The continuous failure of South African municipal administration, governance and oversight, renders the effectiveness of the municipal audit committee, questionable. The purpose of this study is to propose a framework for improving audit committee effectiveness in South African municipalities. The purpose was achieved by obtaining an understanding of the factors influencing the effectiveness of the municipal audit committees from municipal stakeholders and audit committee members; further exploring the factors identified from the stakeholders and audit committee members through a literature study and review of best practices; and acquiring input from stakeholders regarding the relevance and completeness of the framework developed, leading to refining of the framework. A constructivist ontology and interpretivist epistemologies were employed to achieve the research objective and a qualitative research methodology was embraced, comprising of focus groups, a literature study and an interview survey. The agency theory was adopted as the grand theory for this study and the resource-based view of the firm theory was applied to the literature, to extend and complement the existing literature on the effectiveness of audit committees. During the first phase of the study, the Interactive Qualitative Analysis method was harnessed for conducting the focus groups and analyses of the data. Purposive sampling was applied to select 15 participants who were stakeholders and audit committee chairpersons of municipalities, to conduct two focus groups. Twenty-five affinities (factors) and 139 sub-affinities (sub-factors) that influence the effectiveness of audit committees were identified, consolidated into five themes. The second phase was to explore the factors identified by the focus groups through a literature study. The findings of the literature study and focus groups were employed to develop the draft framework consisting of a Framework for audit committees and a Framework for municipalities. The development of these two guides led to a third guide for National Treasury, provincial treasuries and SALGA. In the third phase, purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to select participants to semi-structured interviews, followed by the refinement of the framework. Based on the findings, a framework is proposed, comprising factors that can improve the effectiveness of audit committees in South African municipalities. Furthermore, activities that can be centralised to enhance the effectiveness of municipal audit committees are identified, and an improved framework for agency theory is introduced. / College of Accounting Sciences / D. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

The trait approach to leadership is arguably the most venerable intellectual tradition in leadership research, with decades of great prominence followed by years of scepticism and disinterest. Despite its checkered history, recent approaches to leadership have taken a trait perspective, which is supported by evidence showing consistent associations of specific traits with leader emergence and leadership effectiveness. The purpose of this exploratory research project was to employ qualitative methodology to identify the values, personal traits and characteristics of South African business leaders who get things done. The data for this research has been obtained via in-depth exploratory interviews, with selected business leaders who have had a track record of achieving sustained financial results. The research showed that there is a core list of traits that are associated with successful South African business leaders. Key leader traits that were identified include: drive, conscientiousness, self-confidence, openness, charisma and emotional intelligence. There was less clear evidence for traits such as extroversion and cognitive ability. In addition, the environment emerged as an important modifier of a leader‟s ability to get results. While the research showed that the possession of certain key traits alone does not guarantee leadership success, there was sufficient evidence to show that effective leaders are different from others in certain key respects. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to describe the software development industry in South Africa by determining the current and future trends in adopting software development methodologies. The main objective was to determine which factors influence the selection of software development methodologies and whether they are effective in delivering projects successfully within the South African context. This study found that the Agile method is the most dominant methodology adopted in the software development industry in South Africa and is also the preferred methodology to be used in the future. It is common practice for companies to adopt more than one software development methodology and the Waterfall method is the next methodology most widely used. There is little adoption of CMMI. All identified factors influence the selection of software development methodologies, however, the distinguishing factors influencing the selection of Agile methods over the Waterfall method in the South African context is team size of between one and five members, project duration of less than three months, iteration length of between two and four weeks and the use of new technology. The most important measurement of project success within the South African context is the delivery of projects on time. The majority of respondents believe that their current dominant methodology is effective in delivering projects successfully. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Presents a practical conceptual framework designed to determine the cost of quality based on nonconformance to a set of quality standards. This framework was implemented in a manufacturing environment. It utilizes an "open" system architecture which stresses a customer orientation. In this context, customer influence determines what is important in terms of quality. Standards are established for these elements which are used to gauge the performance and efficiency of the manufacturing process. Poor performance is then quantified in terms of relevant costs. The framework is designed to go beyond conventional cost of quality and nonconformance models, as it offers a solution path which utilizes employees to improve areas of nonconformance. Cultural, informational and technical organizational requirements needed to implement the framework advocated here are outlined.

The strategic orientation of Portuguese firms in the porcelain industry is examined empirically. In the process, the effective use of traditional generic strategies as opposed to emerging strategies is compared. Special attention is devoted to the utility of classical Porter's generic strategies in comparison to time-based differentiation strategy. The study concludes that different variations of the classical differentiation strategy, which includes time-based differentiation, appear to be more effective than cost leadership or mixed generic strategies.

Objective/Hypothesis: This study aimed to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of endoscopes during cholesteatoma surgery. More specifically, this study hypothesized that endoscope use would reduce cholesteatoma recurrence rates and cost. Study Design: Case series involving the prospective enrollment of 110 consecutive cholesteatoma patients over a 2-year period. Methods: Patients underwent cholesteatoma surgery with microscopy. During dissection, the location of the cholesteatoma was assessed. At the end of dissection and before reconstruction, the same subunits were visualized with straight and angled endoscopes for residual cholesteatoma. Hearing was analyzed before surgery and at the last possible examination. Costs were analyzed using Medicare reimbursement rates from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Results: Intraoperative endoscopic surveillance was able to detect residual cholesteatoma in 18 patients. With a 0° endoscope, residual cholesteatoma was noted in the epitympanum (two patients), sinus tympani (one patient), and the supratubal air cells (one patient). With a 45° endoscope, residual cholesteatoma was noted in the epitympanum (three patients), sinus tympani (nine patients), the supratubal air cells (two patients), and the mesotympanum (two patients). From a cost analysis, endoscopic surveillance ($6110.36 per patient) are less expensive than second look surgeries ($11,829.83 per patient), observation ($7097.20 per patient), and observation with annual magnetic resonance imaging studies ($9891.95 per patient). The patients hearing improved after surgery, consistent with previous studies. No complications were noted from the use of endoscopes. Conclusions: Intraoperative endoscopic surveillance reduced recurrence in our series of 110 patients. Endoscopes are particularly useful in evaluating the epitympanum, mesotympanum, sinus tympani, and supratubal air cells. Moreover, endoscopic surveillance is cost-effective. Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 128:2867–2871, 2018.

In today's dynamic learning environment, educational delivery methods have become increasingly diverse. Using a unique opportunity to assess three types of course delivery—face-to-face, interactive television (iTV), and purely online delivery—the authors look at both initial knowledge acquisition and the retention of this knowledge. The results indicate that the online class outperformed the face-to-face and iTV sections on the initial performance evaluation; however, knowledge retention was greater in the face-to-face and iTV sections. The authors' findings suggest that diverse educational delivery methods provide unique benefits to students, but these benefits vary in relation to immediate learning outcomes and knowledge retention.

Using the culturally variant perspective and symbolic interaction theory, I examined the perceptions of Black partnered and nonpartnered mothers toward their children and how these perceptions shaped their views toward single-mother effectiveness. I conducted secondary analysis of National Survey of American Families [NSAF] (1999) with a sample of Black, non-Hispanic mothers with children between the ages of 6 to 17 years old. Black mothers significantly differed on age, education, income, and perceptions about their child's psychological and social behaviors, religious service attendance, and mental health. Mothers' age, education level, income, viewing child as having difficulty getting along with others and viewing child as harder to care for were significantly related to mothers' opinions toward single-mother effectiveness. Feeling angry toward their child and mothers' mental health score were moderately and significantly related to single-mother effectiveness. / Master of Science

Aim: The aims of this audit were: To determine the proportion of hyperthyroid patients receiving I-131 therapy in whom treatment with a single fixed dose was successful, as defined by the achievement of euthyroidism or hypothyroidism 6-months after the therapy; To identify patients in whom treatment was not successful and a second dose needed; And, if possible, to establish the factors associated with treatment failure. Methods: A single observer reviewed the records of all patients who received I-131 therapy for hyperthyroidism between 23rd April 2010 and 23rd November 2017 in conjunction with their pre and post treatment thyroid function tests. Results of their thyroid ultrasound were retrieved and documented. The images of their Tc-99m sodium pertechnetate thyroid scans were also retrieved and reprocessed. Results: The records of 409 patients treated between April 2010 and November 2017 were retrieved. 223 (63%) patients were referred by the endocrine clinic at Groote Schuur hospital (GSH. Of the 409 patients, 56 (14%) patients that were excluded because their post therapy records were not available for analysis. Majority of our patients were females 310 (88%). Patients between the ages of 15 and 45 years are more likely to present with Grave’s disease while those aged more than 45 years presented with toxic multinodular gland (p=0.000). Patients that presented between the ages of 15 and 45 years are more likely to have moderately increased pretreatment FT4 (12-51 mmol/L) (p=0.002). We administered a radioiodine therapy dose of 456.6±54.8 MBq (Mean ± SD) to these 409 patients. Among the 353 patients, with complete records, 314(89%) achieved cure at some stage after receiving one dose of RAI; 239(76%) achieving cure ≤ 6 months of therapy and 75(24%) patients after 6 months. In our audit the patients who failed to achieve cure following the first RAI therapy appeared to be younger (median(interquartile range) age 39(16), p= 0.03), have severe hyperthyroidism as demonstrated by higher pre-treatment FT4 (median(interquartile range) 27 pmol/L(30.6), p= 0.05) and high pertechnetate uptake (median(interquartile range) uptake 9.9%(14), p= 0.002) on thyroid scintigraphy. CONCLUSION Our audit showed RAI therapy was found to be successful in 68% of patients at 6 month and 89% at a year. A second therapy with radioactive iodine would be indicated in 32% of patients, as these patients have not achieved cure at 6 months. Patients presenting with severe thyrotoxicity are likely to require more than one RAI therapy. Due to major deficiencies in referral, record keeping and follow up, other factors responsible for treatment were not be able to be evaluated. Based on these findings, suggested areas for further research are: should patients with severe hyperthyroidism be considered for pretreatment with antithyroid medication prior to RAI; would a one year follow up after radioiodine therapy be considered before second RAI. Now that the deficiencies in our current practice have been identified and suggestions put forward to address these deficiencies, a follow up audit would be needed.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. (Community Psychology) degree in the Department of Psychology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2009. / The researcher developed an ubuntu re-cultivation programme, titled "the Enhancement of Interpersonal Effectiveness" (EIE), for reducing aggressive antisocial behaviour through education and training workshop sessions that encourage participatory learning. The programme was applied on 16 incarcerated male indigenous African offenders in a maximum security prison. The participants ranged in age between 26 and 40 years (mean=3I.I years) and their education stretched from Grade 7 to 12 (mean Grade 10.2). Residential accommodation split the participants into two groups of 9 and 7, which made their facilitation manageable. Baseline performances of participants were established on the Carlson Psychological Survey (CPS) and the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). The profiles of the CPS showed that the participants had entrenched antisocial behaviour lifestyles and manifestations of feelings of ill-health which included anxiety and depression. The AQ revealed tendencies towards high levels of aggression, anger and hostility. Four, one hourly EIE intervention sessions, were administered per week for six weeks. Post-intervention profile analyses of the AQ revealed significant reductions in 10 of the 16 participants. The reductions occurred in an average of two of the following 5 AQ components: anger, hostility, physical aggression, verbal aggression and indirect aggression. There were also reductions of antisocial ideation on the CPS of half of the participants. The CPS profiles also showed remission of anxiety and depression in 10 participants. The EIE Examination Assignment and the Programme Evaluation Questionnaire indicated that the majority of participants increased their knowledge and skills for constructive social relationships. The findings support the recommendation for the inclusion of EIE as a regular psychological education and training programme for male indigenous African offenders in the correctional centre and other correctional centres with a climate conducive for learning and development.