Poverty is a significant world wide issue. Although literature on the impact of a minimum wage in the agricultural sector is rather limited, previous empirical research shows that employment was reduced with the implementation of a minimum wage. The following questions are studied: - Does the implementation of a minimum wage have any effect on employment in the agricultural sector of the North-West province? - Is there any relation between poverty and unemployment? - Does the implementation of a minimum wage and sectoral determination have any impact on social-economic issues. The empirical study is carried out by way of a questionnaire from which responses are investigated. A random sample was used to evaluate the effect of a minimum wage on employment and social-economic factors in the North-West province. The target population includes all the affiliated members of Agri North-West. This group is negative about labour laws and experiences that the implementation of a minimum wage has a negative effect on employment. The agricultural sector provides many job opportunities in South Africa. Seeing that a minimum wage has a negative impact on employment in the North-West province, further research is recommended. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Sociology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Various South African government reports list food security as a development priority. Despite this prioritisation and despite the fact that South Africa is currently food self-sufficient, ongoing food shortages remain a daily reality for approximately 35% of the South African population. The government's commitment to food security to date of writing (being 30 November 2011) manifests in related policies, strategies, programmes and sectoral legislation with the focus on food production, distribution, safety and assistance. A paradigm shift in the international food security debate was encouraged during 2009, namely to base food security initiatives on the right to sufficient food. During a 2011 visit to South Africa, the Special Rapporteur for the Right to Food of the United Nations, accordingly confirmed that a human rights-based approach to food security is necessary in the South African legal and policy framework in order to address the huge disparities in terms of food security (especially concerning geography, gender and race). A human rights-based approach to food security will add dimensions of dignity, transparency, accountability, participation and empowerment to food security initiatives. The achievement of food security is further seen as the realisation of existing rights, notably the right of access to sufficient food. The right of access to sufficient food, as entrenched in section 27(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 will accordingly play a central role within a human rights-based approach to food security. Section 27(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 qualifies section 27(1)(b) by requiring the state to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of the section 27(1) rights. The South African government's commitment to food security, as already mentioned, currently manifests in related policies, strategies and programmes, which initiatives will qualify as other measures as referred to in section 27(2) mentioned above. This study, however, aims to elucidate the constitutional duty to take reasonable legislative measures as required by section 27(2) within the wider context of food security. This study is more specifically confined to the ways in which a human rights-based approach to food security as a development objective can be accommodated in South African national legislative measures. Hence, this study focuses on three national legislative levels, namely constitutional incorporation, the adoption of a framework law and revision of sectoral legislation. Several underlying and foundational themes are addressed in the course of this study, amongst others: (a) the development of the food security concept; (b) the relationship between food security and the right of access to sufficient food; (c) key elements of a human right-based approach; and (d) the increasing trend to apply a human rights-based approach to development initiatives in general, but also to food security. / Thesis (PhD (Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Poverty is a significant world wide issue. Although literature on the impact of a minimum wage in the agricultural sector is rather limited, previous empirical research shows that employment was reduced with the implementation of a minimum wage. The following questions are studied: - Does the implementation of a minimum wage have any effect on employment in the agricultural sector of the North-West province? - Is there any relation between poverty and unemployment? - Does the implementation of a minimum wage and sectoral determination have any impact on social-economic issues. The empirical study is carried out by way of a questionnaire from which responses are investigated. A random sample was used to evaluate the effect of a minimum wage on employment and social-economic factors in the North-West province. The target population includes all the affiliated members of Agri North-West. This group is negative about labour laws and experiences that the implementation of a minimum wage has a negative effect on employment. The agricultural sector provides many job opportunities in South Africa. Seeing that a minimum wage has a negative impact on employment in the North-West province, further research is recommended. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Sociology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Various South African government reports list food security as a development priority. Despite this prioritisation and despite the fact that South Africa is currently food self-sufficient, ongoing food shortages remain a daily reality for approximately 35% of the South African population. The government's commitment to food security to date of writing (being 30 November 2011) manifests in related policies, strategies, programmes and sectoral legislation with the focus on food production, distribution, safety and assistance. A paradigm shift in the international food security debate was encouraged during 2009, namely to base food security initiatives on the right to sufficient food. During a 2011 visit to South Africa, the Special Rapporteur for the Right to Food of the United Nations, accordingly confirmed that a human rights-based approach to food security is necessary in the South African legal and policy framework in order to address the huge disparities in terms of food security (especially concerning geography, gender and race). A human rights-based approach to food security will add dimensions of dignity, transparency, accountability, participation and empowerment to food security initiatives. The achievement of food security is further seen as the realisation of existing rights, notably the right of access to sufficient food. The right of access to sufficient food, as entrenched in section 27(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 will accordingly play a central role within a human rights-based approach to food security. Section 27(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 qualifies section 27(1)(b) by requiring the state to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of the section 27(1) rights. The South African government's commitment to food security, as already mentioned, currently manifests in related policies, strategies and programmes, which initiatives will qualify as other measures as referred to in section 27(2) mentioned above. This study, however, aims to elucidate the constitutional duty to take reasonable legislative measures as required by section 27(2) within the wider context of food security. This study is more specifically confined to the ways in which a human rights-based approach to food security as a development objective can be accommodated in South African national legislative measures. Hence, this study focuses on three national legislative levels, namely constitutional incorporation, the adoption of a framework law and revision of sectoral legislation. Several underlying and foundational themes are addressed in the course of this study, amongst others: (a) the development of the food security concept; (b) the relationship between food security and the right of access to sufficient food; (c) key elements of a human right-based approach; and (d) the increasing trend to apply a human rights-based approach to development initiatives in general, but also to food security. / Thesis (PhD (Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-12T20:29:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 124165.pdf: 6277287 bytes, checksum: fa409c6c35f4552ae9bf5cb17da03a22 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Information is an intangible asset increasingly relevant to the context in which organizations operate, due to the large availability of data and information and the need to supply decision makers with actionable intelligence. This research promotes the adoption of Competitive Intelligence processes and Strategic Foresight in designing mechanisms and tools that provide strategic information to stakeholders. The objective was to model a Sectoral Intelligence System from the perspective of Strategic Foresight applied to the Agrifood industry in the state of Santa Catarina. The choice of the agri-food sector is justified by its relevance to the state, as it is considered one of the carriers sectors of the future in the framework of the Santa Catarina s Industrial Development Program - PDIC 2022 conducted by the Federation of Industries of the State of Santa Catarina - FIESC. The research was characterized as applied and descriptive, focused on a case study. Data were collected through non-participant observation in the experts panel Strategic Route of the Agrifood Sector and benchmarking research, which received qualitative treatment. One of the research results to be highlighted is the proposition of the Agrifood Sector Intelligence System (SIS) conceptual model which covered the steps of identifying information needs, collecting and analysing information, dissemination of intelligence products and the validation of the system and its impacts in the sector. Among the technologies suggested to support the development of the system is big data, which enables the visualization of large volumes of information at high speed. In short, this research is expected to promote sectoral mobilization in order to put into practice the modeling of the proposed SIS, thus contributing to the decision-making process and increase the industrial competitiveness of the state. / A informação é um ativo intangível cada vez mais relevante para o contexto em que a organização está inserida, devido a grande disponibilização de dados e informações e a necessidade de gerar inteligência acionável para os tomadores de decisão. É nesse cenário que esta pesquisa está pautada, por meio da inserção dos processos de Inteligência Competitiva e Prospectiva Estratégica na concepção de mecanismos e ferramentas que tornem a informação estratégica para todas as partes interessadas. O objetivo do trabalho foi modelar um Sistema de Inteligência Setorial do ponto de vista da Prospectiva Estratégica aplicado ao setor Agroalimentar do estado de Santa Catarina. A escolha do setor agroalimentar justificou-se por sua relevância para o estado, além de ser considerado um dos setores portadores de futuro no âmbito do Programa de Desenvolvimento Industrial Catarinense PDIC 2022 realizado pela Federação das Indústrias do Estado de Santa Catarina FIESC. Em termos metodológicos, a pesquisa caracterizou-se como aplicada e descritiva, privilegiando o estudo de caso. Os dados foram coletados por meio da observação não participante no painel de especialistas da Rota Estratégica do setor agroalimentar e pesquisa de benchmarking, os quais receberam tratamento qualitativo. Como resultados da pesquisa destacam-se a proposição do modelo conceitual do Sistema de Inteligência Setorial (SIS) agroalimentar que contemplou as etapas de identificação das necessidades de informações, a coleta e análise, a disseminação dos produtos de inteligência e a avaliação do sistema e seus impactos para o setor. Entre as tecnologias sugeridas para suportar o desenvolvimento do sistema menciona-se o big data, que possibilita a visualização de grandes volumes de informações em alta velocidade. Em síntese, espera-se que os resultados dessa pesquisa promova uma mobilização setorial, a fim de colocar em prática a modelagem do SIS proposto, contribuindo assim com o processo de tomada de decisão e aumento da competitividade industrial do estado.

The purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the Brazilian literature on the innovative behavior of small and medium enterprises. The focus is the sectoral analysis to identify if the Brazilian manufacturing SMEs conform to sectoral patterns and if these patterns influence the innovative activities of the firms. This empirical work is composed of three different stages. The first stage refers to the investigation by size and sector using descriptive analysis of the innovative activities of the Brazilian SMEs by labor employed (for PINTEC-2008 and PINTEC-2011) and by sectoral patterns (for PINTEC-2008), according to Pavitt´s taxonomy. The second stage made use of a nonparametric methodology applied to the PINTEC-2008´s microdata to distinguish sectoral patterns for SMEs identifying if they influence the innovative behavior of small and medium firms and at last if Pavitt´s taxonomy is applicable. The third stage drew upon the logistic regression method applied to the PINTEC´s microdata for the period of 2006 to 2008 and 2009 to 2011, to verify if the sectoral technological patterns are significant determinants of the SMEs´ innovative process. That was analyzed for different types of innovative activities, such as: innovative firms, product innovators, process innovators, product and process innovators, highly innovative firms, organizational innovators and marketing innovators. Moreover, identifying if these influences differ from those affecting big firms. The results obtained reveal that sectoral dynamics are relevant to the innovative behavior of SMEs, similarly to what happens to large companies. / Essa Tese visa contribuir para a literatura brasileira sobre o comportamento inovativo das pequenas e médias empresas. O enfoque é a análise setorial, com o intuito de identificar se as pequenas e médias empresas manufatureiras brasileiras conformam padrões setoriais, e se esses padrões influenciam a atividade inovativa destas empresas. Trata-se de um estudo empírico dividido em três etapas. Na primeira etapa procedeu-se à uma análise por porte e setor, que exibiu uma descrição da atividade inovativa por pessoal ocupado (para PINTEC-2008 e PINTEC-2011) e por padrão setorial (PINTEC- 2008), conforme a taxonomia de Pavitt. Na segunda etapa, aplicou-se uma análise não paramétrica sobre os microdados da PINTEC-2008, com o objetivo de delinear os padrões setoriais existentes para as pequenas e médias empresas e verificar se exercem influência sobre o comportamento inovativo das pequenas e médias empresas e, por fim, se a taxonomia de Pavitt (1984) é aplicável. Na terceira etapa, aplicou-se a metodologia de regressão logística aos microdados da PINTEC, para os triênios 2006- 2008 e 2009-2011, buscando identificar se as trajetórias tecnológicas setoriais são fatores significativos para a atividade inovativa das pequenas e médias empresas. Foram analisados diferentes tipos de inovação: inovação em produto e/ou processo, inovação em produto, inovação em processo, inovação em ambos, produto e processo, altamente inovadoras, inovadoras organizacionais e em marketing. Além disso, avaliou-se se estas influências diferem das que impactam a inovatividade das grandes empresas. Os resultados obtidos apontam que a dinâmica setorial é relevante para o comportamento inovativo das empresas de pequeno e médio porte, à semelhança do que ocorre com as grandes empresas. / Doutor em Economia

The purpose of this thesis is to design an organisation attempting to facilitate cross-sectoral, action-oriented collaboration to influence systemic change towards sustainability, and to create a Design Guide for achieving this objective. To answer this, we conducted a participatory action research with Smart Urbanism: London (SU:LDN) as a case study. This is a start-up organisation whose goal is to introduce the paradigm of complexity thinking to the planning, design and delivery of cities in order to create a new, responsive and sustainable urban fabric. They intend to faciitate a mass collaboration across the relevant sectors. The Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) was used as a lens for the overall research, the analysis of SU:LDN and the construction of the Design Guide.

Magister Commercii - MCom / The objective of this study is to investigate the empirical relationship between exports and economic growth in order to ascertain whether the hypothesis of export-led growth is valid in the case of South Africa. This study has not only focused on sectoral exports for the period 1990-2011; but it has also examined total exports for the period extending from 1970 to 2011. Using quarterly data and time series econometric techniques of co-integration and Granger-causality tests over the two set of periods, the key findings of the study are as follows: (i) At the aggregate level (using total exports): the technique of co-integration suggests that total exports and GDP moved together in the long-run, though deviations from the steady state might happen in the short-run. Furthermore, Granger causality tests inferred from the Vector Error Correction model reveal that the direction of causality between export and GDP growth is bidirectional. (ii) At the sectoral level (using the main component of exports): export-growth link emerges as a long-run behavioural relationship since a co-integrating relation was found among output and agricultural, manufactured and mining exports. This relationship demonstrates that manufactured exports have the greatest positive impact on output growth. (iii) Sectoral level Granger-causality tests based on ECM reveal the existence of a long run causality running from manufactured exports to GDP; whereas the short-run causality runs from manufactured and mining exports to GDP. However, the Toda-Yamamoto Granger test confirms only short-run causality from manufactured exports to GDP. In both cases, there is evidence of a uni-directional causality from exports to GDP.The above results show that the hypothesis of export-led growth is valid for South Africa. This implies that exports, particularly manufactured and mining exports play a key role in driving economic growth. Hence, the key policy implication of these results is that, measures which aim at stimulating production for exports and shifting the content of exports will meaningfully contribute to the improvement of GDP growth and employment prospects in South Africa.

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / Sectoral Determination 9,1 Wholesale and Retail Sector echoes the wording found in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act2 when it comes to the section pertaining to deductions from employees’ remuneration. It is unclear how an employer may lawfully make a deduction (other than those required by law) from an employee’s remuneration in order to recover costs such as till shortages, stock losses and improper notice. Loss and damages are common problems faced not only by retailers but by all employers, yet the two governing bodies, that is, the Department of Labour and the CCMA, fail to offer any assistance to the employer in this regard. The law is unfairly biased against the employer, who may be financially unable to recover from losses caused by an employee and may face closure should it be unable to recover losses suffered. The two remedies available to the employer are civil action and criminal action against the employee. However, both have proven to be inadequate for recovering losses incurred. Furthermore, the employer will have already incurred losses and therefore can ill afford the money or the time to pursue these options. The Small Claims Court does offer some relief to a smaller employer wanting to claim to a maximum of R7000, but companies are excluded from this mechanism as the rules of the Small Claims Court specifically exclude them from using this forum. In this study, I will look at the common law principle of offset to see whether it can be applied to employers making deductions against employees for loss or damage. Notice is a quantifiable amount and is a legal debt; therefore. it should be able to be applied as an offset. Two subsections deal with deductions; after looking carefully at the wording of theses subsections I will try to determine whether the one is alternate to the other, or whether the narrow interpretation that the Department of Labour gives to the statute is accurate. A narrow interpretation of the law states that the employee must sign an acknowledgement of debt. However, employees often refuse to sign an acknowledgement of debt, thereby frustrating the law. Could this possibly have been the intentions of the drafters? Surely not, yet the Department of Labour, by having a narrow interpretation of the law, see it as such and as a result the employer is left out of pocket. In this mini-thesis, I will look at the way the law should be interpreted and the way it should be applied in practice. 1 Sectoral Determination 9: Wholesale and Retail Sector, Government Gazette No. 24207 2 The Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 What problems does this ambiguity create? Some problems could include a higher case load for the Department of Labour, demotivated employees, increased tension in the workplace and frustrated employers. I also consider comparative labour law to see if other countries faced with similar situations have made any allowances for such circumstances. Aims of this mini-thesis: 1. To highlight the problems and ambiguities in the interpretation and application of section 34 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA)3 and section 8 of the Sectoral Determination 9(SD9)4 2. To recommend, propose and encourage a practical solution for employers to implement in the workplace 3. To improve the situation for employers under the current structure. 4. To lead the legislature drafters to amend or redraft these sections

La compréhension des dynamiques d’un environnement, qu’elles soient technologiques ouconcurrentielles, tient une place importante dans les réflexions sur l’adaptation et la survie des firmes.Dans le cas de l’avionique, les bouleversements des années 2000 sont les conséquences de profondschangements dans ses deux secteurs de référence, l’aéronautique et l’électronique, ce qui amène leDépartement Calculateurs de la Division Avionique du Groupe Thales à s’interroger sur sa capacité àsaisir ces changements. Dans ces travaux, nous proposons d’examiner l’un de ces mécanismes, lescapacités dynamiques sensing (définies comme les aptitudes déployées par les firmes pour adapter lesroutines et capacités organisationnelles) et de l’opérationnaliser au travers de la capacité d’intelligencetechnologique.Par l’étude du déploiement de cette capacité au sein du Département, nous montrons en quoil’intelligence technologique est une capacité participant du processus d’apprentissage de la firme,déployée par les managers pour agir sur les processus de définition des Politiques Produits. Pouratteindre cet objectif, nous avons adopté une démarche de recherche-intervention (menée dans le cadred’une Convention Industrielle CIFRE) s’articulant en deux temps. Premièrement, nous montrons autravers de l’opérationnalisation de la capacité d’intelligence technologique au sein du Département quecette dernière sert les managers dans la définition des Politiques Produits. Deuxièmement, les résultatsdes études techniques menées pour ce déploiement contribuent à la compréhension des dynamiquesscientifiques et techniques du secteur avionique. / The understanding of the scientific dynamics of an environment, whether technological orcompetitive, occupies a predominant place in the discussion of adaption and survival of firms. In thecase of avionics, the upheaval in the 2000’s is the consequence of profound changes in its two mainsectors, aeronautics and electronics. This drove the Computer Department, part of the AvionicsDivision of Thales Group, to question its ability to handle these evolutions. In this thesis, we examineone of these mechanisms, the sensing dynamic capability (defined as the aptitudes deployed by firmsin order to adapt routines and organizational capabilities) and we put it into practice throughtechnological intelligence capability.By studying the deployment of this ability inside the Department, we show how technologicalintelligence contributes to the learning process of the firm, as it is used by managers in order toinfluence the selection process of Product Policy. In order to achieve this, we adopted a researchinterventionmethodology (with the support of an industrial agreement CIFRE) based on two steps.First of all, we show that through the operationalization of the technological intelligence ability in thedepartment, managers put the latter to use in the selection of product policies. Secondly, the results ofthe technical studies conducted for this deployment add to the understanding of the scientific andtechnological dynamics of the avionics sector.