ngasinye kwezintathu - abafundisa iJografi kubafundi abadlulisiwe nabo babambe iqhaza ocwaningweni. Bonke ababambiqhaza bahambele inhlolokhono eqoshwe phansi ngevidiyo ethatha phakathi kwemizuzu engama-20 nengama-40.
Uhlaka olubanzi lwesikole, umndeni kanye nokubambisana komphakathi luka-Epstein, uCoates, uSalinas, uSanders, noSimon (1997) lusetshenziswe njengohlaka lwethiyori oluqondisa lolu cwaningo. Ngemuva kokuqoqwa kwemininigwane, indlela yokuchaza eyatuswa uGroenewald (2004) yasetshenziswa ngesikhathi sokuhlaziya imininingwane. Imiphumela evela ezingxoxweni yahlaziywa futhi yahlolwa ngokumelene nohlaka lwe-Epstein et al. (1997). Izingxoxo zakhombisa izimbangela zokungabi bikho kokuzibandakanya kwabazali phakathi kwabafundi abadlulisiwe ukuze zibe nezici eziningi. Zisuka ezindleleni ezingezinhle zokukhulisa izingane ngezinye izikhathi eziholela emindenini engasebenzi kahle nokungakhulumisani kahle phakathi kwesikole nomzali kuze kufike ekungacacini kwemigomo kahulumeni ngamasu okubandakanya abazali. Izikole nazo zibonakale zifaka imigoqo ekuzibandkanyeni kwabazali njengoba abazali besola othisha ngokungabahloniphi. Ukuxhumana okuthuthukisiwe phakathi kwezikole nabazali kuyanconywa ukuze kugqugquzelwe ukuzibandakanya kwabazali okwengeziwe.Bohlokwa ba ho kenya letsoho ha batswadi thutong ya barutwana ha e sa nkwa e le taba eo ho ka buisanwang ka yona ho ya pele Ho na le bopaki bo bongata bo tiisang hore batswadi ba nka karolo e le karolo ya bohlokwa thutong ya barutwana. Leha ho le jwalo, ho tlalehilwe hore batswadi ba bangata, haholoholo ba tswang maemong a tlaase a moruo wa setjhaba, ke ka sewelo ba amehang ka botlalo thutong ea bana ba Dipatlisiso tsena di reretswe ho batlisisa disosa tsa kgaello ya ho ba le seabo ha batsoadi hara barutwana ba ntseng ba tswela pele ba sehlopha sa 11 sa Geography mme sepheo sena se ile sa bonahala potsong ya sehlooho ya dipatlisiso. Baithuti ba tswetseng pele ke baithuti ba dumelletsweng ho tswela pele ho ya sehlopheng se latelang, leha ba hlotswe ho fihlella ditlhoko tse tlase tsa ho phahamiswa. Ho ile ha amohelwa paradigm ya ho toloka ho araba potso ya mantlha ya dipatlisiso. Patlisiso e ne e le ya boleng bo hodimo feela mme e sebedisitse moralo wa dipatlisiso tsa moralo wa dipatlisiso wa phenomenology. Barutwana ba tsheletseng ho tswa dikolong tse tharo tse fapaneng ba ile ba etswa disampole ka sepheo sa ho nka karolo dipatlisisong hammoho le batswadi ba morutwana e mong le e mong ya amehang. Matitjhere a mararo - a le mong ho tswa ho se seng le se seng sa dikolo tse tharo - ba rutang thuto ya Geography ho barutwana ba hatelang pele le bona ba nkile karolo thutong. Bankaseabo bohle ba bile teng dipuisanong tse rekotilweng ka video tse nkang metsotso e 20 ho isa ho e 40.
Moralo o felletseng wa tshebedisanommoho ya sekolo, lelapa le setjhaba ho latela Epstein, Coates, Salinas, Sanders, le Simon (1997) o sebedisitswe e le moralo wa teore o tataisang dipatlisiso tsena. Ka morao ha pokello ya lesedi ho ile ha sebediswa mokgwa o hlalosang o sisintsweng ke Groenewald (2004) nakong ya manollo ya ditaba. Sephetho sa dipuisano se ile sa hlahlojwa le ho hlahlojwa kgahlano le moralo wa Epstein et al. (1997). Diinthavu di bontshitse disosa tsa kgaello ya ho kenya letsoho ha batswadi hara barutwana ba tswetseng pele ho ba le dikarolo tse ngata. Di fapana ho tloha mekgweng e mebe ya ho hodisa bana eo ka dinako tse ding e lebisang malapeng a sa sebetseng le puisano e fokolang pakeng tsa sekolo le motswadi ho ya ho melaotheo e sa hlakang ya mmuso mabapi le maano a ho kenyelletsa batswadi. Dikolo le tsona di ne di bonahala di le kgopiso ho batswadi ba bona, Batswadi ba qosa matitjhere ka ho se ba hlomphe. Puisano e ntlafetseng pakeng tsa dikolo le batswadi e kgothaletswa ho kenya letsoho haholwanyane ha batswadi.M. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)Educational Studie
Climate change adaptation for sustenance of rural livelihoods in Jotsholo, Lupane District, Zimbabwe
No full textClimate change is a serious challenge on a global and local scale, with severe consequences for rural livelihoods sustainability and socioeconomic well-being. The study's major objective was to examine how rural livelihoods in Jotsholo, Lupane district in Zimbabwe are adapting to climate change. With the goal of arming research participants against climate change vagaries, rural livelihood policies and rural household’s knowledge levels were examined in the study. The research also examined the effects of climate change on biophysical and socioeconomic situations before evaluating adaptation approaches to climatic occurrences after examining relevant literature and collecting primary data. The study was anchored on the Conservation of Resources Theory and the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach. Incorporating features such as people-centeredness, flexibility, responsiveness, and participatory action, the frameworks that were utilized assisted in identifying the sources of strength for improving sustainability and creating resilience among rural livelihoods. This was complemented by observations and secondary data. Thematic analysis and descriptive statistics were both beneficial in presenting and analyzing data. The study’s findings demonstrated that climate change's vagaries have a detrimental effect on Jotsholo's biophysical and socioeconomic situations as reflected by water shortages and few sustainable livelihoods strategies utilized. The findings also reflected that though the participants have knowledge of understanding that climate change was taking place, there was low adaptive capacity as a result of lack of adaptation knowledge. Adaptation strategies in the Jotsholo ward included cultivating drought-tolerant crops, rearing animals that like goats and sheep, livelihoods diversification, and conservation farming. A number of challenges were identified as hampering climate change adaptation thus insufficient funding, inadequate infrastructure, unfavourable market conditions and the scarcity of alternative fuels. To ensure the sustainability in climate adaptation, the study
recommended properly constituted, enhanced, and monitored policies to be put in place with a bottom up approach to inculcate ownership. More capacity building and awareness campaigns should be initiated to increase the adaptive capacity for the rural households. A climate adaptation plan was developed with the study participants with the aim of enhancing the adaptive capacity in Jotsholo, Lupane district.Ph.D (Developmental Studies)Development Studie
Bifurcations in Josephson junction coupled to the nanomagnet
Get PDFIn this study, we consider voltage biased Josephson junction coupled to nanomagnet. We investigate the period doubling bifurcation due to interplay between superconducting phase and magnetization in Josephson junction. We use the variation of Josephson to magnetic energy ratio as our control parameter. Several precession motions are observed, such as chaos, bistabiity, and multiperiodic orbits, in the ferromagnetic resonance region.Physic
Dynamic linkage amongst oil, gold, exchange rates and stock markets in Africa: evidence from volatility of major African economies
Get PDFThe premise of this study is that price fluctuations amongst exchange rates, stock and
commodities markets are dynamically linked. The study models monthly price changes
amongst these markets in 20 highest World Bank GDP ranked African economies between
the years 2000 and 2019 using a copula based DCC GARCH framework. The results show
that, there is a time varying co-movement amongst these markets that tend to increase during
times of turbulence in sampled markets. Dynamic relations are found to be quantitatively
and relatively substantial for economies of Egypt, South Africa, Tanzania, Libya and
Zambia. The study also finds a relatively high bivariate association amongst currencies
mainly the South African rand, Botswana pula, Moroccan dirham, CFA franc and Tunisian
dinar.M. Sc. (Statistics)Statistic
A conceptual framework for the adoption and implementation of online reverse auctions in South Africa
Get PDFDigital technologies enable a deep rationalisation in the purchase of supplies between organisations, with positive cost-reducing spin-offs on wise e-procurements adoptions with savings of up to an 8-12% average to the purchases total. To this effect, web-based systems, online reverse auctions (ORAs) emerge as the most cost-efficient options, from the goods and services supply chain, as well as administration and governance perspective. ORAs are beginning to replace traditional paper-based manual procurement transactions and face to face negotiations effectively.
Problem and Purpose – The project undertook to explore the level of ORAs adoption and usage by local organisations. The aim was to understand and explain the status-quo, with a goal of devising a facilitative framework for improved adoptions and use of ORAs in the South African public and private business contexts. Design/methodology/approach – The main research question How can the adoption (including implementation and use) of Online Reverse Auctions (ORAs) be improved among the private and public business enterprises in South Africa? To address this, a mixed methods approach was adopted, using the survey and interviews on selected 100 procurement professionals, executives, project managers and procurement specialists and practitioners.
Findings – The study has found that ORAs should be implemented in South Africa when all suppliers are empowered to participate – the basic reasons being that they would save costs, and technology advancement simplifies and standardise processes. Furthermore, the effect of perceptions on online reverse auctions on adoption, implementation and purpose of ORA and research findings provided possible ways to improve the tool to be effective in the context of developing countries like South Africa
Furthermore, findings also call for improved implementation of ORAs in South Africa.
Research limitations/implications – Regulations around the procurement and SCM function in both the private and the public sector (though the private sector regulations are not as stringent and the public sector) contributed significantly on the progress and the availability of information from participants. Originality/value –The current existing models, frameworks and online reverse auction tools are mainly supporting and designed for established, mature and developed markets. It is required that appropriate tools and processes to conduct and implement online reverse auctions are necessary. Hence the newly proposed online reverse auctions conceptual framework.Ubuchwepheshe bedijithali buvumela ukulinganisa okujulile, ekuthengeni izinto phakathi kwezinhlangano, ngemiphumela emihle enciphisa izindleko ekutholweni kokuthengwa okuku-inthanethi okuhlakaniphile; ikakhulukazi, ekongeni okungaba khona okulinganiselwa ku-8% kuya ku-12% kwenani eliphelele lokuthenga. Njengezinhlelo ezisekelwe kusizindalwazi, ukuqhudelana kwabahlinzeki ku-inthanethi (ama-ORA) kuvela njengokunike amandla okonga imali, kokubili kusukela kuchungechunge lokuhlinzeka, imibono yokuphatha neyokubusa. Ngenxa yalesi sizathu, ama-ORA aseqalile ukufaka esikhundleni sezingxoxo zokuthengwa kwempahla ezisekelwe ephepheni lendabuko kanye nobuso nobuso emisebenzini yesimanjemanje yochungechunge lokuhlinzeka ngempahla kunqubo yokucabanga phambili yeNguqoko Yezimboni yesine (4IR) esekelwe ohlelweni lokuhlinzeka ngempahla emhlabeni wokuncintisana. Akumangalisi-ke ukuthi abamukeli balobu buchwepheshe obusha babonakala bebambe iqhaza ekuqhudelaneni nabangebona abamukeli emnothweni womhlaba wonke, nokuncintisana ngokwandayo. Inkinga nenjongo - Ngokusebenzisa inzuzo yokwengeza inani lezinhlelo ezizenzakalelayo ezinqubeni zokuthengwa kwempahla, umbhali wale phrojekthi wayefuna ukuqonda izinga lokwamukelwa nokusetshenziswa kwama-ORA yizinhlangano zendawo eNingizimu Afrika. Inhloso bekuwukuchaza isimo sezwe samanje. Umgomo ekugcineni kwaba ukusungula uhlaka olusizayo lokuthuthukiswa kokutholwa kanye nokusetshenziswa kwama-ORA ezimeni zamabhizinisi zikahulumeni nezizimele eNingizimu Afrika. Ukwenza/indlela yokwenza/indlela yokusebenza – Kule nqubo, kwaphakanyiswa umbuzo wocwaningo olandelayo: “Kungathuthukiswa kanjani ukwamukelwa (okuhlanganisa nokusebenza kanye nokusetshenziswa) kokuqhudelana kwabahlinzeki ku-inthanethi (ama-ORA) phakathi kwamabhizinisi azimele kanye namabhizinisi kahulumeni eNingizimu Afrika?” Ekufuneni izimpendulo, kwasetshenziswa izindlela ezixubile. Izinhlelo ze-ORA ziyingxenye yobuchwepheshe obusha lapho ukuhlaziya kwawo kungenziwa kangcono ngemibono yokwamukela ubuchwepheshe. Isifanekiso sokwamukela sobuchwepheshe (i-TAM) kanye nemibono ehlobene ngaleyo ndlela yasetshenziswa yomibili njengezingalizi zokuqoqo ukukhanya komqondo nokuhlaziya ophenyweni. Ngokwenqubo, inhlolovo kanye namasu okuxoxisana asetshenziswa ukuqoqa imininingwane yochwepheshe abakhethiwe abayi-100 bokuthenga, abaphathi, abaphathi bamaphrojekthi kanye nochwepheshe bokuthengwa kwempahla kanye nabasebenzi ezimbonini ezahlukahlukene zonkana zikahulumeni nezizimele. Okutholakele kukhomba igebe mayelana nokuqwashisa kanye nokusebenza kwezinhlaka zokwamukela nokusebenzisa ngempumelelo ama-ORA ezimbonini zikahulumeni nezizimele eNingizimu Afrika. Ukunika amandla bonke ababambiqhaza mayelana nokuqwashisa nekhono, ngakho-ke kuyaphakanyiswa kulo mbhalo wobuhlakani wokuthola iziqu. Ukuphuthuma kokuthuthukisa ubuchwepheshe be-ORA kubabambiqhaza abanenselelo yokuncintisana esimeni sezwe elisathuthuka kuyaphakanyiswa. Njengendlela yenzuzo eqenjini lephrojekthi ekuqaleni kokuthuthuka kwayo locwaningo, uhlaka oluvumayo lokusiza ukubamba iqhaza okunjalo (ukwamukelwa kanye nokusetshenziswa) kuma-ORAs ngaleyo ndlela kuhlongoziwe kokutholakele. Imikhawulo yocwaningo/imithelela - Imininingwane kulolu phenyo itholwe kusampula esikhundleni sesibalo sabantu esiphelele semikhakha kahulumeni nezimele, okusho ukuthi imibono ehlukile evela ezimeni eziyinqaba ihlala ingaqondakali, okunikeza ithuba lokucwaninga okwengeziwe ngesihloko. Okwangempela/ukubaluleka - Izifanekiso ezikhona, izinhlaka namathuluzi kubonakala kuvumelana nezimo zezimakethe ezimisiwe, ezivuthiwe nezithuthukile. Ngakho-ke amathuluzi nezinqubo ezifanele kufanele kuthuthukiswe njengokuphuthumayo ukuze kuqhutshwe futhi kusetshenziswe ukuqhudelana kwabahlinzeki ku-inthanethi ukuze kunikezwe izixazululo ezikhona kuzo zonke izindawo zokuthuthukiswa komnotho. Kungale ndlela ephusile lapho kuphakanyiswa uhlaka lomqondo olusha oluhlongozwayo ekuqhudelaneni kwabahlinzeki ku-inthanethi kulokho okutholwe yile phrojekthi yocwaningo.Didiriswa tsa theknolotsi di nolofatsa lebaka le legolo la thekisetsano ya dithoto magareng ga dikgwebo, ka dikhamphani tseo di fokotsago ditshenyagelo ka go somisa kgwebisano ye bohlale ya inthaneteng; kudukudu, ka dipolokelo tseo di akanyetswago go fihla go 8% go ya go 12% ya palomoka ya ditheko. Go swana le mananeo a inthaneteng, difantisi tsa ribese tsa inthaneteng (diORA) (mo barekisi ba phenkgisanela go reka go morekisi o tee) di laeditse go fokotsa ditshenyagalelo, go tswa go dikgopolo tsa tshepediso ya kabo, taolo le puso. Ka lebaka le, diORA di thomile go soma legatong la tsela ya tlwaelo ya ditherisano le dithekisetsano ka sebele, ka go somisa mokgwa wa sebjalebjale wo o nago le ponelopele wo o theilwego godimo ga tshepediso ya kabo mo nakong ya Rebolusene ya bo4 ya Intasteri (4IR) lefaseng la kgwebo la diphadisano. Ka gona ga go makatse ge basomisi ba theknolotsi ye e mpsha ba bonala ba le maemong a kaone go fetisa dikgwebo tseo di sa somisego mokgwa wo go kgwebisano ya lefase, le ikonoming yeo e golago ka lebelo. Bothata le morero – Ka go somisa tshedimoso ya tlaleletso ya boleng ka go somisa mananeo a khomphutha go mekgwa ya kgwebisano, mongwadi wa protseke ye o be a nyaka go lekola maemo le tshomiso ya diORA ka mekgatlo ya ka Afrika Borwa. Maikemisetso e be e le go hlalosa maemo a bjale. Tebanyo mafelelong e be e le go hlama foreimeweke ya nolofatso ya tshomiso le tiriso ye e kaonafaditswego ya diORA ka maemong a dikgwebo tsa setshaba le tsa phoraebete ka Afrika Borwa. Tlhamo/mokgwa wa nyakisiso/mokgwa – Mo go tshepediso ye, go botsisitswe potsiso ya nyakisiso ye e latelago: “Naa tiriso (go akaretswa phethagatso le tshomiso) ya difantisi tsa ribese ya inthaneteng (ORA) di ka kaonafatswa bjang go dikgwebo tsa phoraebete le tsa mmuso ka Afrika Borwa?” Ka go fihlelela dikarabo, go somisitswe mokgwa wo o kopantswego. Mananeo a ORA ke karolo ya mananeo a maswa gomme a ka sekasekwa ga bonolo ka go somisa diteori tsa mananeo a theknolotsi. Mmotlolo wa tiriso ya theknolotsi (TAM) le diteori tse di amanago le wona di somisitswe bjalo ka dilentshe tsa kgopolo le tsa tshekatsheko ya nyakisiso. Go somisitswe mokgwa wa nyakisiso ya tekolonyakisiso le dipoledisano go kgoboketsa datha go tswa go batseakarolo bao ba kgethilwego ba ditsebi tse 100, bareki ba thoto, bahlankediphethisi, balaodi ba diprotseke le ditsebi tsa theko le basomi ka diintastering tsa go fapana go ralala le mafapha a mmuso le a phoraebete. Dikutollo di laetsa tlhaelelo ya temogo le ka diforeimeweke tsa phethagatso go somisa le go phethagatsa diORA ka mafapheng a mmuso le a phoraebete ka Afrika Borwa. Go fa batseakarolo ka moka tsebo le bokgoni, go sisintswe ka thesising ye. Boitlhaganelo bja go kaonafatsa theknolotsi ya ORA go batseakarolo bao ba hlokago bokgoni go naga ye e hlabologago go a sisinywa. Bjalo ka tsela ya go tseakarolo go nyakisiso ya thuto e, dikutollo tsa nyakisiso ye di sisinya foreimeweke ye e kgontshago go nolofatsa tshomiso (tiriso le tshomiso) ya diORA. Dikiletso/Diphihlelelo tsa nyakisiso – Datha ya nyakisiso ye e fihleletswe ka mokgwa wa go sampola e sego ka go somisa basomi ba mafapha a mmuso le a phoraebete ka botlalo, se se hlalosa gore tshedimoso ya moswananosi ga se e fihlelelwe, gomme se se laetsa hlokego ya dinyakisiso tse dingwe thutong ye. Boithomelo/boleng – Mmotlolo ye e lego gona, diforeimeweke le didiriswa di laetsa di soma gabotse go maemo ao a theilwego dikgwebong tseo tse kgolo. Didiriswa le mekgwa ya ditshepetso e swanetse go kaonafatswa ka boitlhaganelo go laola le go phethagatsa difantisi tsa ribese tsa inthaneteng go tlisa ditharollo go tlhabollo ya ekonomi lefase ka bophara. Ka go realo diphihlelelo tsa protseke ya nyakisiso ye di sisinya foreimeweke ye mpsha ya difantisi tsa ribese tsa inthaneteng.D.B.L.Graduate School of Business Leadershi
The use and perceived value of strategic management tools in an information and communications company in South Africa.
Get PDFThe world is currently driven and affected by hyper-competition, which creates
severe pressure on firms, including those in the South African (SA) information
and communications technology (ICT) sector. The SA ICT sector plays a key
role in the economy as it is an enabler of economic growth. To thrive in such a
highly competitive climate, a better grasp of the firm's competitive forces and the
dynamics that impact its success is essential. Strategic management tools
(SMTs) can aid an organisation in gathering relevant data and transforming the
data into actionable intelligent information to make strategic and tactical
decisions. This can help ICT companies to improve their organisational
outcomes including their performance which can ultimately lead to a competitive
advantage.
The significance of this study is to explore the use and perceived value of SMTs
in a SA ICT company. Based on a cross-sectional survey design, a quantitative
data collection technique was used. An online survey questionnaire was used
to access a random sample of 200 from approximately 6000 employees in the
company from which 55 usable responses were received. Descriptive statistics
was used to analyse the data to determine the use and perceived value of twelve
SMTs in the company. The company’s use and perceived value of the SMTs
were compared with the data obtained for the past 5 years from other companies
in the wider group study.
This study identified the SMTs with the highest and lowest use and perceived
values in both the company as well as in the wider group study. The study found
the company to have both a higher average use and a higher average perceived
value compared to the wider group study, confirming that in general the company
use and value the SMTs more than other companies. The study also found “A
formal strategic planning process”, “Stakeholder engagement during the strategic
planning and implementation” and the “Balanced Scorecard” to be both the least
used and valued, and therefore the most unpopular SMTs in the company.
The findings from this study have both academic and managerial implications.
This study contributes to literature and attempts to fill the void identified in the literature surveyed. Knowing the significance and value of using SMTs provides
management with concrete considerations for actions and interventions that
could be pursued in the interest of improving company-wide performance and
gaining a competitive advantage. The study's findings inform specific
recommendations to the company’s Strategy Division, managers, and employees
on using the identified SMTs to make strategic and tactical decisions that can
help improve performance. Future research considerations were also identified
and suggested that included a study on the use of SMTs and its effect on the
performance of ICT firms in SA, in-depth and longitudinal studies in SA
companies and studies to be conducted in the SA context on the use and
satisfaction rates of SMTs using the Bain’s Management Tools & Trends top 25
SMTs list
Decision support-tools for early detection of infection in older people (aged> 65 years): a scoping review
No full textAbstract
Background
Infection is more frequent, and serious in people aged > 65 as they experience non-specific signs and symptoms delaying diagnosis and prompt treatment. Monitoring signs and symptoms using decision support tools (DST) is one approach that could help improve early detection ensuring timely treatment and effective care.
Objective
To identify and analyse decision support tools available to support detection of infection in older people (> 65 years).
Methods
A scoping review of the literature 2010–2021 following Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A search of MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and PsycINFO using terms to identify decision support tools for detection of infection in people > 65 years was conducted, supplemented with manual searches.
Results
Seventeen papers, reporting varying stages of development of different DSTs were analysed. DSTs largely focussed on specific types of infection i.e. urine, respiratory, sepsis and were frequently hospital based (n = 9) for use by physicians. Four DSTs had been developed in nursing homes and one a care home, two of which explored detection of non- specific infection.
Conclusions
DSTs provide an opportunity to ensure a consistent approach to early detection of infection supporting prompt action and treatment, thus avoiding emergency hospital admissions. A lack of consideration regarding their implementation in practice means that any attempt to create an optimal validated and tested DST for infection detection will be impeded. This absence may ultimately affect the ability of the workforce to provide more effective and timely care, particularly during the current covid-19 pandemic
Land use/ cover changes, driving forces and influence on soil properties in Rib watershed, Ethiopia
No full textLand use/cover (LULC) change has resulted from complex interactions of natural phenomena
and human activities. Population growth coupled with economic growth has increased the
demand of land resources for centuries and causing changes at various levels ranging from local
to global scales. Land use practice affects the distribution and supply of soil nutrients to plants
by altering soil properties. This study aimed at understanding the magnitude of LULC changes
and its drivers. It also attempts to examine the influence of LULC on soil properties in Rib
watershed. Satellite imageries of 1986, 1996, 2006, and 2016, field observation and four key
informant interviews were employed. In addition, soil samples were taken over natural forest,
grazing and cultivated lands in the two agroecological zones (Dega and High Dega) with five
replications. The samples were taken at two depths: 0-15cm (surface layer) and 15- 30cm
(subsurface layer) and mixed up to obtain composite and representative samples. Household
survey was also employed to obtain data on farmers’ perception of drivers of LULC changes.
Image analysis was accomplished on ERDAS Imagine and Arc GIS software to detect land
use/cover changes. Descriptive statistics, pair-wise ranking technique, Multivariate analysis of
variance (MANOVA), and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analyses in SPSS were
employed. The findings of this study revealed an expansion of cropland and settlement,
plantation, and bare land by 39.01, 24.88 and 5.62 ha/year, respectively between 1986 and 2016.
On the contrary, natural forest, grassland, and grazing land have decreased by 30, 26.6 and 12.9
ha/ year, respectively. Plantation shows increasing trends in Dega agroecological zone, whereas
in the High Dega cultivated/ farmlands & settlements, bare land has increased rapidly at the
expenses of other LULC. Significant differences (p<0.05) were also observed in OC, Ca2+, clay,
and silt fractions between the soils of natural forest, grazing land, and cultivated in the two
agroecologies. Soils of natural forest has higher OC, OC stock and TN. For instance, soils of
natural forest has higher OC stock (188.32 Mg/ha) as compared to soils of cultivated lands
(72.75 Mg/ha). BD of cultivated land was significantly higher than natural forest and grazing
lands. LULC changes were driven by increasing demands for new farmlands and increasing
demand for eucalyptus wood in rural and urban centres. Moreover, weakness in law enforcement
on natural resource conservation, low level of public participation in watershed management, and
low level of livelihood diversification were among the drivers of change. Therefore, the study
has suggested that the watershed ought to be enriched with of watershed restoration and natural
resource conservation activities.Ph. D. (Environmental Management)Environmental Science