11 research outputs found
Correlation between a fitness test battery and an occupation-specific rescue simulation for emergency care providers
No full textM.Phil. (Biokinetics)Abstract: Introduction The occupation of emergency care providers places significant mental and physical demands on the body. Emergency care providers perform a range of tasks on demand in a pre-hospital environment; from lifting stretchers and working night shifts, to conducting rescue operations. Good physical fitness and health may play an important role in this occupation. Emergency care providers face injury-causing factors relating to musculoskeletal overuse, poor biomechanics when carrying patients, muscular weakness and physical inactivity. Currently, there are limited studies relating to emergency care provider physical fitness in South Africa. Aim The study aimed to determine the relationship between a fitness test battery and an emergency rescue simulation (RS) circuit performed by emergency care providers to identify the impact of physical fitness in the field of emergency medical and rescue services (EMRS). Methods This was a descriptive study because it assessed the physical fitness attributes related to the nature of the job, duties and responsibilities of emergency care providers. A correlational study design was used to determine the relationship between the fitness test and rescue simulation variables. Eighty-seven emergency care providers in the North West province of South Africa volunteered for the study. Occupational fitness parameters tested were morphological measurements, field fitness tests and a rescue simulation circuit. The main fitness components tested were muscular strength and endurance, aerobic and anaerobic capacity, and flexibility. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess if there was a positive correlation between the fitness assessment derived from the morphological measurements and the fitness test and completion time of the rescue simulation by emergency care providers. Differences in gender, age and body mass index (BMI) formed part of the descriptive statistics. Student’s t-test was used to compare the results between genders. A test-retest method was applied to evaluate the reliability of the rescue simulation. The significance of the study was set at the 5% level. Results Correlations were observed between the RS and all fitness tests except the modified sit-andreach test. The most significant relationship was observed between RS and the one-minute sit-up..
Towards an African linguistic renaissance: a case study of a South African university
No full textThe inclusion of African languages as additional languages of learning, teaching and research is seen as a step in the right direction towards satisfying the aspirations of an African linguistic renaissance, which seeks to elevate the status of African languages in academia. As part of a national quest to transform higher education institutions, the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa implemented a bilingual language policy under which an African language 'isiZulu' should be used alongside English as a language of learning and teaching. Utilizing an African linguistic renaissance theoretical framework, this chapter uses data from an earlier thesis by this author to explore the attitudes of UKZN staff and students towards the university's bilingual language policy and the extent to which this may help to realize an African linguistic renaissance. The chapter mainly adopts a qualitative approach using UKZN as the case study, although it also seeks to quantify some of the data, which was collected through in-depth interviews and questionnaires. This chapter shows that the university's bilingual language policy received support among the isiZulu-speaking staff and students, in line with their demographic representation at UKZN. It further argues that the investment made by UKZN in developing the isiZulu language for academic proficiency at university level is justified by the impacts of the policy, contradicting arguments against using African languages for teaching and learning at university level which have been made on the grounds that they are inadequate for this function. The findings pose a challenge to African intellectuals and other South African universities, who need to assist in bolstering the importance of African languages.
Physical health status of Emergency Care providers in South Africa
No full textAbstract: Background: Emergency care providers (ECPs) have a physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding profession. Therefore, they are predisposed to cardiovascular and other non-communicable disease risk factors. Objectives: The objective of the study was to determine the physical health status of ECPs in the North West province of South Africa through a selected anthropometric and other health parameter test battery. Methods: Ninety-one ECPs (64 males, 27 females) took part in the study voluntarily for health screening tests including body mass index (BMI), lean body mass (LBM), resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure (BP), skinfold measurement, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and total cholesterol (TC). The collected data were subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 (IBM). Results: The participants demonstrated a mean BMI of 28.2 ± 5.5 kg/m2 , body fat of 26 ± 7.6 %, and LBM of 58.6 ± 10 kg. Significant differences were seen in height (170.5 ± 6.2 vs. 160.7 ± 5.3 cm), BF% (22.5 ± 5.3 vs. 34.2 ± 6.2 %), and LBM (62.3 ± 8 vs. 49.2 ± 8.2 kg) between males and females (P≤0.05). Mean systolic BP was 122±15 mmHg, and diastolic BP was 81±10 mmHg. Mean WC was 90.8 ±11.4 cm. Other health parameters included mean FBG of 5.1±2.4 mmol/L and mean TC of 4.9±0.7 mmol/L. Significant differences were seen in WHR (0.88 ± 0.04 vs. 0.79 ± 0.06) between males and females (P ≤ 0.05)..
Factors promoting and hindering sporting success among South African former Olympians from historically disadvantaged areas
No full textThere are various contributing factors to sporting success among elite athletes, including Olympians. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the enablers and/or barriers to sporting success among South African former Olympians from historically disadvantaged areas (HDAs) using the SPLISS framework. This would enable an understanding of the factors that lead to sporting success among athletes from HDAs. A qualitative research design was employed for this study, whereby semi-structured interviews were conducted among 15 former Olympians who represented South Africa between the 1992 and 2016 Olympic Games. The ATLAS.ti (version 22) software tool was used to analyse the data. The study found that athletes from HDAs attributed their sporting success to the functional competition structure, sports access at community level, access to scholarships and bursaries to elite schools/universities, good coaching support and mentorship, access to local and international competitions, as well as community and peer athlete support. The highest barriers reported by athletes were inadequate financial support, a dysfunctional school sport system, lack of sports facilities, equipment and transport system, poor post-career and scientific support. Elite athletes from HDAs need consistent financial support, school/foundation level sport access, quality sports facilities, equipment, and reliable transport to training and competitions, post-career, as well as scientific support to achieve their full potential and attain international sporting success.
Correlation between fitness parameters and an occupational rescue simulation among emergency care providers in North West province, South Africa : a pilot study
No full textAbstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract
Iron Losses Prediction with PWM Supply Using Low and High Frequency Measurements: Analysis and Results Comparison
No full textIn this paper, two different methods for iron loss prediction are analyzed. The first method is based on the classical separation of loss contributions (hysteresis, eddy-current, and excess losses). The model requires loss contribution separation using iron loss measurements with sinusoidal supply. In this paper, this method will be called the ldquolow-frequency method.rdquo The second method, named the ldquohigh-frequency method,rdquo is based on the assumption that, under pulsewidth modulation supply, the higher order flux density harmonics do not influence the magnetic work conditions. These magnetic conditions depend only on the amplitude of the fundamental harmonic of the flux density. In this paper, both the proposed methodologies and the related measurements are described in detail, and the obtained results are compared with the experimental ones. The experimental results show that both methods allow getting excellent results. The high-frequency method is better than the lower one but requires a more complex test bench. Depending on the accuracy required by the user, the more handy method can be chosen, with the guarantee that the estimation errors will be lower than 5
Invoking team trust to facilitate performance management in the context of virtual teams
No full textManuscript initially submitted in partial fulfilment of requirement to qualify for a Master’s degree "Driving performance from a distance : exploring performance management in the context of virtual teams" by Moosa, Lutfiyya at GIBS.
(http://hdl.handle.net/2263/80481)DATA AVAILABILITY : The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, M.M., upon reasonable request.PURPOSE : Recent years have seen an upsurge in virtual working arrangements. However,
many managers find it difficult to manage and motivate employees in the absence of
face-to-face contact. Traditional, structured performance management approaches therefore
need to give way to more holistic and technology-enabled approaches that are better suited
to virtual work. This study set out to investigate how managers optimise the performance of
virtual teams, with specific reference to the role of trust, both within and across teams. While
there is growing interest in the role of trust as a driver of virtual team performance, there is
insufficient convergence between the respective literatures on virtual teams, team trust and
performance management, leaving a research gap.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 middle
and top managers of virtual teams who worked in large companies in South Africa. The
collected data were then subject to thematic analysis.
FINDINGS/RESULTS : These included: Virtual work can lead to a work–life imbalance; a lack of
human contact can strain interpersonal relationships and erode trust; and optimal performance
management in a virtual context depends on a trusting environment, clear and realistic goals,
‘agile management practices’ (including coaching and frequent feedback) and appropriate
technologies.
PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS : The study provides new insights into the challenges faced by middle
managers in creating trusting and performance-geared relationships with virtual team
members.
Originality/Value : The study expands on the existing team dynamics literature while also
providing a convenient conceptual framework to guide future studies on the drivers of virtual
team trust and optimal performance management.http://www.sajesbm.co.zaam2024Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)SDG-08:Decent work and economic growt
The pervasive lack of gender diversity in the boardroom : the inconvenience of ambivalent sexism
No full textDATA AVAILABILITY :
The data that support the findings of this study are available
on request from the corresponding author, M.D.C.This article is partially based on the author’s (MBA) research
entitled Ambivalent sexism in upper echelon structures in
corporates towards the degree of Master of Business
Administration at the Gordon Institute of Business Science,
University of Pretoria, South Africa. (http://hdl.handle.net/2263/73963)ORIENTATION : Redressing gender inequality in the boardroom remains a persistent challenge for organisations, both globally and in South Africa.
RESEARCH PURPOSE : The purpose of this study was to highlight the need for policymakers to ensure that efforts to redress gender inequality in the boardroom have a firmer, more ethical foundation based on exploring dimensions of sexisms.
MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY : Women continue to be under-represented in the boardroom. This study is concerned with determining whether benevolent sexism might provide some explanation for this form of gender inequality.
RESEARCH APPROACH/DESIGN AND METHOD : A quantitative study was conducted, with 172 board members, C-suite executives, directors and senior managers of publicly listed companies completing a self-reported questionnaire and a survey that measured hostile sexism and benevolent sexism.
MAIN FINDINGS : The findings showed no significant difference between the different age categories in the sample. However, there was a significant difference in benevolent sexism between men and women, with women exhibiting higher scores, which was indicative of the condonation of benevolent sexism. The findings also showed a significant correlation between hostile and benevolent sexism, suggesting that benevolent sexism legitimises sexist behaviours.
PRACTICAL/MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS : Mechanisms to address gender inequality in the workplace need to be simultaneously clear and nuanced because of the deep psychosocial beliefs among men and women that constrain efforts to arrest gender discrimination.
CONTRIBUTION/VALUE-ADD : The pervasiveness of ambivalent sexism contributes to the persistent lack of gender diversity, particularly as it pertains to the condoning and perpetuation of sexist practices by both sexes. While no causation can be inferred, there is substantive corroborative research globally attesting to the effects of sexism on decision-makers’ actions in different contexts, including in South Africa.http://www.sajhrm.co.zahj2024Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)SDG-05:Gender equalit
Big data analytics effect on competitive performance : mediating role of business model innovation
No full textThis article is based on the authors thesis entitled 'The effect
of big data analytics capability on competitive performance:
The mediating role of business model innovation' towards
the degree of Masters in Business Administration at The
University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science,
South Africa on 7 November 2022, with supervisor Manoj
Dayal Chiba.DATA AVAILABILITY :
The data that support the findings of this study are available
from the corresponding author, M.D.C., upon reasonable
request.PURPOSE : Big Data Analytics Capabilities (BDAC) facilitate the generation of critical insights required for competitive performance. This study evaluates the relationship between Big Data Analytics Capabilities and competitive performance and argues the effect is mediated by Business Model Innovation (BMI). This is assessed through the theoretical lens of Dynamic Capabilities, where Big Data Analytics Capabilities enabled sensing identification opportunities that initiate the mobilisation of resources to transform firms’ business models, via BMI, to enhance performance. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : A quantitative research approach using a survey was utilised. Data from 272 firms were collected. FINDINGS/RESULTS : The research model is evaluated by Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. The findings show that Big Data Analytics Capabilities have a direct and indirect influence on competitive performance, where BMI mediates the latter. The results enrich Dynamic Capabilities, Big Data Analytics Capabilities and BMI literature by demonstrating that Big Data Analytics Capabilities have a positive effect on BMI and subsequently competitive performance, to create value for firms and their stakeholders. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS : Practitioners need to invest in Big Data Analytics Capabilities to enhance the probability of success of their BMI endeavours. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : Firstly, organisations’ efforts in nurturing big data infrastructure, human resources, and data-driven cultures drive actions that enhance both operational and strategic execution, leading to enhanced performance. Secondly, the positive effect of Big Data Analytics Capabilities is carried through BMI to influence competitive performance positively, thus suggesting that the sensing enabled by Big Data Analytics Capabilities leads to transformational activities that drive performance.http://www.sajbm.org/hj2024Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)Non
