Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The energy sector of the South African economy is poised to change in extraordinary ways. In just a few short years from now, the days will be gone when generators are guaranteed of their income and where regional distributors have the monopoly in the regions that they are servicing. Other energy markets in the world, such as oil and gas, have been free of regulation for many years. More recently, local policymakers have been focussing on increasing competition in the electricity sector and in so doing, liberate electric utilities from government's long established control. The shift away from government regulation of energy will lead to something even more important than placing downward pressure on the price of a MWh. It will instigate the development of multiple trading centres and platforms that are dedicated to competition in the free trade of electricity and related products. With the deregulation of the electricity supply industry and the inevitable introduction of competition, the real risks of energy trading will be faced by generators and distributors alike. This research investigates the changes that are set to occur within the next few years, based on developments that have unfolded in countries where electricity supply industries have been privatised and utilities and distributors are managing their risks in this new competitive environment. It explains how the South African Electricity Supply Industry may change with respect to the develop of markets which provide risk cover to industry players, the practices assumed by utilities in international electricity supply industries to minimise their risk exposure, and how industry players can use derivative instruments to manage their risks better. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die elektrisiteitsvoorsieningssektor is gereed om groot veranderings te maak. Binne 'n paar jaar, sal ons die einde sien van die dae waar kragstasies gewaarborg is van hulle inkomste en waar streeksvoorsieners die monopolie het in die streke waarin hulle verskaf. Ander energie markte in die wêreld, soos die van olie en natuurlike gas, is al sonder regulering vir baie jare. Meer onlangs het beleidsrade hul tyd toegewy aan die instelling van kompetisie in die elektrisiteitsvoorsieningssektor om utiliteitsmaatskappye vry te maak van staatsbeheer. Hierdie beweging weg van staatsbeheer sal lei na iets meer as net die afwaardse druk op die prys van 'n MWh. Dit sal die begin merk van die ontwikkeling van veelvoudige verhoë wat toegewyd is aan kompetisie in die vrye handel van elektrisiteit en soortgelyke produkte. Met die deregulering en die onvermydelike indiening van kompetisie, sal die ware risikos van energie handel aanvaar word deur voortbrengers en verskaffers van elektrisiteit. Hierdie navorsing stel ondersoek in die veranderings wat van plan is om te gebeur in die volgende paar jaar en is gebaseer op die ontwikkelinge wat in lande afgespeel het waar elektrisiteitsvoorsieningsnywerhede geprivatiseer is en waar voortbrengers en verskaffers van elektrisiteit hulle risikos bestuur in hierdie nuwe mededingende sektor. Dit verduidelik hoe die Suid-Afrikaanse elektrisiteitsvoorsieningsnywerheid mag verander teen opsigte van die ontwikkeling van markte wat risiko versekering aanbied vir utiliteitsmaatskappye, die praktyke wat deur hierdie spelers toegepas word om hulle blootstelling aan risikos te verminder, en ook hoe hulle afgeleide instrumente gebruik om hulle risikos beter te bestuur.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering / Shelli K. Starrett / Monitoring and control of modern power systems have become very complex tasks due to the interconnection of power grids. These large-scale power grids confront system operators with a huge set of system inputs and control parameters. This work develops and compares intelligent systems-based algorithms which may be considered by power system operators or planners to help manage, process, and evaluate large amounts of data due to varying conditions within the system. The methods can be used to provide assistance in making operational control and planning decisions for the system in a timely manner. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithms is tested and validated on four different power systems. First, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models are developed and compared for two different voltage collapse indices and utilizing two different-sized sets of inputs. The ANNs monitor and evaluate the voltage profile of a system and generate intelligent conclusions regarding the status of the system from a voltage stability perspective. A feature reduction technique, based on the analysis of generated data, is used to decrease the number of inputs fed to the ANN, decreasing the number of physical quantities that need to be measured. The major contribution of this work is the development of four different algorithms to control the VAR resources in a system. Four different objectives were also considered in this part of the work, namely: minimization of the number of control changes needed, minimization of the system power losses, minimization of the system's voltage deviations, and consideration of the computational time required. Each of the algorithms is iterative in nature and is designed to take advantage of a method of decoupling the load flow Jacobian matrix to decrease the time needed per iteration. The methods use sensitivity information derived from the load flow Jacobian and augmented with equations relating the desired control and dependent variables. The heuristic-sensitivity based method is compared to two GA-based methods using two different objective functions. In addition, a FL algorithm is added to the heuristic-sensitivity algorithm and compared to a PS-based algorithm. The last part of this dissertation presents the use of one of the GA-based algorithms to identify the size of shunt capacitor necessary to enhance the voltage profile of a system. A method is presented for utilizing contingency cases with this algorithm to determine required capacitor size.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))-- University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African health care industry is fragmented between the private and public sector. The disparity of resources between the private and public sectors as well as the escalating cost of health care services is threatening the sustainability of the private health sector and interferes with the national health policy objectives. Optometry shares the same concerns as the wider South African health industry with regards to accessibility, affordability, quality and equity of services. Deregulation of optometry has been suggested to address these concerns to the benefit of the consumer. But it seems to contradict the proposed higher regulatory environment of the greater private health sector. The objective of the research is to assess whether deregulation is the best way forward for the optometry industry. It also intends to get a more diverse perspective from service providers on the possible effects that deregulation might have on the industry. The study is conducted in three phases. The first two phases involves secondary data and includes an industry analysis and an assessment of the current regulatory framework of the optometry industry. The international deregulation trends in optometry are investigated as well as the deregulation trends of similar industries in South Africa. The third phase of the research includes an online questionnaire and approximately 2000 service providers were invited to participate. The 229 responses was analysed to assess the overall perception of deregulation. The skewed distribution of optometrists between the private and public sectors illustrates the need for more accessible and affordable eye care. Service providers are reluctant to get involved in community service and are not optimistic about the positive effect of deregulation. Professionalism and profitability are feared to be negatively influenced while trends in deregulation suggest that it is beneficial to consumers at least in the short term. Alternative options to deregulation should be investigated. But until the optometry industry increases their contribution to address industry issues, deregulation is the best alternative to improve accessibility, affordability, quality and equity of eye care services. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidsorg industrie is gefragmenteer tussen die private en publieke sektor. Die verskil in verspreiding van hulpbronne tussen die private en publieke sektore sowel as die stygende koste van gesondheidsorgdienste dreig die volhoubaarheid van die private sektor en belemmer die doelwitte van die nasionale gesondheidsbeleid. Oogkunde deel dieselfde bekommernisse as die groter Suid-Afrikaanse gesondheidsorg industrie in terme van toeganglikheid, bekostigbaarheid, kwaliteit en gelykheid van dienste. Deregulasie van oogkunde is voorgestel om die kwessies aan te spreek tot voordeel van die verbruiker. Maar dit lyk teenstrydig te wees met die voorgestelde strenger regulasie van die groter private gesondheid sektor. Die doel van die navorsing is om te bepaal of deregulasie die beste weg vorentoe is vir die oogkunde industrie. Dit beoog ook om ‘n meer diverse perspektief van diensverskaffers te verkry rakende die moontlike effek wat deregulasie op die industrie mag hê. Die studie word gedoen in drie fases. Die eerste twee fases behels sekondêre data en sluit ‘n industrie analise en ‘n assessering van die huidige regulatoriese raamwerk van die industrie in. Die internasionale deregulasie neigings in oogkunde word ondersoek sowel as die deregulasie neiging van soortgelyke industrieë in Suid-Afrika. Die derde fase van die navorsing behels ‘n aanlyn vraelys en ongeveer 2000 diensverskaffers is uitgenooi om deel te neem. Die 229 responsies is geanaliseer om die oorsigtelike persepsie van deregulasie te bepaal. Die skewe verspreiding van oogkundiges tussen die private en publieke sektore illustreer die nodigheid van meer toegangklike en bekostigbare oogsorg. Diensverskaffers is huiwerig om betrokke te raak by gemeenskapsdiens en is nie optimisties oor die positiewe effek van deregulasie nie. Daar word gevrees dat professionalisme en winsgewendheid negatief beïnvloed sal word, terwyl neigings in deregulasie wys dat dit tot voordeel van die verbruikers is, ten minste in die korttermyn. Alternatiewe opsies tot deregulasie moet ondersoek word. Maar totdat die oogkunde industrie hulle bydrae verhoog om die kwessies van die industrie aan te spreek, is deregulasie die beste alternatief om toeganglikheid, bekostigbaarheid, kwaliteit en gelykheid van oogsorgdienste te verbeter.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African citrus industry was deregulated in 1997. Before deregulation only Outspan could export citrus from South Africa and no other export company was allowed to do so. The deregulation process was not gradual, but came suddenly and the industry changed from fully regulated to deregulated in a very short time. This sudden deregulation created a lot of uncertainty in the industry. More than one hundred new fruit export companies were established within a year after deregulation. Most of these new entrants had very little experience in exporting citrus. Many of them went bankrupt within a year or two and many citrus producers suffered considerable financial losses as a result. Producers had no experience in exports themselves and many were not qualified to choose reputable export companies to export their fruit. The face of the industry has been changed unrecognisably. In the past there was one big company exporting all the citrus from South Africa. After deregulation a lot of small to medium fruit export companies were established. These companies playa very important role in the industry as it stands today. Deregulation also opened the door for big international fruit marketing and distribution companies to enter the South African fruit business. After some years of chaos and very little reliable information available in the industry in terms of volumes produced and exported, the industry is stabilising. A number of industry bodies like the Citrus Exporters Forum (CEF) and Citrus South Africa (CSA) have been formed to represent the exporters and the producers. These bodies have formed the Joint Marketing Forum (JMF) that meets every month to discuss marketing and industry-related issues jointly. The debate with regards to deregulation rages on. Most industry role players are supportive of less regulation and free market principles. However, deregulation could have been more gradually phased in. This would have given more people, especially producers, the chance to adapt to the new environment. Most role players are of the opinion that the citrus industry is more market driven and more competitive after deregulation than before. Taking a look at the South African citrus industry in the future, there will be increased competition due to increased volume of citrus produced world wide. Producers can therefore no longer produce unwanted varieties or produce in marginal areas where the yields are low. Producers must take their destiny in their own hands and must educate themselves in the export process so that they can make the right decisions about production and exports. As a result of increased competition and lower margins the distribution chain must be as short as possible with as few middle men as possible. As a result of this producer exporters are on the increase. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid Afrikaanse sitrusbedryf is in 1997 gedereguleer. Voor deregulering kon slegs Outspan sitrus uit Suid Afrika uitvoer en geen ander maatskappy is toegelaat om dit te doen nie. Die dereguleringsprosess was nie geleidelik nie, maar die industrie het van ten volle gereguleerd tot gedureguleer verander in 'n baie kort tyd. Die skielike deregulering het gelei tot groot onsekerheid in die industrie. Meer as eenhonderd nuwe vrugte uitvoermaatskappy is binne 'n jaar na deregulering gevorm. Meeste van die nuwe rolspelers het baie min ondervinding in die uitvoer van sitrus gehad. Baie het dan ook bankrot gespeel binne 'n jaar of twee en baie sitrusprodusente het groot finansiële verliese gelei as gevolg daarvan. Meeste produsente het ook geen ondervinding in uitvoere gehad nie 'en was dus nie gekwalifiseerd om betroubare uitvoermaatskappye te kies om hulle sitrus uit te voer nie. Die gesig van die industry is onherkenbaar verander. Tydens regularing was daar slegs een groot maatskappy wat alle sitrus van Suid Afrika af uitgevoer het. Na deregulering is 'n groot aantal klein tot medium vrugte uitvoermaatskappye gevorm. Hierdie maatskappye speel 'n baie belangrike rol in die industrie soos dit tans lyk. Deregulering het ook die deur vir groot internasionale vrugtebemarkings en distribusiemaatskappye oopgemaak om die Suid Afrikaanse industrie te betree. Na 'n aantal jare van chaos en baie min betroubare informasie wat beskikbaar was in terme van volume geproduseer en uitgevoer, is die industrie besig om te stabiliseer. Daar is ook 'n aantal industrieliggame soos die Sitrus Uitvoerders Forum en Sitrus Suid Afrika gevorm om die belange van uitvoerders en produsente te verteenwoordig. Hierdie liggame het die Gesamentlike Bemarkings Forum gevorm wat elke maand vergader om bemarking en ander industrie aangeleenthede gesaamentlik te bespreek. Die debad met betrekking tot deregularing is steeds aan die gang. Meeste industrierolspelers ondersteun minder regulering en vryemark beginsels. Hulle stem egter saam dat die dereguleringsproses meer geleidelik ingefaseer moes word. Dit sou produsente meer tyd gegee het om aan te pas by die nuwe omgewing. Meeste rolspelers is van die opinie dat die sitrusindustrie in Suid Afrika meer markgerig en ook meer kompeterend geword het na deregulering. In die toekoms kan verwag word dat daar meer kompetisie in die sitrusbedryf sal wees as gevolg van 'n toename in sitrusproduksie wêreldwyd in sitrusproduserende lande. Produsente kan dus nie meer ongewenste variëteite produseer of sitrus produseer in marginale areas waar opbrengste laag is nie. Produsente moet hulle toekoms in hulle eie hande neem en moet die uitvoerproses leer ken sodat hulle die regte besluite kan neem oor produksie en uitvoere. As gevolg van toenemende kompetisie en kleiner marges moet die logistiekeketting so kort en koste effektief as moontlik gehou word. As gevolg hiervan is produsente uitvoermaatskappye aan die toeneem.

published_or_final_version / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

The Nigerian banking system is presently riddled with distress, insolvency, and failure. The system is passing through what might seem the roughest phase in its history. The present bank distress and insolvency have culminated in the failure of many banks. In an attempt to correct this unhealthy development, the regulatory authorities (CBN and NDIC) have devised and implemented many novel policies to check this drift. Despite their efforts, however, the cankerworm continues to eat deeper into the Nigerian banking system. This study seeks to identify significant factors that might explain Nigeria's banking system failure as perceived by bank officials, and to recommend ways to minimize bank failure in Nigeria. The banking authorities, to a large extent, focused on a single cause of bank failure, such as unprofessionalism on the part of bank personnel. The majority of those interviewed accused them of committing fraud. The study showed that during the era of bank deregulation, a wider array of factors might have contributed to bank failure. The factors identified in this study are as follows: 1. The acute shortage of experienced and seasoned banking professionals during the era of banking deregulation led to an increase of forgeries and other abuses. 2. The inconsistent and frequent changes in macroeconomic policies during the period under study have negatively affected other macro-economic indicators. 3. Some factors during the period under investigation led to some banks' inability to meet standards set by the CBN/NDIC in respect to: capital adequacy, asset quality, management profile, earnings strength, and liquidity guidelines. 4. Lack of central bank independence contributed to bank failure. This study is important because the proposed recommendations would be of interest to operators of the banking industry, to regulators in the industry, as well as to the Nigerian government in its efforts to chart a new course in the Nigerian banking industry in the twenty-first century.