The nature of the construction industry and the complexities accompanying the sector of the economy globally, necessitates that role players review their positions continuously in an effort to stay abreast of the most modern best practice value chain developments, not only in terms of relationships formed within the upstream supply chain (client supply chain), but also within the downstream supply chain (main contractor/supplier supply chain). Not only is it a natural phenomenon for role players to shift their focus from best practise value chain development to a more relaxed state during a boom in the global economy, but also to shift their focus back to best practices during a slump in the global economy, in order to protect their margins and competitive position established during economic prosperity. To this extent, this dissertation offers an overview of the core aspects that cause misalignment between the objectives of the role players in the construction industry as well as the critical need for role players to proactively shift their paradigm in an effort to mitigate any potential effects the economy might have on role player relationships as well as on the productivity of the industry and the supply chain. Chapter 1 provides the overview, the problem statement and the primary and secondary objectives of the study, and in particular, achieving alignment of the objectives of the role players in a typical construction project. This is followed by a detailed literature study in chapter 2 that provides information regarding role player relationships and the alignment of objectives in the construction industry. This is supported by an empirical study in chapter 3 that links the practical state of affairs with the literature study. The dissertation then concludes by introducing recommendations and a generic project strategic model that can be implemented in an effort to achieve alignment of the objectives of the role players in a typical construction project. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The nature of the construction industry and the complexities accompanying the sector of the economy globally, necessitates that role players review their positions continuously in an effort to stay abreast of the most modern best practice value chain developments, not only in terms of relationships formed within the upstream supply chain (client supply chain), but also within the downstream supply chain (main contractor/supplier supply chain). Not only is it a natural phenomenon for role players to shift their focus from best practise value chain development to a more relaxed state during a boom in the global economy, but also to shift their focus back to best practices during a slump in the global economy, in order to protect their margins and competitive position established during economic prosperity. To this extent, this dissertation offers an overview of the core aspects that cause misalignment between the objectives of the role players in the construction industry as well as the critical need for role players to proactively shift their paradigm in an effort to mitigate any potential effects the economy might have on role player relationships as well as on the productivity of the industry and the supply chain. Chapter 1 provides the overview, the problem statement and the primary and secondary objectives of the study, and in particular, achieving alignment of the objectives of the role players in a typical construction project. This is followed by a detailed literature study in chapter 2 that provides information regarding role player relationships and the alignment of objectives in the construction industry. This is supported by an empirical study in chapter 3 that links the practical state of affairs with the literature study. The dissertation then concludes by introducing recommendations and a generic project strategic model that can be implemented in an effort to achieve alignment of the objectives of the role players in a typical construction project. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

South Africa, as a developing country, depends on science and technology to support industries to reach informed decisions and be competitive in the international marketplace. However, most people cannot distinguish between scientific, non-scientific and pseudo-scientific subjects. To distinguish between these categories of subjects and to emphasise the importance of science communication, it is necessary to communicate science to various stakeholders: schools, government, decision-makers, the general public and the media. An understanding of science makes the task of the role players in science – and especially the communication of science to the general public – even more imperative. The role players in science communication have to ensure that the message of science successfully reaches the general public (literate and illiterate; urban and rural societies; young and old) to ensure prosperity and the enhancement of a sustainable environment. The key role players in science communication in South Africa can be identified as scientists, who are the source or sender of the science message; communication specialists at higher education institutions (HEsI), who fulfil a mediation function to convey the message of science to all stakeholders; and South African journalists, who are the final distributors of the message to all stakeholders (the recipients of the science message). There is, however a fourth key role-player in science communication, and that is the executive management of HEIs, since they should provide the communication specialists at their institutions with the trust and empowerment to distribute the message of science to journalists in order for these messages to reach the general public. Science communication is still a new and vague concept to many South Africans. Limited research has been conducted on the key role players in science communication; the specific role of communication specialists at HEIs in science communication; and the relationship between the different key role players. However, in many countries, including South Africa, various studies have been conducted on public attitudes towards science, which is in general positive. The problem identified in this study is that although science communication is regarded as a priority in South Africa, science messages are not effectively reaching the general public. There are several possible reasons as to why the general public is not well informed about science. One is that scientists find it difficult to simplify scientific facts so that they are understandable to the layman. Another reason is the lack of a proper relationship of trust and mutual understanding between scientists and journalists, resulting in inaccuracies in science articles that appear in newspapers, magazines and on television. A third reason is that communication specialists at HEIs, who are supposed to take responsibility for media liaison, experience a lack of trust and empowerment by their executive management to liaise with stakeholders, including the media, at their own discretion. According to De Beer (2001:84), the executive management at HEIs do not empower their communication specialists to discuss matters with the media without the involvement of the executive management. A fourth reason is a lack of training in the writing of science articles, which results in an inaccurate coverage of science in the media. Therefore, the role of communication specialists at HEIs is very important. Communication specialists have to build a bridge between an institution’s management, scientists and the media as stakeholders of HEI. The general research aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between key role players in science communication and to determine the role that they play in science communication. Following the general research aim, six objectives are stated: Firstly, to determine the importance of science communication amongst key role players in science communication (executive management, scientists, communication specialists) at HEIs in South Africa, as well as journalists in the South African media. Secondly, to determine if a relationship of trust and mutual understanding exists between key role players in science communication in South Africa. The third objective is to determine if the role of communication specialist is a role of strategist, manager or technician in the facilitation of science communication at HEIs in South Africa. Fourthly, to determine the extent of training provided at universities and technikons in South Africa for scientists, communication specialists and journalists to enable them to write science articles. The fifth objective is to investigate the coverage of scientific topics in articles in the South African mass media. The final objective is to analyse the content of articles on science in selected South African media from 1 March to 31 May 2004 and to compare the results of this study with a study conducted by Van Rooyen in 2002 (Van Rooyen, 2002). The empirical component of the study supplements the theoretical component. In Phase 1, a quantitative, exploratory survey research was done to establish the role of communication specialists in science communication at HEIs in South Africa. In Phase 2, content analysis was used to analyse the content of scientific articles in selected print media over a period of three months. Van Rooyen (2002:21) invited researchers to repeat the study she conducted in 2002 at regular intervals. Therefore, based on the invitation of Van Rooyen, Phase 2 of this study was conducted, using the same criteria, method and time frame as Van Rooyen had done. Comparisons of the results of the two studies are provided. The main conclusions of the study were: • Although science communication is regarded as important by the key role players in science communication, not enough is being done by South African HEIs to promote the importance of science to the general public, including the literate and illiterate; urban and rural; young and old people, to ensure a sustainable environment. • There is not a proper relationship of trust and mutual understanding between the key role players in science communication. • Communication specialists are regarded as managers, as opposed to strategists or merely technicians, in science communication, but they are not always empowered to act efficiently as facilitators in the mediation process between scientists and the media. • There is a lack of proper training for scientists, communication specialists and journalists in science writing or science journalism in South Africa. • The coverage of science in the media has not improved much since Van Rooyen’s study was conducted in 2002. Recommendations regarding the management of science communication can be summarised as follows. South Africa needs a national forum to conduct an audit and formulate a structured, reasoned national science communication action plan for South Africa. More feedback should be given to the science communication community about who should receive funding and what projects should be funded. The Government of South Africa should encourage higher education institutions to organise public debate sessions where scientists and the general public can discuss controversial issues regarding science and research in an open forum. Furthermore, scientists should be encouraged to provide information to communication specialists so that they can distribute science messages to all stakeholders. Communication specialists should create and support a science writers’ network in South Africa; develop and promote databases of science writers and media-friendly scientists; collect science articles from scientists and prepare them for publication together with supporting visuals; facilitate linkages and collaboration with corporate sectors; participate in international networking; and conduct visits to expert programmes. It is imperative for communication specialists, scientists and journalists to receive training to optimally fulfil their roles in science communication. Communication specialists should have writing skills to be able to assist scientists and journalists to create messages about science acceptable and understandable to the literate and illiterate; urban and rural; young and old people of South Africa. A course or degree in science journalism is therefore imperative. To enhance coverage of science in the media, science ideally needs to be integrated into popular, peak-time programmes such as local dramas, historical and other documentaries, talk shows, and even soap operas. All mediums should be considered, including radio, television and the Internet to communicate science to the general public. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Communication Management / PhD / Unrestricted

The key objective of this study was to determine the importance of remuneration in the organisational employer value proposition (EVP) decision-making process, who the EVP decision makers in organisations are, and whether EVP strategy is aligned with the organisational strategy.A quantitative study, using a survey as data-collection method, was conducted. The survey was developed to explore the importance of remuneration in the EVP process and to gather data regarding EVP decision makers and the alignment of EVP to organisational strategy. A total of 101 respondents participated in this study, and content analysis was used to interpret the data. The data were collected via SurveyMonkey and statistically analysed using SPSS.The findings indicate that remuneration and all of its components are crucial to the process of EVP decision making. The findings also indicate the importance of aligning EVP strategy to organisational strategy. The main EVP decision makers in organisations are the CEO and the Human Resources Manager. Organisations need to find the correct mix of decision makers in this process to optimise value. Organisations should also ensure alignment of the EVP with organisational strategy, and implement an optimal remuneration strategy to ensure the best possible EVP. A relationship framework was developed to graphically represent the findings of the study. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This is a master thesis in the discipline of psychology of religion, with a focus on the psychological and psychosocial functions of rites/ritualization and myths/narration in our lives. The main aim was to investigate adolescent male live acting role-players rites/ritualization and myths/narration, generally in their personal life and specifically in the world of the role-playing phenomenon, to see how they used the rites/ritualization and myths/narration in the role-playing world to create and maintain their sense of coherence and meaning in life. Theoretically were Erikson’s theories about ritualization, Stern’s theories about narration and Antonovsky’s theories about our sense of coherence (SOC) and general resistance resources (GRRs) used. The results point to that the six male informants, anyway when it comes to worldviews, ideologies and religions, lacked significant ritualization and narration outside the role-playing world, and that the role-playing interest in some ways could be a response by the informants to the lack of coherent and significant ritualization and narration in the family as well as in the Swedish society. In the world of role-playing was it specifically significant ritualization and narration that were related to having a place geographically-historically in a (age-)hierarchical network that seemed to be positively correlated with the informants sense of coherence and meaning in life. However, an important aspect was also that they could enter different episodic narratives together in game where they were able to express and explore personality traits and feelings they could not normally express or explore. This outlet seemed also to be used to unconsciously communicate and come to terms with intra- and interpsychical conflicts as well as existential questions. This scientific paper is a partial requirement of the European Union (EU) Diploma Program in Psychology of Religion. This paper has been administered through the Nordic Profile Program: Meaning-making, Culture, and Health, at Uppsala University, Sweden. Included in this program is the granting of a Masters Degree in Meaning-making, Culture, and Health through Uppsala University. The Diploma Program is a first research level program that can be integrated into doctoral or other advanced study programs in Europe and internationally.

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att undersöka hur kön och rollspelande relaterar till affektiv och kognitiv empati. 204 personer deltog i föreliggande studie genom att besvara en elektronisk enkät och 192 ifyllda enkäter analyserades. Mätinstrumenten som användes för att undersöka empati och sensorisk föreställningsförmåga var IRI och PSI-Q. Två 2x2 ANOVA utfördes för att undersöka hur kön (man och kvinna) och rollspelande (rollspelande och icke-rollspelande) relaterar till upplevd grad av affektiv och kognitiv empati. Det fanns en signifikant interaktionseffekt mellan kön och rollspelande avseende affektiv empati. Manliga deltagare uppvisade ungefär lika hög affektiv empati oavsett om de spelade rollspel eller inte. Kvinnliga icke-rollspelare uppvisade högre affektiv empati än kvinnliga rollspelare. Det fanns en signifikant huvudeffekt av kön avseende kognitiv empati. Kvinnorna uppvisade högre kognitiv empati än männen. Det fanns även en signifikant huvudeffekt av rollspelande avseende kognitiv empati som erhöll att rollspelare uppvisade högre kognitiv empati än icke-rollspelare. Den aktuella studien kan medföra nytta för framtida forskning och bidra till idéer om tillvägagångssätt för att lära ut kognitiv empatisk förmåga. / The purpose of the present study was to investigate how gender and role play relate to affective and cognitive empathy. 204 people participated in the present study by answering an online survey and 192 completed questionnaires were analyzed. The instruments that were used to measure empathy and sensory imagery were IRI and PSI-Q. Two 2x2 ANOVA were performed to investigate how gender (male and female) and role playing (role playing and non-role playing) relate to perceived degree of affective and cognitive empathy. There was a significant interaction between gender and role playing regarding affective empathy. Male participants showed equal degree of affective empathy regardless of whether they role played or not. Female non-role players showed higher affective empathy than female role players. There was a significant main effect of gender on cognitive empathy. The women showed higher cognitive empathy than men. There was also a significant main effect of role playing with regard to cognitive empathy, role players showed higher cognitive empathy than non-role players. The current study can bring benefits to future research and contribute to ideas of approaches to teach cognitive empathy.

This study forms part of three broader research projects that focus on investigating ways in which teachers can promote resilience in resource-constrained contexts by means of implementing school health initiatives, such as school-based vegetable gardens. Following on a need identified within the broader research projects, the purpose of this study was to explore and describe teachers’ perceptions of involving different groups of role-players in school-based vegetable gardens in resource-constrained contexts in an attempt to understand how different role-players may contribute to successful gardens. For this purpose, I focused on the experiences of 36 primary school teachers from nine schools in the Eastern Cape province who have been involved in school-based vegetable gardens in recent years. I was guided by Ozer’s (2007) model of potential effects of school gardens as theoretical framework, utilised interpretivism as meta-theory and followed a qualitative methodological approach. I selected a case study research design, applying Participatory Reflection and Action (PRA) principles. Data were generated and documented by means of a PRA-based workshop, five semi-structured interviews and observation-as-contextof- interaction, supported by visual and audio documentation techniques, field notes and a reflective journal. Following inductive thematic analysis, I identified four themes and related sub-themes. The themes relate to role-players often involved in school-based vegetable gardens as well as their respective responsibilities; benefits associated with involving the various role-players; factors that may support the successful establishment and maintenance of school-based vegetable gardens, and challenges experienced when involving the different role-players. The findings of this study indicate that teachers experienced the role that different groups of people may fulfil positively despite some challenges associated with such involvement. More specifically, role-players in school-based vegetable gardens can significantly contribute to the success of such gardens by supporting teachers in developing innovative solutions to the challenges they face. Teachers and learners were found to be the primary role-players, supported by dedicated school principals and in many cases, one or two gardeners that may also be community members. Lastly, a dedicated garden coordinator (such as a teacher) and support by the national Department of Basic Education were found to be important. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Educational Psychology / MEd / Unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans / Die huisouermodel word tans internasionaal in kinderhuise gevolg. ’n Huisouer of huisouerpaar tree as surrogaatouer(s) op en woon saam met die kinders in ’n huis in ’n gewone woonbuurt, weg van die hoofkampus van die kinderhuis. Direkte waarneming van die daaglikse funksionering van huisouers binne die huisouermodel het die navorser bewus gemaak van die kompleksiteit van die huisouer(s) se take. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was gevolglik om ’n verkennende studie te onderneem, ten einde te bepaal watter bydrae kernrolspelers kan lewer om huisouers binne die huisouermodel van ’n kinderhuis in die uitvoering van hulle take te ondersteun. Om hierdie doel te bereik is ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingstudie uitgevoer waartydens semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met huisouers en kernrolspelers van drie satelliethuise van ’n kinderhuis, as data-insamelingsmetode benut is. Die kwalitatiewe data is geanaliseer en die bydrae wat kernrolspelers kan lewer om huisouers in die uitvoering van hulle take te ondersteun, is beskryf. / Internationally, children’s homes follow the houseparent model. A houseparent or houseparent couple act as surrogate parent(s) and live with children in a home, away from the main campus of the children’s home. Direct observation of the functioning of houseparents within the houseparent model brought awareness with regards to the complexity of houseparents’ tasks. The goal of this research was to conduct an exploratory study to determine what contribution key role players can make to support houseparents within the houseparent model with the fulfilment of their tasks. To achieve this goal, data was gathered through the application of a qualitative research study, utilising semi-structured interviews that were conducted with houseparents and key role players within three satellite homes. The qualitative data was analysed and the contribution that key role players can make to support houseparents in the fulfilment of their duties was described. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Spelterapie-rigting)

Information security in the form of IT governance is part of corporate governance. Corporate governance requires that structures and processes are in place with appropriate checks and balances to enable directors to discharge their responsibilities. Accordingly, information security must be treated in the same way as all the other components of corporate governance. This includes making information security a core part of executive and board responsibilities. Critically, corporate governance requires proper checks and balances to be established in an organisation; consequently, these must be in place for all information security implementations. In order to achieve this, it is important to have the involvement of three key role players, namely information security professionals, ICT security auditors and regulatory officials (from now on these will be referred to collectively as the ‘role players’). These three role players must ensure that any information security controls implemented are properly checked and evaluated against the organisation’s strategic objectives and regulatory requirements. While maintaining their individual independence, the three role players must work together to achieve their individual goals with a view to, as a collective, contributing positively to the overall information security of an organisation. Working together requires that each role player must clearly understand its individual role, as well the role of the other players at different points in an information security programme. In a nutshell, the role players must be aligned such that their involvement will deliver maximum value to the organisation. This alignment must be based on a common framework which is understood and accepted by all three role players. This study proposes a South African Information Security Alignment (SAISA) framework to ensure the alignment of the role players in the implementation and evaluation of information security controls. The structure of the SAISA framework is based on that of the COBIT 4.1 (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology). Hence, the SAISA framework comprises four domains, namely, Plan and Organise Information Security (PO-IS), Acquire and Implement Information Security (AI-IS), Deliver and Support Information Security (DS-IS) and Monitor and Evaluate Information Security (ME-IS). The SAISA framework brings together the three role players with a view to assisting them to understand their respective roles, as well as those of the other role players, as they implement and evaluate information security controls. The framework is intended to improve cooperation among the role players by ensuring that they view each other as partners in this process. Through the life cycle structure it adopts, the SAISA framework provides an effective and efficient tool for rolling out an information security programme in an organisation / Computer Science / M. Sc. (Computer Science)

Text in Afrikaans / Die huisouermodel word tans internasionaal in kinderhuise gevolg. ’n Huisouer of huisouerpaar tree as surrogaatouer(s) op en woon saam met die kinders in ’n huis in ’n gewone woonbuurt, weg van die hoofkampus van die kinderhuis. Direkte waarneming van die daaglikse funksionering van huisouers binne die huisouermodel het die navorser bewus gemaak van die kompleksiteit van die huisouer(s) se take. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was gevolglik om ’n verkennende studie te onderneem, ten einde te bepaal watter bydrae kernrolspelers kan lewer om huisouers binne die huisouermodel van ’n kinderhuis in die uitvoering van hulle take te ondersteun. Om hierdie doel te bereik is ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingstudie uitgevoer waartydens semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met huisouers en kernrolspelers van drie satelliethuise van ’n kinderhuis, as data-insamelingsmetode benut is. Die kwalitatiewe data is geanaliseer en die bydrae wat kernrolspelers kan lewer om huisouers in die uitvoering van hulle take te ondersteun, is beskryf. / Internationally, children’s homes follow the houseparent model. A houseparent or houseparent couple act as surrogate parent(s) and live with children in a home, away from the main campus of the children’s home. Direct observation of the functioning of houseparents within the houseparent model brought awareness with regards to the complexity of houseparents’ tasks. The goal of this research was to conduct an exploratory study to determine what contribution key role players can make to support houseparents within the houseparent model with the fulfilment of their tasks. To achieve this goal, data was gathered through the application of a qualitative research study, utilising semi-structured interviews that were conducted with houseparents and key role players within three satellite homes. The qualitative data was analysed and the contribution that key role players can make to support houseparents in the fulfilment of their duties was described. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Spelterapie-rigting)