No abstract available / Dissertation (MCom (Business Management))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Business Management / unrestricted

The aim: The main aim of this study is to determine the effect of occupational stress and organizational commitment on diagnostic imaging radiographers in rendering quality service. Background: In the past two years radiography staff turnover at the public and private health organizations has increased by 45% and 50%. Increased occupational stress and burnout are some of the main reasons for staff leaving the organization. Limited studies were found on occupational stress amongst diagnostic imaging radiographers and no studies could be found on organizational commitment amongst diagnostic imaging radiographers at the time of conducting the study. The link between organization health services and patient outcomes is rarely tested empirically. Materials and method: It was a descriptive correlational study. The sample comprised 123 radiographers who completed a self-administered questionnaire. Results: There was a 97% response rate. Organization commitment was moderate towards a tendency of low. Sources of occupational stress, namely workload and role conflict were high, whilst social support and role ambiguity were low. Radiographers relied on problem-solving mechanisms to cope with stress. Therefore the level of occupational stress experienced was generally moderate, but with a slight tendency towards high. Discussion: There was a relationship between level and sources of occupational stress. No relationship was found between a low level of organizational commitment and a high level of occupational stress. A relationship was found between sources, levels of occupational stress and organizational commitment. Thus, the level of service delivery is affected by organizational commitment and occupational stress experienced by radiographers. Conclusion and recommendations: The overall context within which an organization functions has an effect on radiographers’ quality of working life and this directly impacts on the behaviour of the radiographer during a service encounter. Therefore, from an organizational perspective it is important to create a positive working environment for radiographers and to improve their quality of working life. The overall function of the organization would benefit were management to shift from an authorative to a participative style. Workload and role conflict could be reduced by having protocols in place to minimize the variation in standard of the quality of work done. / Dissertation (MRad)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Radiography / unrestricted

"The acquisition of basic computer skills by any set of children can be achieved through incidental learning, provided the learners are given access to a suitable computer facility, with entertaining and motivating content and some minimal guidance" (Mitra, 2002). There are great demands on education, which call for a new concept of teaching. The traditional obtaining of a qualification and then working in that field has become redundant. Today, because of rapid change and lifelong, on-going learning, the acquisition of communication skills and the ability to find the necessary information, are vital. These demands require creative and critical thinking to make provision for the explosion of information technology in a world that contains a large population of people without the means to obtain the necessary skills. A computer, connected to the Internet, was placed in Mamelodi, in South Africa, without any instructor to teach the people how to use it. This initiative came from the CSIR after a similar successful project in Cwili in the Eastern Cape. Initially Sugata Mitra of the Centre for Research in Cognitive Systems launched such projects in India. / Dissertation (MEd (Compupter Assisted Education))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

Sustainability is a concept that is very popular but has not yet been properly understood by most people, especially those who live in undeveloped and developing countries. “Since the late 1980’s there has been an explosion in the number of texts and articles, plus courses and consultants, which are concerned with sustainable forms of development” (Hall, 2000:I). The major problem regarding an understanding of this concept is generally brought about by being not adequately informed. Books are being written, papers are being presented at conferences, articles are being published, and technology has also reached a turning point with regard to information dissemination. The only drawback to all these positive initiatives is that they are not easily accessible, especially to those people living in the rural areas of South Africa. These areas are not adequately resourced, hence the type of lifestyle that is being led — one in which people engage in activities that are beyond the ability of the environment, which is their resource base, to sustain itself. It should also be noted that these people are not acting out of ignorance but out of a need to survive, thus putting the resource base under pressure. Environmental education is that component of education that enlightens and conscientises people about their immediate environment. Though its principles and guidelines are set according to international standards, they can and should be broken down and simplified in order to fit into the lifestyles, value systems, social systems and education (formal and informal) of the people at the grassroots level. Through this process, people will start to appreciate their own environment, to use it but handle it in a manner that will still enable future generations also to have their own experiences with it. This appreciation will also enable them to not only acknowledge the economic value of the environment, but also to integrate it with its social value as well as its environmental value. Organisations and institutions are involved in the distribution of information on environmental education principles, which leads to people being knowledgeable about conservation matters and thus implementing them in order to achieve sustainable living. One such institution is the Pilanesberg National Park. It is concerned with ecotourism issues but also has an education centre, which is aimed at conscientising people, not only ecotourists, regarding conservation matters and environmental education, as an act of adding value to society. This study investigates the impact that the Pilanesberg National Park has on peoples’ living environment, and especially on communities on its north-eastern border. It will look at the role of authorities in the area, such as the municipality council, the Pilanesberg education centre authorities and members of the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela Tribal authority, in a quest to determine the role that they play in helping the communities to be environmentally literate and therefore to live sustainably. The investigation also considers into the community at large, that is, the youth, women and other members of the community, to discover whether they live sustainably and do receive or have received information about environmental education and are able to put this into practice. The study has revealed that most of the people of the Mogwase - Saulspoort area are not even aware of the educational centre at the Pilanesberg Park and that even those who know, have never visited the centre and do not know anything about its activities nor that there is an opportunity for them, through this centre, to become informed about issues of conservation and sustainability. The study has also revealed that there is a tremendous amount of interest within these communities to start learning about conservation matters, environmental education principles and guidelines as well as about sustainability. Schools have also shown interest in forming environmental clubs where issues of the environment can be tackled. Future action is guided by suggestions for the formation of environmental clubs and also the management of them. / Dissertation (MEd (Education Management))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

Saving is in essence a source of finance. According to the well known Keynesian identities which found practical application in the framework of National Accounts, saving and investment (capital formation) represent identical (ex post) macroeconomic aggregates for the economy as a whole. Saving and capital formation within a macroeconomic institutional sector will, however, only be identical in exceptional circumstances. The corporate sector has since 1985 up to 2000 displayed excess saving over capital formation. This phenomenon was prominent during the nineties. The corporate sector is also responsible for the largest contribution to total saving and total capital formation in the South African economy. The meaning of the excess saving over capital formation is that there was no shortage of the supply of saving for financing capital formation. Conversely, capital formation has not responded in the same manner as to the availability of saving. Corporate saving expressed as a ratio to gross domestic product has, despite an excess saving over capital formation, exhibited a downward trend during the nineties. This has obviously impacted negatively on the total savings rate of South Africa. Although the level of corporate saving has been smaller than corporate capital formation in 2001 and 2002, both aggregates have improved during 2002 when expressed as a ratio of gross domestic product. Although various reasons may be cited for the rather sluggish performance of saving and capital formation amidst excess saving, this study is to provide a macroeconomic perspective on the cost of capital and profitability explaining the under performance of saving and capital formation. Other than saving, debt financing represents one of the most important financing elements for businesses. Particular suitable circumstances from a viewpoint of cost of capital have developed during the nineties wherefrom saving as a financing element could have flourished. A preference for saving to debt financing has developed. Macroeconomically, businesses always finance with a combination of saving and debt resulting in a weighted average cost of capital. Macroeconomic profitability and macroeconomic cost of capital have to complement each other in order to channel any finance, including saving, optimally to capital formation. A structural change pertaining to profitability during the nineties has limited this condition. This has affected saving and capital formation negatively during the second half of the nineties impacting on total saving and capital formation. It is only during 2002 that the savings rate has shown improvement from historical low levels. This has gone hand in hand with the cost of capital and profitability being more complementary. An excess saving over capital formation as such is no guarantee for an improved rate of capital formation. Requests for more saving from the corporate sector amidst circumstances that were present during the second half of the nineties in order to alleviate the low savings rate in South Africa should be critically questioned. Circumstances in which saving and capital formation may improve from historical low levels are from a financing point of view heavily dependant on both the weighted average cost of capital and profitability which have to maintain sustainable margins in the future. / Dissertation (MCom (Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Economics / unrestricted

Informe de Seminario para optar al grado de Licenciado en Lengua y Literatura Hispánica mención Lingüística / Proyecto FONDECYT 11150007

The Tshwane Inner City Development and Regeneration Strategy (City of Tshwane 2005:13) of 2005 identifies aspects of identity, Entertainment, public space and safety as some of the urgent needs of the city of Tshwane. The aspect of identity is perhaps a misnomer as the capital city has a strong bureaucratic and educational identity. It can be presumed that it is not the lack of identity per se, but rather that the city lacks the sense of play that most cosmopolitan cities have. What does the city need? What does it want? What is lacking in our city? What brings people towards a city, a node, a point, a building? What has happened to the city’s sense of play? In order to address these problems, one would have to understand the principles of how to create vibrant, safe spaces in the city where people would want to spend their time. Which environments generate opportunities for people to interact? The study will concentrate on theories addressing diversity and safety within urban environments, with a focus on the role played by the consumer. These theoretical principles will be tested on a real-world problem in the inner city of Tshwane. The project will thus be approached from a practical point of view to present a realistic scheme to a potential client, while contributing to the regeneration of the inner city of Tshwane. / Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Architecture / unrestricted

1. Problem and Objective Communication and provision of information are often sited as essential aspects in change management. Addressing individual needs is a challenge when a change initiative affects various people. A considerable challenge is also to address individual needs on a micro level, while manage change on a macro level. The integrative theory that endeavours to address organisational levels of work, while also focusing on individuals, is referred to as requisite organisational theory. Elliot Jaques’ theory is known by various names, like: the Requisite Organisation (RO), Stratified Systems Theory (SST) or the levels of work (LoW). The human aspect in RO theory, that matches a person to the ability to function in complexity and work, is based on the innate mental ability to organise information. This ability is also referred to as cognitive complexity. There is consequently a theory that explains micro and macro dynamics, while considering people’s natural ability to deal with information. This posed the opportunity to investigate the theory’s practical application in organisational change. The objective of this research is consequently to determine cognitive complexity’s influence on information needs in change. 2. Theoretical Investigation The theoretical investigation ranges from detail in the cognitive complexity section of the literature study to a broad scope in the information and change sections. Writings on change abounds, ranging between practice and theory. The literature study focuses on understanding concepts of cognitive complexity, but it is easier comprehensible when understood in terms of a unified theory in the human resources discipline. 3. Qualitative Research Investigation This study utilised the theoretical and validated research background which is currently practically applied in organisations by assessment methods like Career Path Appreciation (CPA) and the Initial Recruitment Interview Schedule (IRIS). The investigation was of an explorative, qualitative nature. Focus groups with similar cognitive complexity profiles were selected. Profiles were obtained from a database in which individuals were assessed by CPA or IRIS. It was possible to conduct eight focus group sessions in three geographical regions. Data was generated by transcription of the focus group sessions as well as the written responses from the participants. Concepts were identified from the sessions. Concepts were clustered, until four primary groups emerged from the main clusters. 4. Conclusion Information needs, encompasses much more than information flow. There is a hierarchy of information needs, that changes according to the application areas of people capable of increasing cognitive capability. A general framework of people’s needs for information during change was constructed during this research. Four building blocks form the basis of people’s information needs. The building blocs are: information flow, people considerations, change implementation, and context. People have much in common concerning information needs, irrespective of cognitive complexity. Cognitive complexity has an influence on people’s needs for information during change. There are variations in importance of information needs to individuals in the model, according to levels of cognitive complexity. The different strata of cognitive complexity, correspond to theory that describes different levels of work. This is in accordance to principles of a requisite organisation. It is evident that the shift in areas of importance in the needs for information, is related to the intended use of the information. / Dissertation (MCom (Human Resources Management))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

The aim of this study was to determine the level of existence of stress by employees in different management levels as well as to indicate the differences between the races in terms of their experiencing of stress. Work stress is a progressive universal phenomenon in organisations which holds negative implications for the individual in the organisation as well as the organization, when it manifests into redundant and unnecessary stress. Puth (1994:3) is of opinion that the employee is one of the organisation’s most valuable resources. An effective human resource is composed of knowledgeable, competent and motivated employees. Excessive and uncontrolled stress can affect employees in such a way that it can have a negative effect on the healthy and successful organisational functioning of both the employees and the organisation. Disadvantages can include reduced motivation, profit and work satisfaction, disharmony between employees and management and even loss of lives. Greenhouse&Callanan (1994:222) emphasize the fact that work stress won’t disappear, unless control is being taken to ensure that physical health and wellbeing are not negatively affective. A comprehensive literature study was undertaken to get clarity on the terms management and stress (especially the causes of stress, the consequences and effective stress management and –handling techniques). This study will give an indication of the stress levels being experienced on the different management levels (senior-, middle- and junior management), as well as the causes of stress from inside and outside the workplace. The research strategy used, was the survey method which consisted of a comprehensive questionnaire, namely the Experience of Work and Life Circumstances Questionnaire (WLQ). It is standardised for the South African context and measures the level of stress as well as the causes from inside and outside the workplace which contribute to stress experience. In the empirical study, the target population’s biographic composition was determined, which included their management level, age, marital status, highest educational qualification, language preference and period of service. The results and findings of the study were captured by using descriptive statistics and non-parametric methods. The aim of the non-parametric methods was to determine significant differences in the experiencing of stress between the different management levels and diverse races. Results were obtained on three dimensions of the experiencing of stress, namely: -- Experiencing of stress in management level -- Experiencing of stress in diverse races -- Experiencing of stress in management level and diverse races The most significant findings will shortly be discussed. -- Experiencing of stress in management level There was a significant connection in terms of the experiencing of stress between senior and middle management on the causes outside of work, as well as the expectations inside the work context regarding remuneration. A significant connection between middle and junior management was also observed in terms of causes outside of work. -- Experiencing of stress in diverse races There was a significant connection between black and white managers in terms of their experiencing of stress due to causes outside of work as well as expectations in the work context due to social factors. -- Experiencing of stress in management level and diverse races Only in middle management a significant connection was observed between management level and diverse races due to causes outside of work leading to stress. Given the findings, it is clear that black middle managers experienced higher levels of stress as their white colleagues due to causes outside the work context. Recommendations for future research were also made. / Dissertation (MCom (Human Resources Management))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Human Resource Management / unrestricted

A generally accepted definition of an entrepreneur is an individual with the ability to realize a specific vision from virtually anything, a definite human creative action. A differentiating factor defining the true entrepreneur is represented by the entrepreneurial skills: creativity and innovation. The fundamental skill to "create", therefore generate an idea and transforming it into a viable growth-oriented business, forms an unconditional and integrated necessity in entrepreneurship training programs. Many researchers in this field emphasize the need for and the lack of training models regarding this intervention. Courses offered by training institutions focus on training the traditional manager and not the entrepreneur. A lack of skills training for growth-oriented business is also evident. A critical deficiency in models directly addressing the Creativity, Innovation and Opportunity finding issues, as part of entrepreneurship training, creates a situation of minuscule differentiation between a business idea and an opportunity, in a training context. It is furthermore apparent that a lack of tools, textbooks and approaches to cultivate creativity exist in the field. The latter generates stifling pedagogical paradigms in teaching business and entrepreneurship. This study demonstrates a new action learning approach and model, developed to increase creative and innovative behavior and actions of the entrepreneurship learner. Three purposive samples were used, on the basis of an experimental design. Ratio data was obtained by means of a reliable measuring instrument (Chronbach’s alpha on an acceptable level). ANOVA as well as a Discriminant analysis indicated statistical significant differences between the different groups. This study illustrates that the proposed training methodology that was used enhance the level of creativity and innovation of the entrepreneurship learner on this program. Recommendations regarding future research in this exiting field of study are addressed. / Thesis (DCom (Business Management))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Business Management / unrestricted