1,721,155 research outputs found
Manufacturing of coir fibre-reinforced polymer composites by hot compression technique
Full text linkThis present chapter describes the manufacturing technique and properties of coir fibre-reinforced polypropylene composites manufactured using a hot press machine. The effects of basic chromium sulphate and sodium bicarbonate treatment on the physical and mechanical properties were also evaluated. Chemical treatment and fibre loading generally improved the mechanical properties. Five-hour basic chromium sulphate and sodium bicarbonate-treated coir-polypropylene had the best set of properties among all manufactured composites. Chemical treatment also improved water absorption characteristics. This proves that chemical treatment reduced the hydrophilicity of the coir fibre. Overall the hot compression technique was proved to be successful in manufacturing good quality coir reinforced polypropylene composites
Value of enterprise risk management: cross-sectional study of management perceptions at eThekwini Municipality.
Full text linkMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Key issue that this study addresses is the perceptions over enterprise risk management. Existing, are various debates over the value of enterprise risk management. There are compliance requirements and good governance recommendations for the implementation of enterprise risk management, however, organisations are constantly faced with the challenge of demonstrating the value of enterprise risk management to the end that executives are questioning the contribution, especially in times of rationalization and cost containment. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions of enterprise risk management at eThekwini Municipality. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 43 Risk Champions at eThekwini Municipality using a self-administered questionnaire. The entire population of Risk Champions was surveyed and hence the sample is the same as the population. The data lead to the following constructs of study: Resources relates to the level of establishment of enterprise risk management, Factors that affect implementation regarding enterprise risk management and adding of value, Alignment of ERM and governance process together with strategic thinking. These constructs are useful to understanding the perceptions of managers at eThekwini Municipality. Results found a significant relationship between resources and the implementation of enterprise risk management. There was also a relationship between value and the implementation of enterprise risk management. Most respondents was in agreement that risk features in the strategy process of their departments with a significant portion remain neutral, perhaps indicating that they are not sure regarding risk’s involvement in the strategy process of the department. The findings assisted in informing the enterprise risk management policy and strategy at eThekwini Municipality
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Use of wellness programs at a university in South Africa.
Full text linkMaster’s Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Abstract
Over the past decade Universities in South Africa have moved from a purely
academic environment to provide a sustainable and healthy working environment
taking into account work life balance and the well-being of their core assets, their
employees. In recent years, workplace wellness has become a new focus area for
improvement to enable higher performance, increased productivity and it also
provides organisations with a competitive advantage. Wellness programs are being
used to drive human resources strategies and employee engagement. The aim of
this study is to investigate the Use of Wellness Programs at a University in South
Africa and its impact thereof. The University that was chosen for this study was the
Durban University of Technology. A quantitative research approach was used to
provide the different perspectives and impact from respondents on the subject
matter. Data was collected using a web based questionnaire. The population size
was one thousand three hundred and forty four employees. Simple random
sampling design was used. The sample of two hundred and sixty was drawn. The
sample composed of all three categories of employees, i.e.: management, academic
and administrative and support sector employees, with different genders and
spanning across all the university’s campus locations. The survey was sent
electronically to the selected sample of employees. Statistical analysis revealed that
whilst there was awareness and utilisation of the programs offered by the university,
it was limited and therefore more could be done to increase awareness and
utilisation. The study revealed that incentives were seen as a motivating factor. The
findings aligned to majority of the literature as per findings from previous scholars. It
is recommended that the university reviews the alignment of the current workplace
programs and aligns to the needs as seen from the results of this study. It is further
recommended that the university has in place monitoring and assessment tools for
the impact of the workplace wellness programs. This study can benefit the Durban
University of Technology and other South African Universities in understanding of
the impact of the current program and offerings and the alignment to vision, mission
and strategies; whilst taking into account the drivers for increasing staff morale,
employee performance and productivity which will also aid in reducing stress and
absenteeism levels. Thereby, improving workplace wellness at the university. The
study can benefit the university.Abstract available in the PDF
Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice among frontline staff in optometry practice on visual aid (spectacles and contact lenses) and lens enhancement.
Full text linkMaster’s Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.ABSTRACT
Optometry private practice in South Africa is a very competitive industry with little differentiation in the service and product offerings being offered. In this service driven industry, the quality of customer service offered by the frontline staff is a key differentiation that gives the service provider a competitive edge over other competitors offering the same service. This knowledge and attitude is often displayed by the confidence, empathy and product/service knowledge. Hence, due to the customer engaging role of frontline staff at Specsavers, it is necessary to assess their knowledge and attitude and subsequent applicability of these attributes on the job.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of the frontline staff at Specsavers practices within KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces. This was sought for in order to compare the findings of this study with the results of other relative studies and further proffer solutions that can be contextualised to the South African environment.
The study adopted a quantitative approach and utilised a questionnaire for the collection of required data for the study. The questionnaire was critically constructed to assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of frontline staff at Specsavers. Frontliners from KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape were included in the study. The sample size was 150 and 102 people completed the questionnaire. The study was analysed using the SPSS version 25.
Upon data collection, the descriptive analysis found that the frontline staff at Specsavers have good aggregate Knowledge about optometry products and services. The second objective also made a similar observation as it was found that over half of the frontline staffers exhibited a positive attitude. This pattern was further explicated in the observed practices of the frontline staffers as majority of the frontline staff displayed good practice in their professional engagement and interactions with clients as assessed using the questionnaire. Regardless, the questionnaire evidently highlighted areas of deficiencies in the KAP of the frontline staff.
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Furthermore, inferential statistical tests conducted via One-way ANOVA and Independent t-test showed that there was a significant relationship among the KAP variables. Also, while the multiple regression models found no socio demographic variable to be statistically significant, it was evident that both Knowledge and Attitude have statistical significance in determining practice behaviour of frontline staff at Specsavers.
Hence, the study concludes that Knowledge and Attitude of frontline staff at Spec savers are key determinate of their practice performance in professional engagements and interactions with clients. This study further recommends improvements to be made via trainings and staff developmental programs.Abstract available in the PDF
Evaluation of a preventative maintenance system at an automotive weld plant.
Full text linkMaster’s Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Abstract
The automotive industry is an organisation that competes globally with other organisations and internally with other plants. Through the implementation of various competitive strategies namely total quality management, just in time and production systems, these organisations have taken on the mantle of world-class organisations. To compete in this space, world class organisations must ensure that all aspects of the business are strategically aligned to the organisational goals. Total Preventative Maintenance is a strategy that world-class organisations use to ensure that maintenance activities are competitive by minimising costs and maximising production. The aim of the study is to evaluate the Preventative Maintenance System of an automotive weld plant to understand the struggle points that result in high repeat breakdowns. The study makes use of a quantitative study, for the evaluation of the plant, amongst 73 employees. The employees are from the maintenance and engineering sector of the weld plant and the information is gathered using a questionnaire. It is found that the respondents have limited resources with regard to staff size and that the organisation structure is a limiting factor in application of their tasks. It is also noted that skills and training are rated high amongst respondents. The main finding is the lack of a Preventative Maintenance (PM) management system and planners. This results in the lack of historical data and the lack of PM improvements. This is a contributing factor to poor maintenance and resultant equipment failure. It is recommended that management address the low morale by ensuring the organisation structure and staff complement is adequate. The best practices of Preventative Maintenance with information from equipment failures must be followed forming the base for further improvement to the PM system. This can only be done with accurate record keeping and daily planning. The implementation of a permanent planner is an essential factor in ensuring that PM is managed and updated to ensure repeat breakdowns do not occur.Abstract available in the PDF
Reducing the brain drain: determining factors for turnover of medical practitioners at a specialized tertiary institution in South Africa.
Full text linkMaster’s Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Abstract
Medical practitioners form backbone of the health care system in South Africa. The skill of trained medical specialists is imperative for service delivery and the ongoing teaching of registrars at government training facilities. Against a backdrop of inequality, history dictates that a large populace of disadvantaged South Africans remain reliant on government health care institutions for medical treatment. Many departments within the KZN health system have seen an exodus of medical practitioners resulting in the brain drain phenomenon. To address the problem the purpose of the study was to determine the factors affecting high turnover of medical practitioners within the departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Anaesthesiology at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital which is a specialized tertiary institution in South Africa. This was a cross sectional study conducted among 60 medical practitioners from the departments of Cardiothoracic and Anaesthetics at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital using a self-administered questionnaire.The entire population from both departments were selected therefore there was no sampling that was being done with any relevance to a sample size. To gather data, a quantitative study was conducted to deduce findings. Results found that, remuneration within the public health care sector, quality of life, opportunities for training and development, governance in the public health care sector of KwaZulu-Natal and leadership were the main reasons for medical practitioners wanting to leave. The findings can be used to drive further interventions to reduce turnover rates and guide the formulation of policies.Abstract available in the PDF
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