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Stakeholder and visitor reflections of sport brand positioning in South Africa
Get PDFAbstract: The purpose of this paper was to identify stakeholder and visitor perceptions of brand images of the South African destination brand in order to examine how sport is utilised as a catalytic agent for achieving brand positioning. Following a mixed method approach, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 sport, tourism, and government stakeholders. Survey questionnaires were administered with 403 sport event visitors at major events across South Africa. The results show congruence between stakeholder and sport event visitor perceptions on the multi-layered brand images of South Africa. Uniquely defined city brand images raise challenges and opportunities for establishing a coherent national brand positioning. The utilisation of sport for brand positioning is greatly dependent on brand distinctiveness and dedicated stakeholder vision and policy. The study provides a framework of recommendations that practically guide key industry stakeholders on value propositions that underpin brand positioning strategies. This study also makes a contribution to existing brand positioning theories and practice by exploring the value proposition construct to a unique sport environment while employing real-life destination brand scenarios
Participation and communication behaviour at academic conferences – An empirical gender study at the German Congress of Geography 2019
Get PDFAbstract: This article examines gender differences in participation and communication behaviour at the German Congress of Geography 2019 in Kiel. The programme booklet and over 70 sessions with more than 200 lectures as well as over 800 discussion contributions were analysed for gender-specific differences using a standardised structured observation form. The results show significant gender differences both on the level of participation and on the level of communication behaviour: Lectures delivered by men achieved higher attendance figures than lectures by women due to gender-selective attendance behaviour of men; women were under-represented in the role of session chair; men tended to dominate the discussion rounds after the presentations, they took the floor more often and talked longer; the session chairs’ gender exercised a decisive influence on who participated in the discussions, there was a clear tendency towards gender homophily; in general, discussion activity was higher after presentations by women, because women then participated in the discussions significantly more often and for longer periods of time. In the second part of the paper, we put our findings in historical context. This reveals that gender inequality has decreased e.g. with regard to women’s conference participation, personnel structure and the number of women being appointed as full professors. On a structural level, positive gender dynamics are emerging within German-speaking geography. On the other hand, it becomes evident that especially at the level of communication at conferences, traditional gender-specific behaviours do persist. These behavioural patterns are obviously more enduring than the formal structures and positions
Macadamia nutshell decorated polyaniline nanocomposites (MNS-PANI) for the removal of CR(VI) and its re-use for photocatalytic degradation
Get PDFAbstract: This study investigated a polyaniline decorated macadamia nutshell composite (MNS-PANI) adsorbent for the removal of highly toxic Cr(VI) and the efficient catalytic activity of the spent adsorbent for reuse. The composite adsorbent was successfully synthesised and the functional groups present were confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The diffraction patterns were examined with X-ray diffractometry (XRD) while the structure and surface morphology were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The elemental composition of the adsorbent was studied using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) was used to estimate the surface area while the thermal stability was studied using thermogravimetric analyser. Batch adsorption studies were further carried out to study the adsorptive behaviour of MNS-PANI with Cr(VI), and the effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial Cr(VI) concentration and temperature were studied. The Cr(VI) loaded MNS-PANI was further applied in the degradation of ciprofloxacin...M.Sc. (Chemistry
Energy research in Nigeria : a bibliometric analysis
Get PDFAbstract: The scant supply of energy in Nigeria in relation to its energy demand has triggered interest in the scientific investigation of various energy research. This study reports on the bibliometric analysis of energy publications from Nigerian researchers from 1974 to 2019 (45 years) from the Elsevier Scopus database. The analysis includes publication types, languages of publication, institutions of authors and collaborators. Based on the analysis, the number of publications has increased in the 45 years period. With significant changes being from the period 2006–2015 by an average of 113 publications per year, to an average of 326 publications per year from 2016 to 2019. The contributions of institutional energy publications by region showed that the South-Western States region had the highest number of publications. A global map showing energy collaboration at international level Nigerian-authors mainly co-author energy publications with South Africa, Malaysia, the United States and the United Kingdom institutions. The publications are mainly in solar energy, wind energy and biomass energy and surprisely less in gas and hydro energy which are the main sources of electricity generation in Nigeria
Critically engaging the ethics of AI for a global audience
Get PDFAbstract: This article introduces readers to the special issue on Selected Issues in the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. In this paper, I make a case for a wider outlook on the ethics of AI. So far, much of the engagements with the subject have come from Euro-American scholars with obvious influences from Western epistemic traditions. I demonstrate that socio-cultural features influence our conceptions of ethics and in this case the ethics of AI. The goal of this special issue is to entertain more diverse views, particularly those from Africa; it brings together six articles addressing pertinent issues in the ethics of AI. These articles address topics around artificial moral agency, patiency, personhood, social robotics, and the principle of explicability. These works offer unique contributions for and from an African perspective. I contend that a wider engagement with the ethics of AI is worthwhile as we anticipate a global deployment of artificial intelligence systems
Do productive capabilities afect export performance? evidence from African firms.
Get PDFAbstract: There is limited empirical evidence measuring productive capabilities and analysing their effect on firmlevel export performance in Africa. This paper constructs novel indicators of productive capabilities and examines their effects on the export performance of African firms. Using recent firm-level data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey across 29 African countries, the paper builds new indicators of productive capabilities, which are conceptualised as a combination of technological and production capabilities. Estimating a censored regression model, we find that both technological and production capabilities are important drivers of firms’ direct export performance. This suggests that superior productive capabilities enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of firms, leading to improvements in their export performance. The findings underscore the importance of policies that support the strengthening of productive capabilities in African countries
The influence of electronic word-of-mouth adoption on brand love amongst Generation Z consumers
Get PDFAbstract: Orientation: The study investigated the influence of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) adoption on brand love amongst Generation Z consumers in South Africa that will enable marketers to improve their brand love strategies amongst this generation. Research purpose: The study used the information adoption model to investigate the impact of eWOM adoption on brand love amongst Generation Z consumers. Motivation for the study: This study adds to the limited body of literature on Generation Z consumers in emerging markets. It examines drivers of online purchase decisions of Generation Z consumers, such as eWOM adoption and brand love. Research design, approach and method: The study followed a descriptive quantitative approach. Data were obtained through structured questionnaires from Generation Z consumers. Non-probability, purposive sampling was used to select the sample. Data were captured, coded and cleaned using Statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 25, yielding 284 usable questionnaires. Apart from descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the validity of the constructs obtained from previously developed scales through convergent and discriminant validity. The reliability of the constructs was tested using Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability. The conceptual model was tested using Structural Equation Modelling and the hypotheses were analysed using path modelling in Analysis of moment structures (AMOS) version 25. Main findings: The results revealed a positive, weak relationship between eWOM adoption and brand love. Argument quality had a strong, positive influence on information usefulness, which in turn, had a strong, positive influence on eWOM adoption. Practical/managerial implications: Marketers can use the findings of this study to target Generation Z consumers in emerging markets more effectively by sharing quality, authentic content through Facebook and Instagram to encourage eWOM adoption and somewhat affect brand love. Contribution/value-add: This study adds to the limited body of knowledge on Generation Z consumers in emerging markets. It elucidates how marketers can encourage eWOM adoption amongst this generation, thereby leading to brand love, to some extent
Swift automatic transfer switch based on Arduino Mega 2560, Triacs, Bluetooth and GSM
No full textAbstract: A ceaseless supply of electricity is essential for all developmental sectors and even more important nowadays, as the globe evolves through a call for artificially intelligent systems in the fourth industrial revolution. Power interruptions lead to unpleasant human situations as well as great losses within all health, education, and industrial facilities requiring constant electricity. For this reason, we propose the design of an automatic transfer switch (ATS) for power transfer applications to maximize uptime. The ATS ensures the transfer of power between two power sources, hydroelectric and solar, during blackouts or power failures. The design is principally based on an Arduino Mega 2560, triacs, LEDs, as well as an LCD, SD card, Bluetooth, and GSM modules. The Arduino is powerful enough to support all the ATS modules and sustain the combined system processes required for the ATS’s automatic operation. Triacs, which are semiconductor switching devices, were utilized for high-speed switching between the two power supplies. The LEDs and LCD played a signalization role, indicating the state of the ATS at all times. Also, the SD card stores the system’s generated data whilst the Bluetooth modules ensure wireless connectivity between the ATS and a mobile device. The GSM module is for short messages (SMS). The results prove the functioning of the designed ATS, which ensures the transfer of power between two power sources with switching speeds less than 2.58 msec during blackouts or power failures. Furthermore, the ATS is a reliable, fast, and automatic system capable of protecting its internal components from surges. The proposed ATS is validated based on simulations, and the results show that the proposed ATS is promising
Development and validation of the Postsex Experience (P-SES) Scale
Get PDFAbstract: Introduction: There is little systematized research on the postsex phase of the sexual cycle, due in part to the absence of literature on the period immediately following sexual activity. Aim: The paper describes the development and validation of the Postsex Experience Scale (P-SES), an instrument designed to measure the psychological dimensions of the postsex period of the human sexual response cycle. Methods: Scale development involved (a) item construction, selection, and subsequent validation through item analysis, and (b) a factor analysis of the item intercorrelations of the P-SES and the establishment of its factorial validity, based upon an online survey of 4,217 respondents..
The state and status of physical education in the intermediate phase of selected public schools in Gauteng, South Africa
Get PDFM.Phil. (Sport Science)Abstract: South Africa and its educational system had to move on from the inequalities that were formed during the apartheid system. In order for this to take place, the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) was developed and Life Orientation (LO) formed part of this statement. However, according to the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), LO in the Intermediate Phase is known as Life Skills (LS) and there are only four outcomes. Physical Education (PE) is seen as one of the outcomes of LS and one of the major outcomes that promote health in schools. This research investigated the current state and status to determine whether there is a gap within the delivery of PE in the intermediate schooling phase (Grade 4-6). All learners require a holistic developmental approach in accordance with their health and the development of their cognitive, social, psychomotor, affective and physical domains. The aim of PE is therefore to address this development through movement. With this study, the same design and data collection methods as the national research report conducted by the South African Universities Physical Education Association (SAUPEA) were employed. This research project included public primary (Senior Phase) and secondary (Further Education and Training) schools and schools for learners with special needs from all nine provinces of South Africa. The main focus of this study, however, was on the Intermediate Phase (Grade 4-6). Thus, this study aimed to investigate the current state and status of physical education in the intermediate schooling phase (Grade 4-6), in selected public schools from the Alberton region of Gauteng, South Africa. The research focused on a purposive randomised selection of Quintile 1 to 5 public primary schools (n = 8). A mixed method descriptive design of data gathering was used, namely questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, observation protocols and curriculum analysis. This study followed the methodology that was developed during the South African Universities Physical Education Association (SAUPEA) research project. A pilot study was conducted, however, to determine logistical and technical procedures for data collection. Reliability was tested through the Guttman Lambda 2 co-efficient
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