Thesis (M.Com. (Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The purpose of this study was to investigate growth through innovation and productivity in the South African economy. The study employed the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach to analyse the annual time series data from the period 1994 to 2018. The data of the study is quantitative and was collected from the South African Reserve Bank and the World Bank. Due to a decline in investment in innovation in South Africa as compared to Brazil, Russia, India and China, the study recommends increased investment in innovation, which may yield positive results on economic growth given the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) presence. The results of the study indicate that there is a long-run relationship between the variables furthermore, in the short-run research and development (R&D), several patents and manufacturing: Labour productivity has a positive and is statistically significant on GDP. However, labour productivity in the non-agricultural sector is positive but statistically insignificant on GDP. Moreover, the findings, in the long run, reveal that R&D, number of patents, and manufacturing: labour productivity is positive and statistically significant on the economic growth in South Africa while labour productivity in the non-agricultural sector has a negative impact on economic growth. This study recommends that policymakers should aim at increasing government-funded R&D, education and human capital to induce productivity and eventually drive up economic growth in South Africa.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is to make a positive contribution towards maximum employee productivity and effectiveness in the workplace. Various organisations implemented EAP, but the achievement of aims and objectives need to be investigated in order to ascertain whether the service is successful. In order to achieve the latter, the present study was therefore designed with the primary aim of evaluating the effectiveness of the EAP services in the Free State Department of Education, Motheo District. In order for the DoE to comply with legislation they need to ensure that there is adequate provision of human and capital resources. Employees should be knowledgeable on the content of policy guidelines and procedures to promote utilisation. Accessibility of the programme will depend on the restructuring of EAP section from a sub section to a Directorate. Appropriate structure can make the EAP section effective. Staffing, competency, integration and early identification can be dealt with if the DoE can employ personnel with appropriate skills. Confidentiality and the Model through which EAP service is rendered is a challenge in the DoE as it influences utilisation of EAP services. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die primêre doel van die Werknemersondersteuningsprogram (WOP) is om 'n positiewe bydrae tot maksimale werknemer-produktiwiteit en -effektiwiteit in die werkplek te lewer. Verskeie organisasies het die WOP geïmplementeer, maar ten einde vas te stel of die diens suksesvol was, moet die bereiking van doelstellings en doelwitte ondersoek word. Ten einde laasgenoemde te vermag, is die huidige studie dus ontwerp met die primêre doel om die effektiwiteit van die WOP-dienste in die Vrystaatse Onderwysdepartment, Motheo-distrik te evalueer. Die Onderwysdepartement moet, wetgewing nakom deur te verseker dat voldoende menslike en kapitaalhulpbronne beskikbaar gestel word. Ten einde verbruik te bevorder behoort werknemers goed ingelig te wees met betrekking tot die inhoud van beleidsriglyne en -prosedure. Toegankilikheid tot die program sal van die herstrukturering van die WOP afdeling van 'n onderafdeling tot 'n Direktoraat afhang. Toepaslike strukture kan die WOP-afdeling effektief maak. Personeeltoewysing, bevoegdheid, integrasie en vroeë identifisering kan hanteer word indien die Onderwysdepartement personeel aanstel wat oor die toepaslike vaardighede beskik. Vertroulikheid en die Model waarvolgens die WOP-diens bedryf word, bied 'n uitdaging in die Onderwysdepartement aangesien dit die verbruik van WOP-dienste beïnvloed.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years scholars and researchers have been paying specific attention to the performance and results produced by government activities. This is seen as a direct consequence of trends in the public policy field, specifically the New Public Management (NPM) approach. The South African Government has demonstrated its commitment to the NPM approach by advocating the assessment of government’s performance and putting in place substantial guiding, policy and discussion documents that would promote the monitoring and evaluation of public outputs and outcomes. This research study takes its cue from the NPM approach and evidence-based public policy analyses as it sought to evaluate the performance of a government programme by considering reported performance outputs. The researcher evaluated the performance for the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature’s (NCPL) Administration programme over a 3-year period as a case study. The research methodology is evaluative in nature and the specific design employed is programme evaluation. To solicit data from respondents, an Organisational Profile Survey was conducted. The survey responses from participants were combined with a review of media reports and scrutiny of documented reports to provide comprehensive evidence about the performance of the NCPL Administration. The overall aim of the study was to evaluate performance with a view to the improvement of future performance. The findings of the thesis indicate that the planned services and activities of the NCPL Administration are not being implemented effectively and that the overall programme is not functioning effectively. The effectiveness of the NCPL Administration can be improved by means of the resolution of organisational challenges. Recommendations are made to address performance deficiencies and further research opportunities are also identified. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsers het oor die afgelope paar jaar spesifiek begin fokus op die prestasie en uitslae van regeringsaktiwiteite. Die onlangse tendens kom as ‘n direkte gevolg van huidige openbare hervorming, en meer spesifiek die Nuwe Openbare Bestuurs- (NOB) benadering. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering demonstreer hul toewyding aan die NOB benadering deurdat die evaluasie van regerings prestasie voorgestaan word, asook deur die instelling van substansiële beleid-, leidings- en gespreksdokumente wat die monitering en evaluasie van publieke uitsette en uitkomste bevorder. Hierdie navorsingsstudie volg die NOB benadering en bewys-gebaseerde publieke beleidsontleding na. Dit is gemik daarop om die prestasie van ‘n regeringsprogram te evalueer deur die gerapporteerde prestasie uitsette in ag te neem. As deel van hierdie gevallestudie evalueer die navorser die prestasie van die Noord-Kaap Provinsiale Wetgewer (NKPW) se administrasie program oor ‘n drie jaar tydperk. Die studie se navorsingsmetodologie is waardeoordelend die spesifieke navorvingsontwerp wat gebruik word is Programevaluering. Om data van respondente te bekom was ‘n Organisasie Profiel Opname onderneem. Hierdie data was gekombineer met ‘n oorsig van koerant berigte en die noukeurige ondersoek van verslae met die oog daarop om omvattende bewyse te lewer oor die prestasie van die NKPW Administrasie. In geheel poog die studie om prestasie lewering te evalueer met die doel om toekomstige prestasie te verbeter. Die bevindinge van die tesis dui aan dat die implementering van beplande dienste en aktiwiteite van die NKPW Administrasie nie doeltreffend is nie en dat die program in geheel nie effektief is nie. Die prestasie van die NKPW Administrasie kan verbeter word deur die aanspreking van uitdagings wat in die organisasie ondervind word. Aanbevelings word gemaak om die prestasiegapings aan te spreek en verdere navorsinggeleenthede is ook geïdentifiseer.