Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Health Sciences in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Aim The study evaluated the culture of patient safety and the factors that contribute and influence patient safety as a critical element, to healthcare in a public hospital in Kwa-Zulu Natal, through a predesigned questionnaire with the objectives of establishing the current status of the culture of patient safety in the said hospital, evaluating responses from nurses and doctors and other healthcare professionals, exploring the effectiveness of communication and teamwork within units and hospital. Methods The study evaluated the culture of patient safety and the factors that contribute and influence patient safety as a critical element, to healthcare in a public hospital in Kwa-Zulu Natal, through a predesigned questionnaire with the objectives of establishing the current status of the culture of patient safety in the said hospital, evaluating responses from nurses and doctors and other healthcare professionals, exploring the effectiveness of communication and teamwork within units and hospital. Results The resultant data from the predesigned questionnaire was divided into components of teamwork within and between units, hospital and supervisor management support for patient safety, communication openness and feedback regarding errors, non-punitive response to errors, hospital handover of information staffing and overall patient safety grade. The study was compared to the studies in the US and three other countries across the European continent, Netherland, Taiwan, and US [Wagner et al. 2013]. The findings as possible strengths of the study were teamwork within units, learning in the organization, feedback and communication, and manager and supervisor support for patient safety. The areas that needed attention were teamwork across units, communication openness, staffing, non-punitive response to errors and overall patient safety grade, handover of information between units. Conclusions The findings, reflective of a developing country, compared to the findings from similar studies in developed countries such as the USA and countries in transition such as Netherlands and Taiwan. In reference to the precincts that face a developing country such as South Africa, certain highlights emerged from the comparison, as areas of strength, areas requiring attention, and a preliminary insight into current practices within the South African context which can be viewed as an opportunity to sustain current good practices and inform future research. / M

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master Of Technology In Business Administration, Department of Entrepreneurial Studies & Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The phenomenal growth in the number of electronic devices in use has given rise to a huge increase in the volume of electronic waste (e-waste) generated. Electronic waste is comprised of toxic materials and chemicals, and if it is not disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner, it poses serious risk to the environment and to human health. The perceived limited knowledge about the harmful effects of e-waste and the potential economic benefit of e-waste recycling in South Africa motivated this study. The study area consisted of two large industrial parks in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal; namely, the Umbogintwini Industrial Complex and the adjacent Southgate Business Park. A total of 313 organisations are located within the study area, which is spread over approximately 550 hectares. Based on the findings of the study, it is estimated that the Umbogintwini Industrial Complex and the Southgate Business Park would generate approximately 593 tons of e-waste between the period 2015 and 2020, averaging approximately 119 tons per year. Although South Africa is classified as a developing country, it is the most developed country in Africa, and if one were to extrapolate the potential volume of e-waste generated for five years from the study area to the rest of KwaZulu-Natal’s industrial parks, then in five years, the province’s industrial parks would generate approximately 3 340 tons of e-waste. The study also revealed that there is no effective e-waste management strategy in place within the Umbogintwini Industrial Complex or the Southgate Business Park. A positive finding of the study was that the majority of the organisations surveyed were in favour of a proper e-waste management strategy at both the study sites, and would support the development of an e-waste recycling plant in this industrial zone. / M

Submitted in partial fulfillment of Master’s Degree in Management Sciences (Business and Administration), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa (SA) contribute significantly to job creation, wealth, social stability and economic growth. Growth is stimulated endogenously, through motivation, while employment is a natural consequence of a larger number of SMEs as well as the expansion of small businesses into larger enterprises. Although it has been noted that SMEs are viable avenues through which jobs can be created, relatively few studies have explicitly investigated the link between intrinsic motivation and small business growth; this study filled the gap by exploring the impact of intrinsic motivation on SMEs’ growth. This is particularly important when one considers that the failure rate of SMEs in SA is very high and it is of great importance to investigate the factors that can impact on the growth of SMEs. Why some individuals are more successful in business than others is a major question in SME research. The common view is that there are a numbers of factors involved related to the entrepreneur or business owners and the business and the business environment. Building on the concept of human capital and psychological theories, this study investigated the influence of intrinsic motivational factors in SME business growth in the eThekwini Metropolitan Area, in South Africa. The target population for this study was SMEs in the furniture manufacturing sector. Based on census study, the sample size of the study was 68 owners of SMEs in the eThekwini Metropolitan Area. Both primary and secondary data sources were used in the study. A quantitative research design was adopted to conduct this research. The survey method, by way of a self-administered questionnaire, was used to collect primary data. Various techniques such as descriptive statistics, Analysis of Variances (ANOVA), factor analysis, Chi-square, and regression analysis were used to analyse the data. The findings of this study revealed that intrinsic motivational factors of SME managers positively impact on the growth of SMEs in SA. The findings further revealed that creativity and necessary entrepreneurial skills influence implementation of sustainable growth of SMEs, and the entrepreneur’s success depends on the identification of crucial entrepreneurial skills for starting a business as well as for helping the business to survive and grow in the early years. Therefore, capacity building for SME owners to sustain business growth is recommended. / M

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa, Performance Management Systems (PMSs) are widely implemented in municipalities to monitor and evaluate service delivery mechanisms for the purpose of improving organisational performance. The implementation of an effective PMS depends on several factors, including human elements. Therefore, the purpose of this research at Newcastle Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal was to assess the available managerial knowledge, skills and attitudes required for implementing an effective PMS for organisational performance. A qualitative research design was employed to describe the performance management processes currently implemented at Newcastle Municipality and the characteristics of these processes. A quantitative survey method was useful for collecting data and for precluding the management and performance practitioners identified through a stratified sampling method from providing data that was not within the scope of this research. The research found that managerial knowledge and skills were available and adequate at Newcastle Municipality. Despite these findings, there was a minor but significant need to improve existing managerial skills. Furthermore, the research uncovered mixed reactions towards managerial attitudes and it was difficult to determine the purpose of the implementation of PMS at the municipality and the attitude of members towards it. This was because the majority of respondents provided neutral responses to the question of whether there was a lack of positive attitude towards PMS from members in the organisation and because an equal number of respondents agreed and disagreed that PMS was implemented to comply with legislation rather than used as an internal control measure. Other attitudinal data contradicted the abovementioned findings on managerial knowledge and skills owing to the common feeling among respondents that knowledge and skills pertaining to the implementation of PMS were lacking in the municipality and that the municipality did not have the capacity or sufficient resources to implement PMS. It was concluded that the interaction between performance managers and existing Knowledge Management (KM) sharing practices at Newcastle Municipality probably contributed to an increase in managerial knowledge and skills. Future research is proposed to confirm this assumption. Furthermore, owing to discrepancies in feedback on managerial attitudes, the entire study conducted at Newcastle Municipality should be replicated in a similar setting in order to improve the reliability of its findings. It is recommended that future research should utilise a combination of quantitative and qualitative data-collection methods to grant participants the opportunity to explain their rationale for indicating a particular attitude in the questionnaire. This will also assist prospective researchers to formulate a specific viewpoint of respondents’ attitudes towards the implementation of an effective PMS, which will contribute to the corpus of scientific knowledge about PMSs by highlighting the real causes of PMS implementation failure. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In Suid-Afrika word prestasiebestuurstelsels (PBS’e) algemeen in munisipaliteite geïmplementeer om dienslewerigsmeganismes te monitor en te evalueer. Die doel hiervan is om organisatoriese prestasie te verbeter. Die implementering van ʼn effektiewe PBS berus op verskeie faktore, onder andere menslike elemente. Daarom was die doel van hierdie navorsing om kennis, vaardighede en ingesteldheid met betrekking tot bestuur, wat verlang word om ʼn effektiewe PBS in munisipaliteite te implementeer, te assesseer ten einde organisatoriese prestasie te verbeter. Hierdie studie is by Newcastle Munisipaliteit in KwaZulu-Natal uitgevoer. ʼn Kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp is gebruik om die prestasiebestuurprosesse wat tans by Newcastle Munisipaliteit geïmplementeer word, asook die eienskappe van hierdie prosesse, te beskryf. ʼn Kwantitatiewe opname is gedoen om data in te samel en te verhoed dat bestuurders en prestasiepraktisyns, wat deur ʼn gestratifiseerde steekproefmetode geïdentifiseer is, data voorsien wat buite die bestek van hierdie navorsing val. Daar is deur middel van hierdie navorsing bevind dat kennis en vaardighede ten opsigte van bestuur sowel beskikbaar as voldoende is by Newcastle Munisipaliteit. Ten spyte van hierdie bevinding, is daar bepaal dat daar wel ʼn klein, maar beduidende behoefte daaraan is om bestaande bestuursvaardighede te verbeter. Verder het die navorsing gemengde reaksies ten opsigte van bestuursingesteldheid ontlok en dit was moeilik om te bepaal wat die doel van die implementering van ʼn PBS in die munisipaliteit is en wat lede van die organisasie se ingesteldheid teenoor hierdie stelsel is. Die rede hiervoor is dat die meeste respondente ʼn neutrale stand ingeneem het teenoor organisasielede se moontlike tekort aan ʼn positiewe ingesteldheid teenoor die PBS en omdat dieselfde hoeveelheid respondente beweer en daarvan verskil dat die PBS geïmplementeer is om aan wetgewing te voldoen eerder as om gebruik te word as ʼn interne beheermaatreël. Ander data oor ingesteldheid het die bogenoemde bevindinge oor bestuurders se kennis en vaardighede weerspreek, aangesien respondente oor die algemeen voel dat kennis en vaardighede om ʼn PBS in die munisipaliteit te implementeer, te kort skiet en dat die munisipaliteit nie die kapasiteit en genoegsame hulpbronne het om ʼn PBS te implementeer nie. Daar is tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat prestasiebestuurders en die bestaande praktyk by Newcastle Munisipaliteit om kennisbestuur te deel, waarskynlik bygedra het tot ʼn toename in bestuurskennis en -vaardighede. Verdere navorsing oor die onderwerp word aanbeveel om hierdie aanname te bevestig. As gevolg van die teenstrydighede in terugvoer oor bestuursingesteldheid, word daar aanbeveel dat verdere navorsing onderneem moet word waarin die hele studie wat by Newcastle Munisipaliteit onderneem is, in ʼn soortgelyke omgewing gerepliseer word. Dit sal die betroubaarheid van studie se bevindinge kan verbeter. Vir die doel hiervan word daar aanbeveel dat verdere navorsing van ʼn kombinasie van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data-insamelingsmetodes gebruik moet maak om aan deelnemers die geleentheid te bied om te kan verduidelik waarom hulle ʼn bepaalde ingesteldheid in die vraelys aangedui het. Voornemende navorsers sal ook hierdeur in staat gestel word om ʼn spesifieke perspektief oor respondente se houdings teenoor die implementering van ʼn effektiewe PBS te formuleer. Dit sal bydra tot die korpus van wetenskaplike kennis oor PBS’e deur die werklike redes aan die lig te bring waarom die implementering van ʼn PBS kan misluk.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Environmental Health, Technikon Natal, 2001. / The debate surrounding mercury pollution of the river system below Thor Chemicals in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa has been of concern to the people of the region for several years. No scientific assessment of Mercury pollution has been carried out to date, other then a study conducted by Johnston et al. (1991) in 1990 in an area restricted to within 5 kilometres of the plant. Due to elevated levels being detected directly below the plant, Johnston et al. (1991) have expressed concern that this could result in the mobilisation of Mercury into the ecosystem and possibly threaten the Ecology of the Inanda Dam which is located approximately 20 kilometres south of Thor Chemicals which is a major reservoir for Durban. Added to this, the community residing in the area has expressed a great deal of concern and the matter was taken up in parliament in 1998. These factors provide impetus for a follow up study to determine the extent of mercury transformation into the higher trophic levels in the area surrounding Thor Chemicals. In order to quantify the extent to which mercury has become mobilised in the ecosystem and to identify possible pathways of exposure to the community, samples of sediment, algae, cattle hair and fish were taken at ten sample sites. These sample sites were selected at intervals along the Mngceweni and Umgeni River. The first sampling site was situated below Thor and the final sample site was located at the head of the Inanda Dam. Sediment, algae, cattle hair and fish were specifically chosen as they are considered to be reliable indicators of mercury pollution and mobilization. Fish,form an important part of the diet of the community residing in the study area. Mercury concentrations for the above parameters, were compared to mercury concentrations found in the control area, upstream from Thor, as well as to international and local standards. Composite sediment samples taken at the first sample site, within 500 metres of Thor Chemicals, revealed a mercury level of 54j.lg/gram. Mercury concentrations detected in the remainder of the composite sediment samples were significantly lower and revealed similar levels of magnitude throughout the rest of the study area. The higher concentration of mercury in the sediment at the site directly below Thor Chemicals may be attributed to a high / M

This study identified and examined the nature and extent of external factors influencing growth and development of selected SMMEs in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The importance of the research lies in the contribution of its findings and recommendations to ensure the survival of SMMEs. The target population was identified as 300 owners of SMMEs in Durban, KwaZulu­ Natal, with a sample of 169 selected on a convenience basis, to which a questionnaire was distributed. Regardless of the problems experienced by SMMEs, it is vital to stimulate their growth and development, as this sector is likely to be the job creators of the future South Africa, as well as the providers of a continuation level of employment opportunities (Antonie, 2010). The rate at which SMMEs spring up is encouraging, considering that one of the cardinal goals of establishing SMMEs, is the eradication of unemployment and poverty. It was found that, not all of the respondents understand the potential of SMMEs to gain a competitive advantage; however, the majority agreed that Durban is an accessible and convenient location to do business, and that Government should partner with SMMEs in job creation and poverty alleviation. In addition, more than 80 percent of the respondents believe SMMEs will thrive with more access to loans and financial support. More than half of the respondents indicated that they often need to bribe government officials in the process of obtaining a business license and/or registration, while the findings also show that, when the process is fair, open and transparent, respondents believe it facilitates SMME growth and development. Recommendations on how factors identified can be better managed, so as to support, rather than negate, SMMEs' quest for growth and development, include government facilitation of workshops, and more visible training. / M

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Introduction Registered midwives are expected to practice their duties within the parameters of their scope of practice. Pregnant women have certain expectations about the midwife and their skills. If such expectations are not met, substandard care occurs. Such substandard care has a negative impact for both the pregnant woman and the Department of Health. Aim of the study The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of midwives working in maternity units, concerning midwifery practice breakdown in maternity units at a public hospital in KZN. Methodology A qualitative research study that was exploratory, descriptive and contextual in nature was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 midwives. Data was transcribed verbatim then organised into codes. Results The study revealed that the majority of the participants faced practice breakdown almost daily and most of the midwifery practice breakdowns start during antenatal care visits. Midwives who attended to pregnant women during antenatal care did not follow set protocols and guidelines and this resulted in complications during delivery. Most midwives were emotionally stressed and did not wish to continue practicing midwifery. Midwives were of the opinion that the management did not care about their challenges and did nothing to resolve the challenges. / M

Submitted in Fulfillment of the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Nursing, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Aim The aim of the study was to examine students’ perspectives regarding their learning in a community based undergraduate nursing programme at the Durban University of Technology in South Africa. Methodology A quantitative descriptive design was used to examine student nurses’ perspectives regarding their experiences in community-based education (CBE), with specific reference to perceived academic gains, local and global gains, intrapersonal gains and interpersonal gains. Hours spent by students outside their CBE schedule as well as most preferred clinical practice Participants included 203 undergraduate nursing students drawn from the 2010, 2011 and 2012 cohorts. A stratified random sampling technique was used. A modified 4-point Likert scale version of a questionnaire designed by Ibrahim (2010), which also comprised of open-ended questions for supportive qualitative information, was used to collect data. Analysis was done accomplished using SPSS Version 22 for the quantitative data and identification of themes for the supportive qualitative information. Results The study results revealed that students had benefited from CBE in all the four domains under study. Participants rated the impact of CBE on academic gains lowest ( ̅x = 3.09, SD = .38) with perceived impact of CBE on local and global gains rated highest ( ̅x = 3.33, SD = .38). The personal gains subscale was the second highly rated subscale with a mean of 3.27 (SD = .43), followed by the intrapersonal gains domain ( ̅x = 3.15, SD .48). No significant differences were found between groups on all the variables of interest. Furthermore, the results revealed that participants spent a varying number of hours outside of scheduled CBE placement. The majority of the participants spent 200 hours to 399 hours (n= 119) = 58.6% in the first semester and (n = 120) = 59% in the second semester. The majority (72%) of the participants indicated that their preferred clinical practice environment was Primary Health Care. / M

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Technology: Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / ABSTRACT Supply chain management, is the active management of supply chain activities to maximise customer value and achieve sustainable competitive advantage. It represents a conscious effort by the supply chain firms to develop and run supply chains in the most effective and efficient ways possible. Supply chain activities cover everything from product development, sourcing, production, and logistics, as well as the information systems needed to coordinate these activities. Currently, supply chain management has evolved into a complex system where there is a need for redesign and integration into the corporate strategy for strategic fit. The study focuses on: • establishing and analysing corporate strategies used by select FMCGs in KZN South Africa; • examining the challenges impacting on achieving competitive advantage; and • determining performance measures for ensuring consistency between customer satisfaction and the supply chain capabilities (strategic fit). The study followed an exploratory case study design and employed a descriptive, evaluative quantitative analysis method. The results showed that across supply chain companies, the ultimate goal of integration has still to be achieved. There is a lack of trust and companies operate in separate silos. A major recommendation is that supply companies should revisit their supply chain designs to synchronise with intra-intercompany integration built on achieving competitiveness and sustainable profitability through incremental continuous improvement and customer satisfaction. The study concluded that it is imperative that all the elements of McKinsey’s 7- s resource capability model stay interconnected as a web to ensure the successful implementation of integration for strategic fit and superior business performance / D

This study identified and examined the nature and extent of external factors influencing growth and development of selected SMMEs in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The importance of the research lies in the contribution of its findings and recommendations to ensure the survival of SMMEs. The target population was identified as 300 owners of SMMEs in Durban, KwaZulu­ Natal, with a sample of 169 selected on a convenience basis, to which a questionnaire was distributed. Regardless of the problems experienced by SMMEs, it is vital to stimulate their growth and development, as this sector is likely to be the job creators of the future South Africa, as well as the providers of a continuation level of employment opportunities (Antonie, 2010). The rate at which SMMEs spring up is encouraging, considering that one of the cardinal goals of establishing SMMEs, is the eradication of unemployment and poverty. It was found that, not all of the respondents understand the potential of SMMEs to gain a competitive advantage; however, the majority agreed that Durban is an accessible and convenient location to do business, and that Government should partner with SMMEs in job creation and poverty alleviation. In addition, more than 80 percent of the respondents believe SMMEs will thrive with more access to loans and financial support. More than half of the respondents indicated that they often need to bribe government officials in the process of obtaining a business license and/or registration, while the findings also show that, when the process is fair, open and transparent, respondents believe it facilitates SMME growth and development. Recommendations on how factors identified can be better managed, so as to support, rather than negate, SMMEs' quest for growth and development, include government facilitation of workshops, and more visible training. / PDF Full-text unavailable. Please refer to hard copy for Full-text / M