South Africa is a water-scarce country and over the years, the quality of water resources has deteriorated due to poor effluent discharge, agricultural, industrial, mining and human activities. The major contributing factors of poorly-treated or inadequately treated wastewater may be attributed to: (a) the poor design and construction of wastewater treatment plants; (b) lack of qualified process controllers; (c) non-compliance with applicable legislation; (d) lack of proper monitoring; and (e) management issues with regard to wastewater treatment plants. Water quality is important as many communities depend on water resources for their daily activities and livelihood. There is a need therefore to build and manage wastewater treatment plants effectively as they have an impact on water quality. Wastewater treatment plants in South Africa are regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, the National Water Act 36 of 1998, the Water Services Act 108 of 1997, Provincial legislation, Municipal by-laws and other Government policies applicable to Local Government. Chapter 7 of the Constitution inter alia, provides that Local Government has the duty to provide a safe and healthy environment to its community in a sustainable manner. Schedule 4B of the Constitution imposes the function of delivering water, sanitation and wastewater treatment services on Municipalities. This responsibility rests on District Municipalities but may be performed by a Local Municipality if the district municipality lacks the capacity to do so. Although Local Government has the right to govern on its own initiative the affairs of its communities, it needs support and monitoring from other spheres of Government (National and Provincial) to ensure the delivery of wastewater treatment services in a sustainable manner. In this study, Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is used as an example of a Municipality in the Limpopo Province faced with challenges related to the operation and management of its wastewater treatment plant. This study aims to determine who should be responsible for the regulation of wastewater treatment plants in Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality area in order to ensure service delivery to communities in a sustainable manner. In order to deal with the challenges experienced by Local Government in dealing with wastewater treatment plants, the study considers Best Practice Guidelines and external service delivery mechanisms, specifically in the form of Public-Private Partnerships. The study concludes with recommendations based on Best Practice Guidelines which Municipalities can use to avoid wastewater pollution and proposes management mechanisms in managing a Public-Private Partnership effectively in order to ensure that they provide service delivery in a sustainable manner. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This thesis investigates the social, legal and ethical perceptions of participants towards the implementation of biometric access control systems within a sample of United Kingdom work-based environments. It focuses on the application of fingerprint scanning and facial recognition systems, whilst alluding to the development of more advanced (bleeding edge) technologies in the future. The conceptual framework is based on a tripartite model in which Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is applied to the workforce whilst the principles of Utilitarianism and the Psychological Contract are applied to both management strategies and workforce perceptions. A qualitative paradigm is used in which semi-structured interviews are conducted with management and workforce participants within a sample of United Kingdom-based organisations (represented by Case Studies A-D). Discourse from these interviews are analysed, leading to the development of a series of first-cut findings for suggested "Best Practice " in the social, legal and ethical management of biometric access control systems. This process is subsequently developed with a refined sample of respondents (Case Studies A and C) culminating in the presentation of a suggested "Best Practice Model" for application to all four case studies. The model is based upon elements of a pre-determined Code of Practice (ISO/IEC 27002lnformation Technology - Security techniques - Code of Practice for Information Security Management) towards fostering acceptance of biometric technology within the workplace, in answering the question: How should organisations using biometric access control systems address social, legal and ethical concerns in the management of specific working environments in the United Kingdom?

The role of best practice in delivering Company Strategy-Brand Promise delivering "Escape through Glamour," has become an issue for the management of Ster-Kinekor as the competitive set in the entertainment arena, increases and becomes aggressive. This has compounded by the digital explosion which has made home entertainment sexy and raised the benchmark of picture and sound quality. Prices are extremely competitive and this practice is supported by the criminal element, i.e. Piracy. The increase in live and televised sports entertainment, television entertainment in general and outdoor activities has contributed to the pressure in growing revenue. Ster-Kinekor has identified the new middle income segment as an opportunity for growth and has identified perceived value of the entertainment format as a key barrier. This is true for the Living Standard Measures (hereafter, LSM) 8, 9 and 10 segment of the market as well. The need to increase the perceived value of the brand and the entertainment it offers has been identified as a key issue by senior management. This study will highlight the concepts of branding and best practice within a review of Ster-Kinekor operational (best practice) interventions. This will be followed by a detailed analysis and interpretation of 800 intercept interviews which will inform the study concerning the market impact of the interventions. In addition, informal interviews were held with various members of management. Ster-Kinekor has introduced a number of initiatives, including a number of best practice interventions under a project entitled "Good to Great." This interventions are aimed at installing best practice within the business with the overall intention of improving customer experience and thereby driving the bottom line. The study therefore will analyse the impact of this these initiatives as intended by Ster-Kinekor management. In conclusion, the study will provide recommendations for consideration in order to enhance the perceived value. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2006.

Determination and Organisation of Administration of the Company Outdoor Areas. Objective of the Thesis: Rationalisation of Outdoor Areas in the Integrated Management System of Foxconn CZ Pardubice. Working Procedures and Methods: - Expert Literature Research - Research Throughout the Available Information Resources - Research in the Internal Foxconn CZ Documentation - Determination of Management of the Company Outdoor Areas in the Facility Management Sector and SER (Social and Environmental Responsibility) - System Analysis of the Current Management of Foxconn CZ Outdoor Areas - Proposal of a System of Management of the Company Outdoor Areas in the Foxconn CZ Integrated Management System - Summary and Recommendations.

This research study sought to understand “how the implementation of universal primary education (UPE) policy in Ugandan primary schools is managed”. Furthermore, in exploring the challenges faced as they relate to UPE planning and organising, the research sought to provide evidence-based solutions in form of recommendations to address the planning and organising challenges identified. Considering the above, in order to understand how the implementation of UPE policy in Ugandan primary schools is managed, as part of the methodological procedures, the research process adopted by the researcher followed a qualitative study approach using a case study research design (collective) as the research design or strategy, and constructivism (interpretivism) as the research paradigm. As part of the triangulation of data, a review of relevant literature was conducted in combination with semi-structured individual interviews and focus group discussions with the purposively selected UPE stakeholders responsible for the management and implementation of the UPE programme in Uganda. The participants included: UPE school principals (school or implementation level); UPE policy makers (Ministry of Education and Sports officials at national level), and district education officials and local government representatives (district level). Inductive thematic analysis was used for data analysis of this research. The main findings concerning the strength of the current UPE planning and organising framework, among others, were: UPE management and implementation is executed at the national, district and school levels and each UPE stakeholder has a role; UPE implementation management is decentralised and authority is delegated to local governments; and UPE management and implementation constitutes of guidelines and directives. On the other hand, the findings concerning the UPE planning and organising weaknesses (challenges), among others, were: inadequate financial resources in form of low UPE capitation grants; the misuse and misallocation of UPE funds; the lack of consultation and involvement of frontline UPE stakeholders and the civil society in the planning and formulation of UPE policies and the lack of qualifications and skills of the UPE stakeholders responsible for the management of the implementation of the UPE programme. Considering the research findings, under decentralisation, the top-down UPE management and implementation framework that constitutes the current UPE planning and organising framework, has failed to address key UPE management and implementation challenges especially at the school level. Therefore, based on empirical and literature review findings of this research study, the management of the implementation of the UPE programme in Uganda, although it has registered some successes, it is still constrained, faces both monetary and nonmonetary challenges and is, therefore, internally and externally inefficient. In this regard, in order to address the challenges, the researcher proposes recommendations for the national, district and school levels for consideration and adoption by the Ministry of Education and Sports in order to address the bottlenecks impeding the efficient management and implementation of the UPE programme in Ugandan primary schools. In determining the recommendations and what constitutes a successful UPE planning and organising framework, the researcher considered among other things, the participants’ suggestions, and trends or lessons from international best practices. / Educational Management and Leadership / D, Phil. (Education Management)

With the introduction of universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) the need for quality early hearing intervention (EHI) services became critical. Screening is but the avenue to EHI services. Without appropriate intervention infants with hearing loss are at risk for language delay which might subsequently adversely influence academic success and vocational choices later on in life. The numerous socio-economic, cultural and healthcare barriers associated with developing countries such as South Africa, do not negate or diminish the need for optimal outcomes for infants with hearing loss through quality EHI services. The principle of quality EHI services, aligned with international standards, is endorsed by the HPCSA (2003: 2). In order to assure quality in EHI, service evaluation is critical. The necessary first step when evaluating service provision is to measure current service delivery. The main aim of this study was to determine whether South African audiologists provide EHI and support services aligned with international professional best practice to infants following the diagnosis of hearing loss. The first part of this study reviews the evidence available in EHI. The guidelines derived from the international evidence were stated as benchmarks against which South African EHI services were measured. These benchmarks were categorised using the so-called six M variation categories. These categories are: Man, machine (equipment), method (systemaric procedures), measurements, material (amplification devices) and Mother Nature. During the empirical research a descriptive design was followed comprising of questionnaire surveys to audiologists in different working sectors rendering EHI services to infants with hearing loss. The questionnaire survey explored the nature and scope of the EHI services offered to infants with hearing loss with regard to all the components (categorised in the six M categories) of the EHI programme of 40 South African audiologists. The results of this study indicate that respondents often do not use evidence-based measurements or methods during EHI services. Results suggest that undergraduate training in areas regarding the selection and fitting of amplification to infants with hearing loss is often inadequate (>20 respondents indicated that they are not trained). Evidence-based measurements are not typically performed when fitting amplification to infants (29 respondents do not perform probe-microphone or elctroacoustic measurements). Many respondents indicated that they do not have the necessary equipment to do these measurements. EHI services often (50% of respondents) do not provide A/R directly, but refer to other team members. From the results there seems to be significant delays in the rendering of EHI services to infants with hearing loss. Financial constraints of the family of the infants, accessibility problems, as well as a lack of infant support from their families often influence the EHI programmes of respondents. The implications of this study were discussed. Recommendations include the development of South African guidelines, aligned with international guidelines but taking into account the challenges posed by the unique South African context. Other recommendations include: Centres of excellence, relevant continuing education programmes and the evaluation of undergraduate training programmes. / Dissertation (M (Communication Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / M (Communication Pathology) / unrestricted

This study contributes towards the ever-growing research field of sustainability reporting within the broader context of integrated reporting. Sustainability reporting is the integration of the environmental, social and economic aspects of an organisation in the communication with stakeholders. South Africa’s Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has taken a leading role in the drive for integrated reporting. The aim of the study was to determine the quality of sustainability reporting for the JSE listed firms post the introduction of listing requirements for integrated reporting. Reports of good quality enable stakeholders to make sound decisions from the reported information. The study was limited to sustainability reporting for JSE listed firms. The theoretical lens for the study is the stakeholder theory developed by Freeman (1984). The study analyses perceptions of sustainability practitioners on quality of sustainability reporting for JSE listed firms for the period of 2009 to 2017. In this study, the focus was to gain rich insights from sustainability practitioners involved in the sustainability reporting value chain of JSE listed firms. This included report preparers, report assurance providers, report users and other report critical reviewers. The recordings of the semistructured interviews undertaken in this study were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a descriptive analysis technique called Tesch’s coding. The researcher reviewed the information, probed and summarised the main themes that emerged from the qualitative research. The study shows that there are no explicit mandatory requirements for integrated reporting and sustainability reporting for JSE listed firms, contrary to the perception of some scholars and practitioners. The publication of integrated and sustainability reports is, however, now business best practice for firms on the JSE. Admittedly, this is partly because of King Codes recommendations of South Africa that promotes integrated reporting. Sustainability reporting has been improving over a nine-year period, but this cannot be solely attributed to the listing requirements. Basic interventions such as listing requirements for integrated reporting on the JSE and the shareholder compacts on South Africa’s State-owned companies, although not explicitly mandatory, have contributed in promoting integrated and sustainability reporting in South Africa. There are many drivers of sustainability reporting for JSE listed firms. These can be categorised as internal and external drivers. The internal drivers can also be regarded as critical success factors for sustainability reporting quality for JSE listed firms. The study revealed the dominance of the two drivers of sustainability reporting, namely stakeholder demands and the role of leadership in shaping sustainability reporting in the South African context. The combination of the two drivers on sustainability reporting for JSE listed firms confirms the assumptions of the stakeholder theory. In the process of determining the trends in reporting and the actual drivers for improved quality in reporting, the cross-cutting theme that emerged was that different organisations are in different stages of their reporting journey. There are early adopters and late adopters. Organisations that choose to be involved in integrated reporting and sustainability reporting experience a real journey of reporting, hence various organisations are at different stages depending when and how they commenced their reporting journey. The researcher coined that process “sustainability reporting life stages”. The study further found that there are many determinants for quality of sustainability reporting for JSE listed firms. The sustainability practitioners perceive quality from the view of the Global Reporting Initiative and Integrated Reporting Council frameworks, thus confirming the entrenchment of the two frameworks in the South African context. The best option assurance mechanism in the form of the Combined Assurance Model was observable in the better reporting sectors on the JSE and State-owned companies. The critical paths for sustainability reporting have been provided, indicating the need for sustainability leadership and stakeholder inclusiveness. / Business Management / D.B.L.

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[pt] Tecnologias educacionais (semi) autônomas baseadas em Inteligência Artificial vêm buscando registrar, avaliar e prever o comportamento cognitivo e emocional dos alunos, gerando respostas e trilhas de aprendizagem personalizadas. Espera-se que, em alguns anos, sejam massificadas em diferentes aplicações educacionais. Porém, são produtos baseados em tecnologias muito novas, questionados em aspectos humanos e éticos e com efeitos ainda desconhecidos. Neste cenário, se adotados sem o devido cuidado, podem gerar efeitos prejudiciais aos humanos. Essas edtechs são por vezes desenvolvidas em startups jovens, com poucos funcionários e em clima de incerteza, dentro de um contexto social e econômico que demanda o uso dessas tecnologias na Educação. Partindo da hipótese que aplicar visões centradas no ser humano, sistêmicas e participativas do Design permite ajudar a construir uma abordagem de uso e desenvolvimento que inclua questões conceituais, contextuais e intrínsecas dessas tecnologias, a questão central da pesquisa é: dadas as complexidades que cercam Tecnologia e Educação, como abordagens de Design podem contribuir para uma adoção e desenvolvimento de Edtechs inteligentes e/ou (semi) autônomas que considerem as características e particularidades dessas tecnologias tão novas e desafiadoras? Para buscar a resposta, a tese usou como método uma pesquisa de campo, onde explorou o desenvolvimento e uso dessas tecnologias, questionando quais podem ser os seus riscos, desafios e boas práticas, como forma de investigar o que ocorre com uma tecnologia ainda em expansão e estudo, e como tentar abordá-la a partir daí. Para isso, a tese levantou os pontos de atenção e dúvidas que essas tecnologias podem trazer, investigou o contexto de desenvolvimento atual das empresas no Brasil através de técnicas como pesquisa documental e um questionário voltado para as edtechs. Posteriormente, discutiu os resultados (cenários, problemas e possibilidades do seu desenvolvimento e adoção) com especialistas e profissionais de diversos campos através de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Os achados do campo mostraram que essas tecnologias são ainda mais complexas do que o esperado, devendo ser consideradas e abordadas como uma categoria específica de produtos. Ficou claro também, ao menos no material coletado, que falta design no projeto e desenvolvimento de muitas dessas ferramentas. Desta forma, precisa-se de abordagens de Design que levem todos esses fatores em conta. Com os resultados obtidos no contexto encontrado, um projeto de Design pode abordar a questão enxergando-a de forma sistêmica, além da tecnologia e da Educação; observando o contexto social, histórico e econômico; ouvindo as pessoas envolvidas em diferentes campos, buscando quem pensa e quem usa a tecnologia cotidiana e profissionalmente; centralizando a experiência humana durante todo o processo e, dentro do possível, no longo prazo, pensando os efeitos futuros do uso contínuo; e, por fim, buscando entregar seus achados de forma adequada, facilitando o entendimento das pessoas e entes interessados, permitindo um processo de uso e discussão iterativo, onde esse material poderá e será modificado ao longo do tempo. Assim, a pesquisa apresentou os conceitos básicos iniciais de uma abordagem de Design voltada para o projeto e adoção de Tecnologias Educacionais Inteligentes e (semi) autônomas, para aprofundar o conhecimento e os debates sobre o tema, refletir sobre os pontos levantados e pensar formas de inserir essas questões no cotidiano, oferecendo subsídios para projetar e usar essas tecnologias mais cuidadosamente. / [en] (Semi) autonomous educational technologies based on Artificial Intelligence have been seeking to record, evaluate and predict the cognitive and emotional behavior of students, generating personalized responses and learning paths. It is expected that, in a few years, they will be massified in different educational applications. However, they are products based on very new technologies, questioned in human and ethical aspects and with effects that are still unknown. In this scenario, if adopted without due care, they can generate harmful effects on humans. These edtechs are sometimes developed in young startups, with few employees and in a climate of uncertainty, within a social and economic context that demands the use of these technologies in Education. Based on the hypothesis that applying human-centered, systemic, and participatory views of Design allows us to help build an approach to use and development that includes conceptual, contextual, and intrinsic issues of these technologies, the central question of the research is: given the complexities surrounding Technology and Education, how can Design approaches contribute to the adoption and development of intelligent and/or (semi) autonomous Edtechs that consider the characteristics and particularities of these new and challenging technologies? To seek the answer, the thesis used as a method a field research, where it explored the development and use of these technologies, questioning what can be their risks, challenges and good practices, as a way to investigate what happens with a technology still expanding and studying, and how to try to approach it from there. To this end, the thesis raised the points of attention and doubts that these technologies can bring, investigated the context of current development of companies in Brazil through techniques such as documentary research and a questionnaire focused on edtechs. Subsequently, discussed the results (scenarios, problems and possibilities of its development and adoption) with experts and professionals from various Fields, through semi-structured interviews. The findings have shown that these technologies are even more complex than expected, and should be considered and approa- ched as a specific category of products. It was also clear, at least in the material collected, that there is a lack of Design in the development of many of these tools. Thus, we need design approaches that take all these factors into account. With the results obtained in the context found, Design can approach the issue by seeing it in a systemic way, beyond technology and Education; observing the social, historical, and economic context; listening to people involved in different fields, seeking out who thinks and who uses technology on a daily and professional basis; centralizing the human experience throughout the process and, as far as possible, in the long term, thinking about the future effects of continuous use; and, finally, seeking to deliver their findings in an appropriate way, facilitating the understanding of interested people and entities, allowing a process of iterative use and discussion, where this material can and will be modified over time. Thus, the research presented the initial basic concepts of a Design approach focused on the design and adoption of Intelligent and (semi) autonomous Educational Technologies, to deepen the knowledge and debates on the subject, reflect on the points raised and think about ways to insert these issues in everyday life, offering subsidies to design and use these technologies more carefully.