In children, life-threatening illnesses (LTIs) present with both physical and psychosocial side effects, which seem to contribute to the perpetuation of hopelessness and fear among the children and their families. Children with LTIs often experience regular and painful treatment routines. A LTI not only impacts on the child but also on the family. LTIs put families in a critical and vulnerable situation, evoking emotions such as shock, disbelief and fear. Hope and coping strategies appear to be crucial for both children and their families when facing the effects of a LTI on a child. While medical intervention strategies are used to alleviate physical side effects, psychosocial intervention strategies (as referred to in this research study) that are focused on improving the well-being of the child and family, appear to be limited. Psychosocial interventions are defined as any intervention that emphasizes psychological or social factors, rather than biological factors. Psychosocial intervention strategies, such as „dream-come-true‟ projects, appear to ameliorate distress, offer respite, decrease isolation, empower individuals, increase self-confidence and give the children unique opportunities to connect with their families in a positive, normal way. Such a psychosocial intervention strategy is offered by the Reach For A Dream Foundation (RFAD) in South Africa. The experiences of the recipients of RFAD „dream-come-true‟ projects were the focus of this study. The goal of this research study was to study the „dream-come-true‟ psychosocial experiences of children/adolescents and their families, by means of a narrative enquiry design. This design allowed participants to tell their stories truthfully, giving the researcher the opportunity to immerse herself in the personal experience of each participant. Participants were purposively, and then randomly, selected from an RFAD client list. A total of six children/adolescents, between the ages of 8 and 18 years, were randomly selected from Johannesburg and the surrounding areas. The children/adolescents and both parents were interviewed, except for one father who was not present (17 participants in total). Child/adolescent interviews included the use of fun, tactile emotive cushions to assist the participants to recognize emotions they had felt „pre-dream‟, during the „dream‟, and „postdream‟. Semi-structured, individual in-depth interviews were used to interview parent participants. The parent‟s story was not interrupted, thereby providing the opportunity for a fluid narrative. In addition to interviews, the researcher made field notes of the participant‟s reactions, body language and emotions after each interview. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Tesch‟s (1990) approach was used to identify, analyse and report patterns within the data. The findings of this study suggest that intervention strategies improve emotional health and overall wellness in participants. „Pre-dream‟ feelings of fear, sadness, loneliness and a lack of normality in everyday life, were prominent themes. Participating parents expressed anger, helplessness and guilt about being unable to help their children. During the „dream-come-true‟ experience, the predominant themes that emerged were excitement, amazement and gratitude. The theme of disbelief in the reality and experience of the „dream‟ was also prominent. „Post-dream‟, the participants reported a more positive, confident and hopeful outlook. This research appeared to yield some important information on the possible benefits of psychosocial intervention strategies, as they seemed helpful in addressing the challenges presented by LTIs in children/adolescents. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Food security is a global concern, experienced at a household level in South Africa (SA). The country experiences income inequality with a high unemployment rate. Many that are employed live under the international poverty line. The Potchefstroom area in the North-West Province of SA has a high unemployment rate. The Student Rag Community Service (SRCS) is a student driven non-profit organisation (NPO) of the North-West University (NWU) that is actively involved in socio-economic development of communities within this area. Some community programmes attempt to address food security, but it was uncertain which SRCS projects address such programmes. Unsustainable programmes may lead to greater food insecurity. Much funding has been used for SRCS projects and if unsustainable, funds were not optimally utilised. Archived documentation of implemented SRCS projects were not stored in a system that supported easy reference. Programmes were not assessed against clear sustainability indicators (SI), thus the sustainability thereof was uncertain. Thus, the research question was: Which of the SRCS projects addressed food security through their activities and programmes and were these projects sustainable? The study aimed to assess the food security-related SRCS community projects to promote sustainable development. A case study was done to assess this in its real-life content. The mixed methods strategy was used through the three data collection phases. Further, a non-probability sampling method and the triangulation design were used to compare data. Firstly, the available archived documentation (September 2007 until August 2011) was compiled in an electronic database. Data from the most recent term were scrutinised (September 2010 until August 2011) and food security-related projects (21/48) were identified and those with feeding schemes (5/21). These projects mostly address the themes: food and nutrition, hygiene and infrastructure. Secondly, these projects were visited and community project members were interviewed to assess their experiences with the SRCS’s project involvement and their opinions towards sustainability. Lastly, the SRCS project leaders’ (n=20), of the previous term (September 2012 until August 2013), knowledge and understanding of project sustainability were assessed through a group administered questionnaire. Qualitative data were thematically analysed and quantitative data were statistically analysed. Results indicated positive and negative expectations of community project members. Students indicated that community project members always or often participate and have sufficient skills and competences, but this was not indicated by community project members. Exposure or awareness was believed to increase project capacity. Available funds influenced the ownership and participation of community project members. Statistical analysis indicated a relationship between capacity building, empowerment and production of own food sources. Although some community project members and SRCS project leaders were able to define sustainability and agreed upon SI, these were not implemented or measured at projects. Within the study, SI based on the livelihood assets from literature, were used to assess projects. Some activities created dependence without focusing on the development of assets. Study limitations included a language barrier between the SRCS and the community, and the accessibility of project leaders after the ending of the annual SRCS term. The study might improve current and innovative SRCS projects to overcome poverty and promote food security. / M Consumer Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This study explored the theoretical aspects of Lean Manufacturing principles and identified the practical implementations for a gold processing plant. The success rate of Lean implementations is currently as low as 5% and can be attributed to the failure of management to address the effect of implemented changes on the employees. With this risk in mind, the study included a measurement of the worker perception towards change and organisational climate. The impact of Lean Manufacturing principles was thus quantified by means of practical projects, including an empirical study of how open employees are towards change implementation. The plant process was described and the flow of value was mapped in a Value Stream Map (VSM). The applied principles resulted in three proposed improvement projects with the potential of reducing operating cost, generating additional revenue and eliminating waste. The proposals included reducing lead times through the plant for the two feed sources, namely reef and waste material by 4% and 51% respectively; improved recovery of fine carbon as a by-product of the treatment circuit; and lastly, reducing the lead time for conducted elusions by improving the “flow” of solution throughout the batch process. The quantified financial benefits of the improvements were an estimated additional revenue of R180,000 per month and a further cost saving of R4,000 per month. This study explained that multiple spin-off benefits are realized when improvements are based on Lean Manufacturing principles. Some additional benefits were listed but not quantified in this study. It is important to notice that these specific identified improvements did not require additional capital expenditure, nor long lead times to be implemented. Requirements included an open mind towards change management, time and effort. A survey was conducted to measure the employees’ readiness for change management and the stability of the organisational climate. In the South African mining context, there are external factors impacting on operations of which labor, unions and worker productivity are among the foremost aspects of current concern. This served as motivation for the survey to test employee readiness for Lean Manufacturing changes to be implemented. The statistical internal consistency of the questionnaire, as expressed by the Cronbach alpha coefficients, was acceptable at 0.773 and 0.759 for the change management and organisational climate factors respectively. The p-values and effect sizes were determined within the T-test and ANOVA tests. The group consisting of different years’ experience yielded the most statistical differences in the way that the organisational climate section was completed. The indication was that highly experienced employees answered the questionnaire significantly different than the other groups. The average scoring for the section was above the average and therefore was not considered to be a significant risk to implementation. The group is considered ready for change implementation and the plant should proceed to implement the identified Lean projects. The success and sustainability of the projects can encourage additional improvements. The recommendation is to revisit the future VSM after completion of the projects to identify the next level of improvements for implementation. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

An independent industry of Environmental Control Officers (ECOs) is active on various construction sites across South Africa. It forms part of a global network of verifiers, such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and EIA follow-up verifiers. This network authenticates statements about and the implementation of sustainability commitments made during the planning phase of major construction projects. International studies show that the construction industry is experiencing many challenges to deliver sustainability commitments, including inadequate collaboration between role players, illdefined roles and responsibilities, and insufficient use of environmental governance approaches. On-site verifiers like ECOs may aid in restraining these challenges by bridging ineffective governance approaches, such as classic EIA with new governance approaches, for instance self-responsibility (e.g. Environmental Management Systems (EMSs)) and involvement of third parties. Moreover, an “independent from all” verification function may be vital in developing countries such as South Africa, where trust between the government, market and public is particularly fragile due to historical injustices. Interestingly, limited learning has been drawn and shared from this function’s real-world experience. There are also differing views on the role, independence and value of ECOs, due to roles, frequent interaction with persons responsible for delivering sustainability commitments, and collaboration with third parties being ill-defined. The overarching purpose of this study is to advance understanding of independent ECOs in major South African construction projects. Three lines of inquiry are followed. The first is to define what the role is, or ideally should be, of an ECO in the South African compliance monitoring and enforcement effort. The second is to identify what factors might influence the independence of verifiers. The third is to appraise how and to what extent independent EIA follow-up verifiers add value in major construction projects in the developing country context of South Africa. This study’s research assumptions are based on the real world of ECOs and uses a mixed method research approach to draw knowledge from the industry. The strategies of inquiry include a survey, interviews, and multiple case study evaluations. The methods for data collection include literature review, a self-administered survey questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, video material, observations of practice at case studies, and the collection of project documentation. The methods used for data analysis are the categorisation and measuring of opinions and statements of survey participants, the analysis of video material and project documentation, and the nominal categorisation and ordinal scaling of case study results. Three journal articles capture the essence of the research results and form part of the thesis report, as prescribed by the North-West University’s rules for doctoral theses in article format. All three articles were peer-reviewed and published in journals aimed at international audiences. Article 1 of the thesis highlights that an industry of ECOs fulfils numerous roles at various construction sites across South Africa. The results identify the importance of ECOs functioning independently of all role-players, but warn that obsessing about independence may compromise the ability of ECOs to fulfil their roles. The results also show that industry is in need of competence and the regulation thereof, as well as support from all role players. By drawing from the research results, the thesis defines an ECO. Article 2 of the thesis reiterates that independence is central to internationally acclaimed verification fields and important to ensure the credibility of EIA. The study identifies 18 factors that might influence the independence of EIA follow-up verifiers and divides the factors into five categories: financial, commercial, professional, personal, and other. By identifying and sharing these factors, this thesis aids in anticipating and avoiding potential conflict of interest between environmental role players. Article 3 strengthens the continuum between environmental governance approaches by conceptualising a framework for appraising the value of independent EIA follow-up verifiers. The framework provides for inter-linking principles and objectives of sustainability to the performance areas of EIA, EIA follow-up and the EMS. The appraisal results indicate that independent verifiers add most value when they are involved in screening, checking compliance, influencing decisions, community engagement, and integrating environmental governance approaches. The study confirms the benefits of adaptable, proactive, experienced, and independent EIA follow-up verifiers, such as ECOs, on major South African construction projects. / PhD (Geography and Environmental Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

There is a large amount of poverty-stricken people in South Africa, especially among female farm dwellers. Poverty is a problem with many facets that needs a multi-dimensional approach. One of the approaches used to alleviate poverty is through income-generating projects (IGPs). Most IGPs reported participation difficulties which negatively affects the sustainability of these projects. This study focuses on an IGP which forms part of the FLAGH programme in the North West Province. The aim of this study was to explore the motivation of women to participate in an IGP in order to understand why they participate and whether there is an observable difference concerning their motivation over a period of 16 months. In addition, the link between motivation and regular and irregular participation was investigated. A multiple-phased, single case study design, was followed to explore the motivation of purposefully selected women of the IGP. A semi-structured questionnaire was specifically designed for this study to collect data together with field notes, visual media and in-depth interviews. The study consisted of three phases. The socio-demographic information obtained by the semi-structured questionnaires provided the researcher with a profile of women who participated in the IGP during the first phase. The photographs and field notes served as evidence with regards to the socio-demographic and household information obtained through the questionnaires. The semi-structured questionnaires with the structured and open-ended questions provided insight concerning the motivational factors that influenced their participation over a period of 16 months. During the second phase, a comparison could be made between active and non-active participants. Differences in motivational factors were identified which explained the participation behaviour of both groups. In-depth interviews in phase three brought a better understanding of the motivational factors of the regular participants concerning their experiences. Field notes also served as supporting evidence for the results in phase three. Results of this study provided more information and insight regarding the participation difficulties in an IGP. Encouraging as well as discouraging motivational factors were identified that influenced participants to participate regularly or irregular in the IGP. The motivation that changed among participants over a period of 16 months was also identified. These results will be used to improve current IGPs and also in the planning of future IGPs. One of the limitations of this study was the small number of available women to observe. This study contributes as a section in a larger process that attempts to alleviate poverty through research on the subject in order to obtain a better understanding of difficulties found in IGPs. / M Consumer Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The purpose of this investigation was to establish the role of project work in the teaching of biology. Questionnaires were sent to biology teachers and judges of a project competition. Participants of this competition were asked for positive and negative aspects of project work. Teachers indicated that the entire range of objectives of biology teaching can be achieved by project work. Judges of Expo felt that most of the objectives were achieved. Pupils expressed similar sentiments. However, teachers felt that... (a) there were several factors which limited the use of project work as a regular teaching strategy. (b) objectives concerned with inquiry skills, attitudes and values were difficult to achieve in normal classroom teaching. It is therefore, imperative that educational authorities do all they can in promoting project work as a teaching strategy in biology. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Didactics)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Technology: Public Management, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / This thesis explores the management of community development projects in Mafunze and Inadi Tribal authorities. These are rural areas situated on the Westside of Pietermaritzburg along Bulwer Road. The community development projects were developed as means for rural development after the apartheid regime. When the African National Congress came into power after the first democratic elections in 1994, they came up with a working policy document which was the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). Most of the community development projects were executed as per principles of the RDP. The management of these projects involved a number of stakeholders as dealt with extensively in the study. The research was a case study analysis which aimed to determine the extent to which socio- economic upliftment is achieved through community development projects and their management thereof. The sample was drawn from a population of eleven community projects. Project committee members were interviewed in their mother language as most of the committee members would not understand English. The study concentrated on the views and opinions of the stakeholders in the management of community projects. The responses were translated from IsiZulu to English while other comments were captured in IsiZulu then translated into English. The ethical conduct and confidentiality was highly emphasized and kept as such as project communities feared that they may be victimised. The study revealed that total commitment of the community in development issues is vital. This called for active participation in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. It also revealed that most projects collapsed after being handed over to the community; further, the study did reveal that there was more room for improvement in terms of skills exchange programmes with the international community.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: 'Our industrial development zones have not performed as we have expected - we need to revisit the incentives that we give in these zones', says the deputy president of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (Business Report, 2005: http://www.ecdc.co.za/media/article.asp?pageid=929). This statement raises 2 important questions. Firstly, how was the deputy president able to conclude that these zones have underperformed and secondly, which incentives must South Africa offer potential investors to turn around the fortunes of their programme? To determine how performance can be measured, two investigations were consulted to come up with a list of ten criteria against which export processing zones can be measured to determine whether they have performed successfully or not. As experts are of the opinion that industrial development zones run along similar lines to export processing zones, these criteria could very easily be applied to measuring the success of the former as well. The list includes: • Location • A politically and socially stable host country • High business confidence • Adequate infrastructure • Incentives on offer and administrative set-up • Employment creation • Backward linkages and technology transfer • Foreign exchange eamings • The availability of a competitive labour force • Market accessibility By assessing the zones in Mauritius and Namibia in terms of these criteria, it becomes clear why Schulze (1999: 182) states that Mauritius has become the shining star on the horizon of successful export processing zones and why Tabby Moyo (1999: 1), deputy news editor at The Namibian, is of the opinion that Namibia has so far achieved dismal results. The South African industrial development zone programme was started in the late 1990's and the zones - which are located at Coega, East London, Richards Bay and the Johannesburg International airport - have been in operation for too short a period to allow accurate conclusions to be made about their performance in terms of the ten criteria listed above. However, since their inception, these zones have attrac1ed less than R3.5-billion in planned investments despite the government spending more than R4-billion on infrastructure (www.eedc.co.zalmedia/article.asp?pageid=929). To make these investment-starved zones more attractive to foreign investors, the South African government and the National Treasury, in particular, will have to offer potential investors a much more comprehensive incentive package. They need to: • Review the tax incentives they offer; • Maintain the country's general business; • Make the country's labour laws more flexible; • Increase the literacy rate of the labour force; • Lower the cost of transport, energy and telecoms; • Articulate a vision, build consensus around It and move to action this vision. South Africa needs a world class industrial development zone programme as Schulze (1999: 170) sums it up nicely when he says that free trade zones can indeed contribute to domestic economic growth which will thereby help to alleviate the country's dramatic unemployment rate in addition to enhancing foreign commerce, generating additional foreign exchange and attracting foreign investment. Improvements that South Africa can greatly benefit from. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'Our industrial development zones have not performed as we have expected - we need to revisit the incentives that we give in these zones', verklaar die adjunkpresident van Suid-Afrika, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (Business Report, 2005: hltp:/lwww.ecdc.co.za/media/article.asp?pageid=929). Hierdie stelling wek twee belangrike vrae. Eerstens, hoe was dit vir die adjunk-president moontlik om tot die slotsom te kom dat hierdie sones onderpresteer en tweedens, watter tipe aanmoedigingsmaatreels moet Suid Afrika aan potensiele beleggers bied om 'n ommekeer in die voorspoed van die programme te bewerkstellig? Twee ondersoeke is geraadpleeg ten einde vas te stel hoe prestasie gemeet kan word. Hieruit is 'n Iys van tien kriteria bepaal waarteen uitvoerproseseringssones gemeet kan word om vas te stel of hulle suksesvol presteer of nie. Aangesien deskundiges van mening is dat nywerheidsontwikkelingssones op soortgelyke basis as die van uitvoerproseseringssones funksioneer, kan hierdie kriteria ewe maklik toegepas word om die sukses van die eersgenoemde te bepaal. Die Iys sluit die volgende in: • Ligging; • 'n Politieke en sosiaal standvastige gasheerland; • Hoe handelsvertroue; • 'n Bevredigende infrastruktuur; • Die aanbieding van aanmoedigingsmaatreels en 'n administratiewe opset; • Werkskepping; • Terugskakeling en tegnologiese oordrag; • Buitelandse valuta inkomste; • Die beskikbaarheid van 'n kompeterende werksmag; • Toegang tot die mark. Deur die sones in Mauritius en Namibia te evalueer na aanleiding van hierdie kriteria, word dit duidelik waarom Schulze (1999:182) verklaar dat Mauritius die skynende ster op die horison geword het van suksesvolle uitvoerproseseringssones en waarom Tabby Moyo (1999:1), adjunk-redakteur vir The Namibian, van mening is dat Namibia tot dusver uiters swak resultate behaal het. Die Suid Afrikaanse nyweheidsontwikkelingssone program het in die laat 1990's begin en die sones - Coega, Oos Londen, Richardsbaai en die Johannesburgse Internasionale Lughawe - is nog vir te kort 'n periode in werking om 'n akkurate gevolgtrekking te maak van hulle prestasie in terme van die voorafgenoemde tien kriteria. Nogtans, sedert hul begin, het hierdie sones minder as R3.5b in beplande investering gelok ten spyte daarvan dat die regering meer as R4b op infrastruktuur spandeer het (www.eedc.co.za/media/article.asp?pageid=929). Om hierdie beleggingshonger sones meer aanloklik te maak vir buitelandse beleggers, sal veral die Suid Afrikaanse Regering en die Nasionale Tesourie 'n meer omvattende aanmoedigingspakket aan potensiele beleggers moet bied. Hulle sal die volgende moet doen: • Die belastingsaanmoedigings wat hulle tans bied, te hersien; • Die land se algemene sakebedryf te ondersteun; • Arbiedswetgewing meer buigbaar maak; • Die geletterdheid onder die ambagsmag te verhoog; • Vervoer-, energie- en telekommunikasie koste te verlaag; • 'n Visie artikuleer, konsensus daar random bou en hierdie visie tot aksie te transformeer. Suid Afrika benodig 'n wereld-gehalte industriele ontwikkelingssone-program soos wat Schulze (1999:170) goed opsom wanneer hy sê dat vrye handelsones inderdaad kan bydra tot binnelandse ekonomies groei wat kan help om die land se dramatiese werkloosheid syfer te verlaag asook om buitelandse handel te bevorder. Hierdeur kan addisionele buitelandse valuta gegenereer word en buitelandse beleggings gelok word. Suid-Afrika kan baie baat vind by hierdie verbeterings.

Infrastructure projects, based on the Build-Operate-Transfer, (BOT), method, have been of interest to governments of developed and developing countries for some time, resulting in their worldwide use. Using the BOT method enables governments to reallocate risks and rewards to the private sector for larger infrastructure projects throughout the projects' operating life. In order to implement a BOT infrastructure project successfully, one of the essential requirements is to carry out a thorough analysis of risks relating to the project including the social, economic, environmental, political, legal, and the financial aspects. Due to the fact that the type of risk study required for large-scale projects is so sophisticated, and therefore expensive and time consuming, the government, due to lack of expertise and time, often obtains a project viability study from the private sector. This can cause problems in that the private sector may incur financial losses or even bankruptcy, unless the host government guarantees compensation to the losers of the bid. Because all parties have different targets which they wish to achieve from the project, a may conflict arise and cause lengthy negotiations, sometimes lasting for years which often result in the death of the project. The greatest opportunity for a successful outcome for a BOT project is obtained when the extensive efforts and costs involved in the risk study process are shared by all parties. The responsibility of the decision maker is to identify, understand and analyze the many risk factors both, qualitative, (linguistic in nature) and quantitative, that will affect funding, procurement, developing, construction and operation, before proceeding with the build stage of the project. Firstly, it is necessary to evaluate the quantitative Risk Factors subjectively, and list them in order of importance. Secondly, conduct an evaluation of the qualitative factors and since the consideration of qualitative factors is subjective, the decision maker will often limit the number of factors being evaluated possibly resulting in inconsistent results. This study proposes a decision framework, which would be useful in determining the influence of the qualitative Risk Factors on the project management of BOT infrastructure projects. A methodology is provided to enable the identification of interrelationships between the Risk Factors and their influence on the project. Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques, which model the relationships between the Risk Factors, a validation of this approach will be sought using a decomposed evaluation method and also information obtained from three existing case studies, (the Channel Tunnel, Sulaibiya Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant and Marsa Allam Airport). The results of the decomposed approach were compared to experts' holistic evaluations for the same case studies mentioned above. The findings indicate that the decomposed approach showed a strong correlation to the holistic approach. An evaluation of the risks for the Sulaibiya Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant study is provided and suggestions made to highlight risks attached to such a project before it is actually undertaken. Using the decomposed approach enables the decision maker to see the contribution of each risk compared to all of the risks in the total project and will help to determine and subsequently minimize or preventing any risk factors and so considerably improving the risk management of the project.

M. Tech. Business Information Systems / The technological world is emerging and advancing rapidly. Organisations aspire to meet their business goals and strategic objectives. IT projects have the ability to enable organisations meet their business goals and objectives hence organisations invest a lot of time and money on implementing them. The increasing need for organisations to use technology has made organisations implement IT projects. IT projects are implemented to achieve efficiency and effectiveness that is crucial in achieving business goals and strategic objectives. Other benefits include, improved and increased customer satisfaction, improved growth and development within the teams and competitive advantage. Despite an increase in studies on the performance metrics for IT project success in organisations, IT projects still fail. Many IT Projects are considered failed when they are not delivered on time, not delivered within budget, and when the delivered solution does not meet the business requirements. This research study aimed at determining the performance metrics for IT project success within a financial organisation