Yes / The food retailers have to make their supply chains more customer-driven to sustain in modern competitive environment. It is essential for them to assimilate consumer’s perception to improve their market share. The firms usually utilise customer’s opinion in the form of structured data collected from various means such as conducting market survey, customer interviews and market research to explore the interrelationships among factors influencing consumer purchasing behaviour and associated supply chain. However, there is abundance of unstructured consumer’s opinion available on social media (Twitter). Usually, retailers struggle to employ unstructured data in above decision-making process. In this paper, firstly, by the help of literature and social media Big Data, factors influencing consumer’s beef purchasing decisions are identified. Thereafter, interrelationships between these factors are established using big data supplemented with ISM and Fuzzy MICMAC analysis. Factors are divided as per their dependence and driving power. The proposed frameworks enable to enforce decree on the intricacy of the factors. Finally, recommendations are prescribed. The proposed approach will assist retailers to design consumer centric supply chain. / Project ‘A cross country examination of supply chain barriers on market access for small and medium firms in India and UK’ (Ref no: PM130233) funded by British Academy, UK.

Yes / This study extends the debate surrounding the components of IS project success by reviewing success factors from the perspective of their interdependency and influence on each other. This research utilises interpretive structural modelling as the methodology and framework to develop the relationships between the selected factors. This approach is presented as a mechanism that can provide greater insight to the underlying causal interrelationships associated with IS project success and the successful transition to operations. The findings identify a number of key outcomes that have significant driving influence on other interconnected factors in the final model. This study highlights the benefits of an interpretive approach where IS factor interrelationships can be modelled to demonstrate potential influence on other connected factors thereby, increasing the chances of project success.

Yes / Many developing countries across the world are allocating a significant share of their budgets for e-government initiatives. Common service centers (CSCs) are e-government initiatives that aim to increase access to public services and promote easy and direct interaction with the government. These e-government initiatives are largely underutilised, especially in rural areas in developing countries. This study attempts to identify the key challenges facing CSCs and determine their hierarchical relationships in the context of rural India. A set of 15 challenges was identified through a rigorous literature review and by surveying experts and CSC owners. Data were collected on the identified challenges and were analysed using interpretive structural modeling (ISM)-MICMAC-fuzzy MICMAC analysis. Subsequently, we developed a hierarchical model of challenges. The findings revealed that “longer travel time and transaction cost”, “low digital literacy”, and “low awareness” of e-government services are among the key challenges CSCs face in rural India. This study suggests several recommendations to all the stakeholders involved in the management of CSCs to improve the delivery of e-government services in rural India.

Yes / Cybersecurity is a serious issue that many organizations face these days. Therefore, cybersecurity management is very important for any organization. Organizations should learn to deal with these cyber threats through effective management across all business functions. The main purpose of this study is to identify the factors that affect cybersecurity within an organization and analyze relationships among these factors. The modified total interpretive structural modeling (M-TISM) technique is used to build a hierarchical model and define the common interactions between the factors. This study presents the impact of collaboration, training, resources and capabilities, information flow, technology awareness, and technological infrastructure on effective cybersecurity management. In addition, the study also explains the interrelationships among the identified factors in the M-TISM model.

Being a lecturer and serving in the Higher Degrees Committee of the Department of Public Administration and Management at Unisa for several years, gave me exposure to master’s and doctoral candidates’ scholarly work. I realised that the doctoral candidates, in particular, were facing methodological challenges. This realisation triggered my curiosity in the methodological preparedness of doctoral candidates. My scholarly curiosity prompted me to undertake a preliminary literature review which has identified a number of scholarly contributions on the quality of research in Public Administration. These studies have not established or attempted to establish conceptual frameworks for understanding this phenomenon. I deduced that the lack of scholarly contributions on the methodological preparedness of doctoral candidates indicates a knowledge gap that compromises scholarly understanding of methodological preparedness, both as a concept and a phenomenon. The main purpose of this research was to generate theory, by means of the development of a conceptual framework, in response to the identified knowledge gap in the literature. Consequently, a qualitative theory generating research design was chosen and actualised in three interrelated research phases. Phase 1 provides a theoretical perspective by turning to the scholarly literature and institutional documents to obtain a deepened understanding of the concept methodological preparedness relevant to Public Administration doctoral candidates. This phase serves, firstly, to provide an overview of the characteristics of the doctorate in Public Administration as an immediate context for methodological preparedness, and secondly, to do a concept analysis to identify and describe the meaning of the concept methodological preparedness with reference to a doctoral candidate. Phase 2 aimed to make sense of the methodological preparedness of Public Administration doctoral candidates at Unisa by exploring, through an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), how doctoral candidates and supervisors make sense of this phenomenon. This study makes a methodological contribution by employing the IPA for the first time in the South African Public Administration fraternity. Phase 3 generates a conceptual framework for understanding the methodological preparedness of Public Administration doctoral candidates at Unisa. The framework contributes to the understanding of the under- vi researched concept and phenomenon methodological preparedness of doctoral candidates in Public Administration. This study has shown that a candidate’s methodological preparedness (the state of being competent to independently make a methodological decision relevant to his or her doctoral research project), is not a once-off gate-keeping phenomenon, but an ongoing and fluent state of being. / Public Administration / D. Litt. et Phil. (Public Administration)

Five interpretive programs designed for use by educators, naturalists, or interpreters working at ecotourism destinations. Topics covered include environmentally responsible behavior, on-site recycling programs, renewable energy systems, and plant and animal species conservation.

This project investigates federal, state and local agencies and organizations that are key sources of information about Peninsular bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis cremnobates) to determine the extent of the agencies' environmental education and awareness programs related to the sheep. The agencies and organizations investigated include: Bureau of Land Management, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Living Desert Wildlife and Botanical Park, Bighorn Institute, Natural Science Collaborative of the Desert Region and California Desert Managers Group. Recommendations about future educational and interpretive programs are included.

The purpose of this study is to aid interpreters in evaluation sources (research material) for use in interpretive presentations and programs in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This was done by illustrating the need for source evaluation and then developing the guidelines for selecting, evaluating, and most effectively using various sources in the development of interpretive programs in the National Parks Services (NPS).

Boys in their middle childhood placed in clinic schools experience severe emotional and behavioural problems. Most of these boys have been sexually abused. The trauma of this sexual abuse may contribute to their problem behaviour. If the learners can be effectively supported in addressing the trauma of the male child sexual abuse during their time at the clinic school, some of their emotional and behavioural problems may also be addressed. Without these emotional and behavioural problems they may be able to develop without hindrance of the male child sexual abuse and may be integrated into the mainstream educational setting before they reach the age of twelve years. This study consisted of three phases. During the first phase the experiences of seven sexually abused boys placed in clinic schools in Gauteng Province in South Africa were explored in order to develop a better understanding of their support needs. It was achieved by means of three in-depth interviews with each participant. For the purpose of the first phase a qualitative design was used, which was of a phenomenological, descriptive and exploratory nature in order to explore and describe the phenomenon of male child sexual abuse. To obtain a clear picture of the unique view and subjective experiences of a participant in a clinic school, the phenomenon of male child sexual abuse was investigated. From the results it was clear that sexually abused boys placed in clinic schools exhibit intensified emotional reactions, as well as certain problems associated with male child sexual abuse. The intensified emotional reactions include a deep sense of sadness and helplessness, a sense of guilt and shame, a sense of dissociation and numbness, avoidance of situations associated with male child sexual abuse, fear of recurring incidents and the re-experiencing of the trauma. The problems associated with male child sexual abuse include concerns regarding their own sexuality, difficulties in interacting with other people, dealing with anger and aggression, displaying self-destructive behaviour and difficulties to cope with schoolwork. During the second phase of the study twenty-four psychologists, social workers, counsellors, teachers and child and youth care workers were included. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with each of them to identify critical aspects to support victims of male child sexual abuse. For the purpose of the second phase the interpretive descriptive design was used. The results suggest that the following critical aspects should be considered in the conceptualisation of a proposed support strategy: Relationships as basis for support; strengthening the male child sexual abuse victims to deal with behavioural and emotional challenges; facilitating the safety of the male child sexual abuse victims to avoid continued exposure to abuse; providing a structured environment and coordinated support efforts to ensure sustainability. The third phase of this study consisted of the conceptualisation of a support strategy for male child sexual abuse victims. Two focus groups were conducted with fourteen psychologists, social workers, counsellors, teachers and child and youth care workers to conceptualise the support strategy. The proposed support strategy suggests the incorporation of different role players in a collaborative team approach for a multilevel support approach. The proposed support strategy involves three main facets, namely strengthening of the male child sexual abuse victim as an individual, sustaining a deep/trusting relationship, as well as the facilitation of a supportive context for the male child sexual abuse victim. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Boys in their middle childhood placed in clinic schools experience severe emotional and behavioural problems. Most of these boys have been sexually abused. The trauma of this sexual abuse may contribute to their problem behaviour. If the learners can be effectively supported in addressing the trauma of the male child sexual abuse during their time at the clinic school, some of their emotional and behavioural problems may also be addressed. Without these emotional and behavioural problems they may be able to develop without hindrance of the male child sexual abuse and may be integrated into the mainstream educational setting before they reach the age of twelve years. This study consisted of three phases. During the first phase the experiences of seven sexually abused boys placed in clinic schools in Gauteng Province in South Africa were explored in order to develop a better understanding of their support needs. It was achieved by means of three in-depth interviews with each participant. For the purpose of the first phase a qualitative design was used, which was of a phenomenological, descriptive and exploratory nature in order to explore and describe the phenomenon of male child sexual abuse. To obtain a clear picture of the unique view and subjective experiences of a participant in a clinic school, the phenomenon of male child sexual abuse was investigated. From the results it was clear that sexually abused boys placed in clinic schools exhibit intensified emotional reactions, as well as certain problems associated with male child sexual abuse. The intensified emotional reactions include a deep sense of sadness and helplessness, a sense of guilt and shame, a sense of dissociation and numbness, avoidance of situations associated with male child sexual abuse, fear of recurring incidents and the re-experiencing of the trauma. The problems associated with male child sexual abuse include concerns regarding their own sexuality, difficulties in interacting with other people, dealing with anger and aggression, displaying self-destructive behaviour and difficulties to cope with schoolwork. During the second phase of the study twenty-four psychologists, social workers, counsellors, teachers and child and youth care workers were included. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with each of them to identify critical aspects to support victims of male child sexual abuse. For the purpose of the second phase the interpretive descriptive design was used. The results suggest that the following critical aspects should be considered in the conceptualisation of a proposed support strategy: Relationships as basis for support; strengthening the male child sexual abuse victims to deal with behavioural and emotional challenges; facilitating the safety of the male child sexual abuse victims to avoid continued exposure to abuse; providing a structured environment and coordinated support efforts to ensure sustainability. The third phase of this study consisted of the conceptualisation of a support strategy for male child sexual abuse victims. Two focus groups were conducted with fourteen psychologists, social workers, counsellors, teachers and child and youth care workers to conceptualise the support strategy. The proposed support strategy suggests the incorporation of different role players in a collaborative team approach for a multilevel support approach. The proposed support strategy involves three main facets, namely strengthening of the male child sexual abuse victim as an individual, sustaining a deep/trusting relationship, as well as the facilitation of a supportive context for the male child sexual abuse victim. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015