Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Biomedical Technology In the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences At the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / Human and experimental animal studies have shown that biomarkers of oxidative damage are elevated in subjects with certain diseases or risk factors. Consequently, it is hypothesized that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of these diseases and that dietary intake of, or supplementation with antioxidants may be protective or be useful therapeutic targets. This study was designed to investigate the modulatory effect of Camellia sinensis (Chinese green tea), Aspalathus linearis (rooibos herbal tea) and the two commercial supplements on the antioxidant status of the liver and kidney of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative stress male Wistar rats. Rooibos and green tea are beverages well-known for their antioxidant content. Based on the specific beverage consumed, sixty male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups, i.e. fermented rooibos (FRT), unfermented rooibos (URT), Chinese green tea (CGT), rooibos supplement (RTS), Chinese green tea supplement (GTS) and control (CTL). The animals had free access to the respective beverages and standard diet for 10 weeks, while oxidative stress was induced during the last 2 weeks via intraperitoneal injection of 30 μM of t-BHP per 100 g body weight. Among all the beverage and/or supplement preparations, the commercial rooibos supplement had the highest total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity while fermented rooibos, as previously shown, had a lower antioxidant content and potency when compared to its unfermented counterpart. The ability of these beverages and/or supplements to modulate the antioxidant status in tissues was organ specific and varied according to the assessment method. When considering the liver, the intake of unfermented rooibos, Chinese green tea and the commercial rooibos supplement significantly (P<0.05) restored the t-BHP-induced reduction and increased the antioxidant status with regards to oxygen radical absorbance capacity and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) levels. All the beverages and/or supplements also significantly (P<0.05) enhanced the renal antioxidant capacity as assessed by the TEAC assay. In what may be an indication of decreased oxidative stress, all the beverages were associated with a general decline in activities of the antioxidant enzymes which reached significant levels in renal superoxidase dismutase activity. Generally, the beverages did not impact significantly on lipid peroxidation (LPO) although there were differing trends in the two LPO markers assessed. While thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels showed a declining trend in both tissues, the conjugated dienes were generally elevated. In conclusion, this study confirms Camellia sinensis and Aspalathus linearis as well as their two supplements as good sources of dietary antioxidants and results demonstrated that rooibos and green tea improved the liver and kidney antioxidant capacity of oxidative stress-induced rats. Their impact on antioxidant status in rats was shown to vary between organs and according to the method of assessment. Hence multi-method, multi-organ assessment may be a more informative approach in in vivo antioxidant studies.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Technology: Biomedical Technology In the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences At the CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2012 / Oxidative stress and chronic (low-grade) inflammation are inseparably interconnected and both have been implicated in the aetiology of many disease states. The use of plant extracts for disease prevention and therapeutic purposes, is gaining more attention because of the health benefits of the bioactive phytochemicals in these extracts. This thesis reports on the antioxidant status, the oxidative stress modulation and anti-inflammatory properties of fermented rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and red palm oil (RPO) from the oil palm plant (Elaeis guineensis) using a long-term and two short-term in vivo models. In the first (long-term) study, the effect of chronic feeding of rooibos, RPO or their combination on the endogenous antioxidant system was investigated. Data from this study provided:  The first scientific evidence that chronic feeding of rooibos, RPO or their combination for 22 weeks did not adversely affect the liver or kidney function parameters.  The first scientific evidence that chronic feeding of rooibos alone, or together with RPO for 22 weeks modulated the endogenous antioxidant system by inhibiting MDA formation and augmenting the reduced glutathione status.  The first scientific evidence of an additive or synergistic interaction in the ability of rooibos and RPO to modulate the endogenous antioxidant system. The second (short-term) study investigated the protective effects of rooibos, RPO or their combination on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative hepatotoxicity, and results from this study provided:  The first evidence of the ability of the two extracts, either alone or in combination to protect against t-BHP induced hepatotoxicity. Supplementation of rooibos, RPO or their combination for eight weeks reversed the hepatic damage induced by t-BHP. The changes induced by t-BHP in the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were reversed by these plant extracts. The extracts, supplemented alone or combined prevented lipid peroxidation as shown by the decreased levels of conjugated dienes iv (CD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and reversed the t-BHP.-induced impairment of the glutathione redox status. The third (short-term) study provided the first scientific evidence of the in vivo anti-inflammatory properties of rooibos and RPO. The properties were demonstrated using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hepatic endotoxemic model by:  Providing the first evidence of an additive or synergistic interaction in the ability of the combined rooibos extract and RPO supplementation to reverse LPS-induced hepatic damage.  Providing the first evidence for the modulation of the inflammatory responses by rooibos extract, RPO or their combination. Supplementation of rooibos extract, RPO or their combination for four weeks, modulated LPS-induced inflammatory responses by inhibiting the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).  Providing evidence that the observed anti-inflammatory effects of rooibos and RPO may be related to their ability to modulate oxidative stress. Supplementation of rooibos extract, RPO or their combination for four weeks, prevented hepatic lipid peroxidation induced by LPS by decreasing CD and MDA formation in the liver. Changes induced in the activities of antioxidant enzymes were reversed and the glutathione redox status was augmented. Based on these study results, it is proposed that the ability of rooibos and RPO to protect the liver, modulate endogenous antioxidant system and inhibit inflammatory responses may be associated with the unique combination of antioxidant phytochemicals in both plant extracts. The study suggested possible mechanism(s) for the observed health effects, and the development of rooibos and RPO as nutraceuticals, which may be beneficial in the prophylactic management of oxidant-induced liver injury.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Technology: Biomedical Technology In the Faculty of Health and Wellness At the CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2012 / Diabetes mellitus is a major health problem not only in urban, but also in the rural areas and is diagnosed by the presence of high glucose levels in the blood. Oxidative stress is known to be actively involved in the onset and progression of diabetes and its complications. Antioxidants have important roles in biological systems by scavenging free radicals which may result in oxidative damage of biological molecules such as lipids, proteins and DNA. Red palm oil, originally from the tropical area of Africa, generally consumed as cooking oil, is known to have some beneficial health effects due to the presence of lipid soluble antioxidants such as carotenoids, tocopherols and tocotrienols. It also contains almost an equal proportion of both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids which makes it distinctive from other vegetable oils. Rooibos, on the other hand, is grown in the Cederberg area of the Western Cape in South Africa and it is commonly consumed as a beverage. It contains a complex profile of water soluble antioxidants (flavonoids) and its health promoting potentials have been reported extensively. Some of the flavonoids present in rooibos include aspalathin, nothofagin, quercetin, rutin and orientin. The objective of this research project was to examine the potential beneficial effects of the dietary intake of red palm oil and rooibos on streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemia and its influence on the antioxidant status and some biochemical parameters in male Wistar rats. The preliminary phase of this study was designed to investigate the biochemical effects of these two plant products at different dosages following consumption for a period of 7 weeks. The preliminary study did not reveal any adverse effects of the different dosages of red palm oil (1 ml, 2 ml and 4 ml) and rooibos (2%, 4% and 6%) on the experimental rats following dietary intake for 7 weeks. However, these natural products showed an improvement in the antioxidant status of the rats at the different doses. Using a single dose each of both plant products from the preliminary study, the main study was performed to investigate the influence of these two plant products singly and in combination on the blood and liver of streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemic male Wistar rats. In the main study, streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) dissolved in 0.1 M citrate buffer (pH 4.5) through intramuscular injection was used for the induction of diabetes which was confirmed by the presence of high blood glucose after 72 hours. Red palm oil or rooibos extract alone did not have any effect on the control of blood glucose in the diabetic rats. The dietary intake of the combined treatment with red palm and rooibos had more health promoting effects on the diabetic rats which included a decrease in blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, fructosamine and increased insulin levels. There was a marked increase in liver glycogen levels in all the diabetic groups. Treatment with rooibos alone showed a decrease in glycogen levels in the diabetic rats. The presence of liver enzymes in the serum, commonly used as indicators of liver damage was increased in all the diabetic rats. However, the combined treatment of diabetic rats with red palm oil and rooibos protected the liver from injury. Red palm oil improved high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (HDL-cholesterol) in the diabetic rats. There was no effect on the activity of glucokinase, the first enzyme in the the glycolytic pathway in both the untreated and treated diabetic rats. However, the activity of pyruvate kinase, the last enzyme in the glycolytic pathway was reduced in all the diabetic groups. The combined treatment with both red palm and rooibos increased the activity of pyruvate kinase. Oxidative stress was confirmed in the diabetic rats with an increase in the plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), an indicator of lipid peroxidation. Treatment of diabetic rats with rooibos and the combination of red palm oil and rooibos brought plasma TBARS to a level that was not significantly different from the normal control group. There was a non-significant reduction of total glutathione in the non-treated and treated diabetic groups. A non-significant increase in the activity of liver catalase was observed in all the treated diabetic groups. The activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly decreased in the liver of diabetic rats. Diabetic rats treated with red palm oil, rooibos and the combined treatment showed an increased activity of superoxide dismutase in the liver. Red palm oil and the combined treatment increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase in both the red blood cells and liver of diabetic rats. Red palm oil, rooibos and their combined treatments also improved the plasma antioxidant capacity such as ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen reducing absorbance capacity (ORAC) in the diabetic rats. In conclusion, oxidative stress is actively involved in the progression of diabetes mellitus. Red palm oil and rooibos, most especially their combined treatment showed significant beneficial health promoting effects in the diabetic rats. The remarkable effects of the combined treatment of red palm oil and rooibos in the diabetic rats could be due to their antioxidant profiles. Based on the findings from this study, it can be adduced that these plant products could help in the management of diabetes and its complications and therefore, suggested the need for further research studies on antioxidant therapy in the management of diabetes mellitus.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister of Technology: Dental Technology In the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences At the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / A study of the modification of dental nanocomposites with nanosized fillers is presented. The incorporation of TiO2 (titania) nanoparticles, via a silane chemical bond, to a standard dental acrylic resin matrix was explored to determine whether there was an increase in the wear resistance, flexural strength and surface hardness properties of the dental nanocomposites. The principal aim of this study was to synthesize dental nanocomposites with different sizes, treated, nano-TiO2 fillers in urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) for potential application in posterior restoration and to evaluate their mechanical properties. Treatment of the nano-TiO2 particles was carried out with a silane coupling agent, 3-(methacryloyloxy)propyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS), to improve bonding between the nano-TiO2 particles and acrylic matrix (UDMA), and reduce agglomeration of the nano-TiO2. Characterisation of products was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). TEM results were used to compare the particle size distributions of untreated TiO2 and treated TiO2 under various experimental conditions in an ethanol solvent, while SEM images showed the adhesion between the matrix (UDMA) and the nano-TiO2. FTIR was used to show the qualitative composition of untreated TiO2 and treated TiO2. Eighteen groups of experimental dental nanocomposites were evaluated. Each group contained different average particle sizes of nano-TiO2 (filler): 5 nm, 21 nm and 80 nm. Each particle size category was treated with three different concentrations of the silane, (MPTMS): 2.5, 10 and 30 wt %. Samples were prepared by mixing the monomer resin matrix of UDMA and nano-TiO2 particles. For comparison, a commercially available dental resin was reinforced with untreated and treated nano-TiO2 particle sizes 5, 21 and 80 nm. Wear resistance, flexural strength and surface hardness of TiO2 nanocomposites treated with 2.5 wt % MPTMS were significantly higher compared to those treated with 10 and 30 wt% MPTMS. The nanocomposites with 5 nm TiO2 had higher wear loss, lower flexural strength and lower surface hardness values compared to those with 21 nm and 80 nm TiO2. Statistical analysis showed that the effect of the concentrations of MPTMS on wear resistance and surface hardness of specimens was significant (p<0.001), which is less than 0.05, while the effect of the concentration of MPTMS on flexural strength was statistically not significant, (p=0.02). Control composites reinforced with treated 80 nm TiO2 particles had much better mechanical properties than any of the other specimens. It was concluded that the most available commercial product for dental restorations could be improved by the addition of nano-TiO2 with relatively large particle size.

Thesis (MTech (Radiography))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / Background and purpose The primary aim of this study was to analyse the accuracy and reproducibility of radiation treatment to patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma at the only tertiary teaching and referral hospital in Kenya. The secondary objective was to review literature on quality assurance procedures that would result to provision of quality radiation treatment to this group of patients. Materials and method During the period May 2011 to March 2012, 35 patients with head and neck cancer comprising of 27 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 7 with paranasal sinus carcinoma and 1 with lymphoma falling within the enrolment criteria were treated using Equinox cobalt-60 unit with the same beam arrangement and were studied prospectively. Radical radiotherapy was delivered using conventional 2D technique in a routine dose of 60-66Gy to the primary and 50Gy to lymph nodes with additional dose to residual neck nodes. During the period of their treatment, a lateral portal image was taken once weekly. Four film image pairs were obtained per patient with each patient positioned and immobilised in an individualised Orfit thermoplastic mask and a head and neck support. The 4 portal images were compared to a corresponding simulator film taken during simulation planning. Deviations from the varied bony landmarks were measured on the portal images and simulator image from the centre of the radiation beam.

A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Diagnostic Radiography in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / Complete, accurate and justified radiological examination requests are prerequisite to radiological exposures. However, global research shows evidence of high numbers of incomplete and inaccurate requests as well as that up to 77% radiological exposures are unjustified. Plain lumbar spine and plain skull radiology examinations are reported as being procedures that generate high dose and a low diagnostic yield. This study was designed to objectively measure the completeness, accuracy and justification of these two examinations in an effort to make inferences that will contribute to an improved radiology service. This research could therefore have positive effects on optimisation of radiation protection in Zimbabwe. Methodology A non participatory prospective descriptive analytical document review of quota sampled radiological request forms for 200 plain skull and 200 plain lumbar spine examinations was employed. Data was captured using structured data collection instruments designed and tested by the researcher for this study. The instrument was designed using the IAEA-HHS4 (2010) minimum prescribed request data as a framework and adding additional form fields found to be relevant through a review of all identified radiological request template forms in use at the research site. Data analysis involved central tendency measures and inferential statistics. Results: The central tendency demonstrated for the two examinations was that generally referrers for plain lumbar spine and for plain skull radiology would respectively provide 38.9 +/- 0.6% and 40.2+/-0.5% overall examination request information. This information was significantly below expectation. There was however no significant difference between the samples’ means for the two examinations. The tendency demonstrated in patient information for lumbar spine and skull requests was that generally referrers would respectively provide 48.4 +/- 0.8% and 49.5+/- 0.8% patient information. These values were inclusive of each other and they were significantly (p=0.00 Sig.) below expectation. There was however no significant difference between the two examinations’ data. The tendency demonstrated for examination information was that referrers for the research site would generally provide 29.8+/-0.8% (lumbar) and 32.6+/-0.8% (Skull) examination information. These values were significantly (p=0.000 Sig.) below expectation and demonstrated a significant difference between the sample means for the two examinations. With respect to referrer information, the tendency demonstrated was that generally referrers for plain lumbar spine and for plain skull examinations would respectively provide 38+/- 1% and 38.5 +/- 0.8% referrer identification information. These were significantly below expectation (p= 0.000 Sig.) but there was no significant difference between the samples’ means with respect to referrer information. With respect to accuracy of request data, it was observed that 5% plain lumbar spine and 3% plain skull requests were specific in so far as information documented on request forms could unambiguously identify the area to be imaged. It was also observed that 22.5% (lumbar spine) and 12% (skull) examination requests were indicated and therefore justified. All requests forms were found to be legible. Conclusions: Generally, referrers to this research site tend to provide incomplete, inaccurate and unjustified radiological request data. The observed levels of completeness, accuracy and justification of requests were generally consistent between the two examinations relative to expectation. These levels had medico-legal implications and negative effects on optimisation of radiation protection to patients. Further research to establish causes of this variance in referral behaviour is recommended. The researcher also recommends further research to establish whether there is an association between requested examination and completeness, accuracy and justification of diagnostic radiology examination requests. Keywords: Radiation protection, radiological request, complete request, accurate request, justified request, plain skull imaging, plain lumbar spine imaging.

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Radiography in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, 2008 / Introduction Research to date has not been able to agree whether spatial abilities can be developed by practice. According to some researchers spatial ability is an inherited cognitive ability, compared to spatial skills that are task specific and can be acquired through formal training. It is commonly assumed that radiographers require general cognitive spatial abilities to interpret complex radiographic images. This research was conducted to investigate second year radiography students’ three-dimensional thinking skills pertaining to film-viewing assessments. Materials and methods The experimental research strategy was mainly applied together with correlation research. Two trials were run (in 2005 and 2006). The sample group consisted of fifteen second year diagnostic radiography students in 2005 and twenty-three second year diagnostic radiography students, of the same institution, in 2006. Each year group was randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group. Two instruments were used, that is a film-viewing assessment and a three-dimensional test, Academic Aptitude Test (University) (AAT) nr. nine: Spatial Perception (3-D). The whole class completed this basic spatial aptitude test, as well as a base-line film viewing assessment, which focused on the evaluation of technique/anatomy of second year specialised radiographic projections. The marks that the students achieved in the fore-mentioned tests were compared, to determine if there was any correlation between their performances in the different tests. A curricular intervention, which was intended to improve applied three-dimensional skills, was subsequently applied. The students executed certain modified radiographic projections on parts of a human skeleton. For each radiographic projection, the students had to draw the relation of the X-ray beam to the specific anatomical structures, as well as the relation of these structures to the film. The related images of these projections were also drawn. With each of the following sessions, films including images of the previous session were discussed with each student. After the intervention, the whole class wrote a second film-viewing assessment. The marks achieved in this assessment were compared to the marks of the initial film-viewing assessment to determine the influence of the intervention on the performance of the intervention group. Following this assessment, for ethical reasons, the same intervention took place with the control group. A third film-viewing assessment was then written by all the diagnostic second year students to evaluate the overall impact of the intervention on the applied three-dimensional skills of the class. The marks of both the 2005 and 2006 classes (intervention classes) were compared to the marks achieved by former classes from 2000 to 2004 (control classes), in film-viewing assessments to evaluate the role of the curricular intervention over the years. The students again completed the three-dimensional test, Spatial Perception (3-D) to evaluate the impact of the intervention on students’ general three-dimensional cognitive abilities. These marks were also compared to the marks of the third filmviewing assessment, to determine if there was any correlation between the students’ performances in the different tests. Results The intervention groups did not perform significantly better in film-viewing assessments after the intervention, compared to the control groups, but reasonable differences, favouring the intervention group, were achieved. Statistical significance was achieved in film-viewing assessments with both year groups after the whole class had the intervention. The intervention year groups also performed significantly better than the previous year groups (without the intervention) in film-viewing assessments. The performance in general three-dimensional cognitive abilities of the group of 2006 improved significantly after the intervention, but on the contrary, the performance of the group of 2005 declined. There was a small intervention effect on the performance of the group of 2006. Only a weak to moderate correlation between the marks of the students achieved in the three-dimensional tests and the marks achieved in the film-viewing assessments, was found. Conclusion The contrasting evidence between the data of the two groups (2005 and 2006) in the three-dimensional tests and the small intervention effect on the performance of the group of 2006, makes the intervention not applicable for the increase of general spatial abilities. The results of this research show that the applied three-dimensional skills of radiography students in interpreting specialised and modified projections can be improved by intensive practice, independent of their inherited spatial abilities.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Tourism and Hospitality Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / In the light of the growing hospitality industry on one hand, and the limited space available at hospitality training institutions on the other, hotel schools are faced with the challenge of being able to identify students who will most likely be able to complete their courses and thus serve the industry. The practical element of hospitality studies is a defining characteristic that differentiates the subject from other business and management courses. Hotel schools therefore are required to be able to select students that are able to cope with the academic and practical requirements of hospitality courses. This research focused on analysing the current selection practices used by hospitality training institutions when selecting entry level students. The purpose was to identify success predictors and thus formulate an effective selection programme that incorporates the student‟s academic and vocational skills in order to reduce the student drop-out rate and increase the number of graduates entering the job market. The target population used for this research was hospitality management students. The criteria used were hospitality management students enrolled for courses with a qualification that is in accordance with NQF level 6 in Cape Town. The two schools that were used as the sample for this study were the IHS (International Hotel School) and the CTHS (Cape Town Hotel School), as they were found to be the only two schools that fit the criteria. The purposive sampling method was used in the form of semi-structured interviews that were conducted with the four academics involved in the student selection process at both institutions. Questionnaires were sent out to students and hospitality industry professionals to be completed. Information was also derived from the IHS and CTHS‟s data-bases to determine what the drop-out rates were at each institution. The findings revealed that the student drop-out rate was up to a significant 30%. A number of students were not well informed of the nature of the hospitality industry and the career path to which it lead when applying to study courses in hospitality. The findings also revealed that each school used different assessment criteria during the selection process. The selection process ranged from being a purely academic exercise to being a very extensive interview and assessment programme that tested both academic and vocational skills. Realising that it is vital to determine industry fit, the researcher made recommendations on tools that could be used during the selection process that would allow access to as many students as possible without resulting in a high drop-out rate. Utilising effective selection tools in the student selection process not only ensures a steady flow of suitable candidates, but also will ensure efficient hospitality professionals in the future to continuously supply the growing hospitality and tourism industry.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Tourism and Hospitality Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008 / Taping into a growing global tourism market, the government of Rwanda has been marketing and promoting tourism as being considered as one of the sectors that will help the country achieve its economic targets through revenue gains and job creation. However, Rwanda’s tourism product has understandably, been aimed largely at gorilla tourism so as to raise much needed foreign currency. While this has been proving positive as regards achieving industry targets, dependence on an exclusive product could be detrimental to the industry in the future. This research that was carried out in Rwanda’s Museums focused on a significant form of tourism in Africa, namely heritage tourism with specific reference to its development and promotion in Rwanda. The results reveal that heritage tourism, and domestic heritage tourism in particular, is experiencing growth with genocide museums playing a large part in this growth. The findings further suggest that the heritage management, especially marketing of heritage tourism can be improved. The research provides several procedures for improvement in management of heritage destination that include the assessment of heritage resources, the role of tourism managers, and different marketing strategies for heritage sites.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Technology: Marketing in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008 / This thesis identifies and examines evidence of e-commerce in three large businesses (Woolworths, Momentum and Santam) focusing on their Internet branding strategies, the impact of management actions and how those actions contribute to e-commerce success. Case study was used to assemble evidence from the three companies. The data received from respondents were transcribed, codified into thirteen key words. These were analysed using Cohen Kappa method of content analysis. The findings show different impact of management actions and prioritisation of management functions are evident at different stages of the adoption process. In addition, the application of management function differs at different stages suggesting expected changes in management competency as the adoption process matures. This thesis argues that as we move to a more interactive mode of working with customers and competitors using Internet technology, the role of marketing is critical; within marketing, brand management is seen as a particularly important activity. The work reported is based on the evidence that brand management is indeed important, and a maturity model is presented to guide brand management activities at different stages of e-commerce adoption. Internet-related partnering opportunities with large firms remain a concern for smaller firms. It reveals that although much Internet research has taken a technical viewpoint, some experts have begun to make connections between Internet success and brand management. This thesis shows that there are opportunities for businesses doing e-commerce but, sufficient attention should be given to the implementation of branding and brand management strategies that recognise the changes and challenges of e-commerce adoption. It also shows that the patterns of management activities and actions that will ensure success are much clearer, as well as the partnering opportunities with small businesses.