Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of M.Sc. Building to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Construction Economics and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / Project management is no longer seen as just a management based approach but as a profession in its own right. It is, however, still common that individuals practice project management without, necessarily, being registered with the profession creating a crossing of professional jurisdiction. Existing literature or lack thereof indicates shallow investigation into project management registration and its impact on project performance. This report compares the project performance of registered and non-registered construction project managers in the South African built environment. A mix method approach was applied where the quantitative data was collected and complimented by qualitative data that aimed to solicit perceived factors that may influence improved project performance. Using a cross-sectional survey interview consisting of a semistructured questionnaire, data were collected from project management practitioners and professionals with the relevant knowledge and experience. The survey solicited 578 responses, with only 402 being regarded as complete survey responses. There respondents were sourced from the various professional councils that fall under the South African Built Environment. The results indicate no significant differentiation between the project performance of registered construction project managers and those who are not registered as construction project managers. On the job experience is considered a vital factor influencing project performance from a project manager’s perspective. Responses also indicate a variance in the perceived importance of construction project management registration. Despite the primary motivation behind registration having been expressed as “competitive advantage”, registration was considered most effective when used in combination with education, training and the understanding of project management knowledge areas. / XL2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Political Studies, Johannesburg, March 2017 / The role of youth in development in South Africa is of increasing concern to development practitioners. Figuring out how to maximise youth participation in a way that is meaningful is often difficult, particularly in national discourse around development. This is important because of the centrality of youth in demographic trends as well as the role of citizen participation in advancing democracy. Currently, the scope for meaningful youth participation in South Africa is limited because of access to opportunities for participation, and a perception of social status as a requirement for involvement in development; this, coupled by a lack of political will and the inability to adopt people-centred approaches to development mean that youth participation is often ignored in development processes. Within these contexts, this paper looks to assess whether there is a developmental environment which is conducive to meaningful youth participation. Through an analysis of field data obtained through interviews with youth in Tembisa as well as National Planning Commissioners, this paper analyses the scope of youth participation as it related to the National Development Plan. This data draws conclusions about youth perceptions of development, the National Development Plan and their role in national development. It also draws conclusions about the ways the National Planning Commission envisions the role of youth in the implementation of the plan, as well as their role in creating an enabling environment for youth participation. These insights are grounded in a theory of a democratic developmental state and the Capabilities Approach, assessing which approach to development would best create an environment for meaningful youth participation / XL2018

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Building. / With changing supply and demand economic conditions which may be unfavourable, it is imperative that investors time redevelopment of a property asset in order to maximise profitability. When correlating the relationship between capital values and vacancy rates of super regional shopping in South Africa between the years 2003 – 2012 there is a positive correlation, meaning that investors are not adequately timing the redevelopment of super regional shopping centres in order to maximum profitability. This research utilizes multi-stage real options to time redevelopment of shopping centres in order to maximise profits, through the analysis of supply and demand economic variables; and the Black-Scholes Model. The research methodology of the study ensured that the research results utilized were thoroughly investigated and tested through reliability and validity testing measures; and that the data collected was harvested from credible and reputable databases such as the Investment Property Databank Limited, Statistics South Africa and the City of Johannesburg.

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science in Building (Project Management in Construction) to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, School of Construction Economics and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2017 / There is a noticeable prevalence of public resistance when implementing mega public sector projects in South Africa. This resistance is indicative of a lack of communication between implementers and the general populace. The aim of the study was to assess the regulatory framework of public consultation in mega projects in South Africa. A cross-sectional survey design of consulting engineers, project managers, and municipality staff, using structured questionnaire was adopted. This was followed by case analyses of three mega projects in South Africa. The main finding of the study is that there has to be operationalizable regulatory framework which could be utilized to inculcate public consultation, its coordination should be articulated within the three spheres of government, this has to be monitored systematically. As such thereis the need to improve on the provisions and implementation of the existing regulatory framework among the spheres of government for better coordination and monitoring with the public. / MT 2018

In South Africa, citizen participation is regarded as an integral part of all social, economic and political activity. There is always an attempt to either involve citizens/communities in different programmes or at least to pretend to have involved people. Community participation is a constitutional prerogative that the broader masses should meaningfully participate in issues affecting their lives. Thus overgrowing concern by development practitioners to utilize participatory methods has become notable in recent years and participation has become an established orthodoxy within the development discourse in South Africa. The practice of participation has become embodied in what is popularly known to be people-centered development in which it is favored that community needs take precedence over those of other stakeholders when designing and implementing development projects. This study explores community participation in income generating projects at the Tembisa / Kempton Park Development Center. Using a case study as a qualitative inquiry method, the researcher sought to establish the evidence of community participation and the extent to which participants in income generating projects were involved as the main role players. The research sample constituted of 15 participants; ten were beneficiaries of income generating projects, three were staff members at the Tembisa / Kempton Park Development Center and two participants where drawn from the main funders of the Tembisa / Kempton Park Development Center. The different categories of the participants drawn into the sample enabled the researcher to holistically capture how the development process unfolded. The findings of the research indicated that the development model used at Tembisa / Kempton Park Development Center is largely participatory. The model allowed community members to have more say and control in the initiation, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the projects. However this model has challenges that are institutional, social and structural of nature and barriers which hinder effective and meaningful community participation. Government intervention was recommended to address some of the challenges to community participation on a macro level.

Thesis presented in partial fulfilment for the degree of master of management (in the field of public sector monitoring and evaluation) to the faculty of commerce, law, and management, university of the Witwatersrand. March 2016 / Generally, we can trace the Science Park idea to the 1950s when Silicon Valley, with the support of Stanford University, transformed an agricultural valley into a semiconductor industry. Science parks offer infrastructure and incubation support to entrepreneurs for the development of new technology based companies (Lindelöf & Löfsten, 2002; Durão et al., 2005). Specifically, The Innovation Hub project in Gauteng province is an economic development intervention, modelled on the science park idea with the aim of promoting socioeconomic development and competitiveness of the province through innovation. The Innovation Hub project delivers its services through the incubation programme whose purpose is to provide a catalytic incubator that facilitates commercialisation of research and technology ideas into new business ventures. Similar to any other development intervention, it is important to determine whether the Gauteng science park incubation programme is delivering on its objectives of creating jobs and promoting small and medium enterprises, as mandated by the Gauteng government. This study examines the evaluability of the incubation programme based on the theory of change and results chain framework to determine if the programme can achieve its desired outcomes and if the programme has adequate information to enable a credible and meaningful evaluation of the programme. A qualitative study is undertaken to clarify a theory of change for the incubation programme based on the understanding of the programme stakeholders from the Department of Economic Development and the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency as well as the perspectives of The Innovation Hub Management Company’s internal managements. The study reveals that results-based management is not used within the incubation programme. The study tests if the theory of change of the programme is plausible, do-able and testable and we find that these conditions are currently not in place. The evaluability assessment recommends that the incubation programme improve by adapting results based management planning techniques to redesign as well as determine performance information for the programme. Programme implementation should improve with emphasis on providing a capacitated management team for the entrepreneurs and improving the services rendered in the programme. Author: Kutala Pangwa Thesis title: Evaluability assessment of the Gauteng science park incubation programme / GR2018

Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Finance and Investment Wits Business School University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa October 2016 / This thesis addresses affordability of private financing for infrastructure in the context limited public sources of funding and a low level development of Uganda’s financial sector. The thesis addresses the factors that influence the cost of private financing of public infrastructure; the influence of the level of development of domestic financial markets in the determination of private financing costs of infrastructure projects; the private sector options feasible for financing Uganda’s infrastructure development and the scope for public sector interventions to reduce the cost of private finance in infrastructure. The research project was undertaken between June 2015 and March 2016.The research methodology was mainly library based and qualitative in nature. However, the approach was dual in nature since both existing sources of information and primary data were used. The study has established that in the face of limited public funding and a deficit in infrastructure development expenditure, private financing for public infrastructure is indispensable. However, it is relatively more costly, with good reason. However, there is scope for the public sector to affect favorably the cost of private financing for infrastructure. In particular, steps to address regulatory, political and country risk are critical. Equally important are measures to address macroeconomic instability and strengthen balance of payment positions as well as reforms to widen and deepen the financial sector. In addition, optimizing project selection and preparation as well as a establishing a credible pipeline of infrastructure projects coupled with suitable financing plans can positively impact the cost of private financing for infrastructure. / MT 2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand Business School, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation 28th July 2015 / In South Africa today there are many rural economies in decline. Despite the recognition internationally, since the 2nd World War internationally and since 1994 in South Africa specifically, of the value that can be added by specifically targeting Local Economic Development and Entrepreneurship as strategies for an answer to the decline in local economies, success has been limited. More success has in fact been seen in rural communities that have developed through the natural flows of the market than from direct intervention. This progression takes a long time though and the South African situation with all its history cannot wait this long for development. The question asked is why interventions fail, what are the basic factors that make up the local economic development paradigm and how are they affecting the interventions. Information is key to planning and planning is key to successful interventions. A literature review is done in order to establish the basis of LED historically, theoretically and specifically with regards to the South African rural environment, in order to assist in the development of the information required for successful planning of LED interventions. With the most prominent factors derived from this literature review tabled and applied into established Case Study models, a questionnaire is developed for application into rural economies through Community Entrepreneurship programmes or LED vehicles. In order to establish firstly the relevance of the factors and secondly the relevance of the questionnaire, it is reviewed, scored and commented on by a select group of industry practitioners in LED. The opinion of these individuals further validates the use of the factors and questionnaire in baseline LED intervention planning.

Eradicating poverty is one of the biggest challenges in South Africa. A Development Centre Model was developed by the Department of Social Development as a strategy to empower citizens of South Africa to become independent and self-reliant in an attempt to alleviate poverty. The Department fulfils the role of programme monitoring and evaluation of different programmes offered by the Development Centres. A Social Development Approach was used as a guide to the theoretical framework of the study. The primary aim of the study was to explore the perceptions about the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation of incomegenerating projects rendered to the development centres by the Department of Social Development in the Gauteng North Region. A qualitative research strategy was followed and a multiple case study design was applied. Purposive sampling was used to initially select six beneficiaries, six centre managers, two service providers and two departmental officials involved in the development centres that are government-funded. However, the total number of the participants in the end came to thirteen; five beneficiaries; five centre managers; two evaluators and one departmental official. Data was collected via face-to-face interviews with participants and the interviews were tape recorded. To analyse data, thematic content analysis was applied. Some of the findings and the recommendations are, firstly, that the study contributes to the understanding of the effectiveness of programme monitoring and evaluation; secondly, that programme monitoring and evaluation is in fact effective; and thirdly, that beneficiaries should participate in monitoring and evaluation of their projects. Fourthly, the majority of the beneficiaries and the centre managers felt that the process has no impact on the actual programme or projects. These participants felt that there is no follow-up to solve problems that have been identified during this process of monitoring and evaluation. The participants recommended that the department do more visits thereby making sure that problems identified during monitoring and evaluation are immediately resolved through constant visits to the development centres.

Les échanges de connaissances réalisés par voie informelle entre acteurs de l’innovation sont pratique courante. L’objectif de cette recherche vise à mettre en évidence, d’une part, les facteurs qui déterminent l’engagement d’un individu dans un processus d’échange de connaissances par voie informelle avec un tiers extérieur à son entreprise et, d’autre part, dans quelle mesure la connaissance acquise par voie informelle est susceptible d’impacter la performance des projets d’innovation. Pour ce faire, une démarche méthodologique en deux temps a été utilisée. Une étude exploratoire a tout d’abord été menée auprès de 10 responsables de l’innovation qui, de manière complémentaire à l’analyse de la littérature, a permis de construire notre modèle causal. Ce modèle a, par la suite, été validé par un échantillon de 360 acteurs de l’innovation. Outre la confirmation de la qualité du modèle, il ressort de cette étude trois enseignements majeurs. Tout d’abord, que ce sont les facteurs individuels qui influencent le plus la décision d’un individu d’échanger de la connaissance par voie informelle ; ensuite, que la connaissance acquise par voie informelle influence positivement la performance des projets d’innovation ; et, enfin, que les intermédiaires de l’innovation influencent positivement le lien entre les types d’échanges et la performance des projets d’innovation. Ces résultats apportent des contributions majeures d’un point de vue académique et managérial, et ouvrent de nombreuses voies de recherche dans un contexte d’innovation ouverte / Informal knowledge exchanges between innovation actors are common. The aim of this research is to highlight, first, the factors that determine the commitment of an individual in an informal knowledge exchange with a third party outside his company and, second, to what extent the knowledge gained by informal route is likely to positively impact the performance of innovation projects. To do this, a methodological approach in two stages was used. An exploratory study was first conducted with 10 leaders of innovation, which complementarily to the analysis of the literature allowed us to build our causal model. This model has subsequently been validated by a sample of 360 innovation actors. Besides confirming the quality of the model, it follows from this study three major lessons. First, it is the personal factors that influence the most the decision of an individual to share knowledge through informal channels; secondly, the knowledge acquired by informal channels positively influences the performance of innovation projects; and, finally, the innovation intermediaries positively influence the relationship between the different types of exchange and the performance of innovation projects. These results provide major contributions of an academic and managerial point of view, and have opened up vistas for research in an open innovation context