Thesis (MTech. degree in Human Resources Management)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2010. / Determines whether lack of talent management of employees is one of the causes of the loss of valuable skills, and to determine whether talent management could play a positive part in retaining employees in an organisation. Findings from the survey show that the levels of commitment, job satisfaction, employee engagement, and turnover intentions were satisfactory among the majority of the respondents. However, concerns were raised on issues related to the way policies are implemented, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for work well done, as well as the decision-making process of some supervisors. In conclusion, it is suggested that, if important focus areas are given pro-active attention specifically regarding the attraction and development of talent, this will make a real difference to the organisation.

D. Tech. Engineering: Electrical. / The remarkable evolution of wireless networks into the next generation to provide ubiquitous and seamless broadband applications has recently triggered the emergence of Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs). The WMNs comprise stationary Wireless Mesh Routers (WMRs) forming Wireless Backbone Mesh Networks (WBMNs) and mobile Wireless Mesh Clients (WMCs) forming the WMN access. While WMCs are limited in function and radio resources, the WMRs are expected to support heavy duty applications: that is, WMRs have gateway and bridge functions to integrate WMNs with other networks such as the Internet, cellular, IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802.16, sensor networks, et cetera. Consequently, WMRs are constructed from fast switching radios or multiple radio devices operating on multiple frequency channels. WMRs are expected to be self-organized, self-configured and constitute a reliable and robust WBMN which needs to sustain high traffic volumes and long "online" time. However, meeting such stringent service expectations requires the development of decentralized dynamic transmission power control (DTPC) approaches. This thesis addresses the DTPC problem for both single and multiple channel WBMNs. For single channel networks, the problem is formulated as the minimization of both the link-centric and network-centric convex cost function. For multi-radio multichannel (MRMC) WBMNs, the network is modelled as sets of unified channel graphs (UCGs), each consisting of interconnected active network users communicating on the same frequency channel.

D. Tech. Chemical Engineering / Objectives of the study is to optimize the production of biodiesel from non-edible oils using both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts.

M. Tech. Mathematical Technology / Makes use of a linear PDE with a known analytical solution and solve it using the NDSolve built in Mathematica function. NMOL will be used directly on the same problem and then Joubert, Greeff and Fays error analysis will be implemented. The results obtained from this error analysis technique will be compared with the known conventional approach which uses the analytical solution. In this way, appropriate conclusions can be drawn about the accuracy of NMOL.

M. Tech. Engineering: Electrical. / Discusses the purpose of the study to develop a MFC scheme that can adapt and adjust to the changing workspace to enhance WMR operations.

M. Tech. Electronic Engineering. / Explores and compare geospatial techniques to improve the detection and classification of settlement types in QuickBird and SPOT 5 satellite images for the purpose of better environmental assessment and monitoring.

M. Tech. Food Technology. / Flaxseed oilcake as produced by a South African local Oil Mill has not been used directly in human food. The research problem was to evaluate the local flaxseed oilcake for its chemical and microbiological quality and shelf-life. Its suitability for incorporation into bread was investigated. Methods and procedures used included proximate analysis, determinations for total dietary fibre, fatty acid profile, mineral composition and water activity (aw); shelf-life studies and microbiological testing for spoilage micro-organisms and possible pathogenic bacteria. The effect of flaxseed oilcake inclusion in brown bread on the sensory quality of the bread was determined using a trained sensory panel and a consumer panel. A texture analyzer was used to measure the staling of the products. The main findings were that the flaxseed oilcake was high in protein and dietary fibre. The oil was rich in alpha linolenic acid. Toxic mineral content was such that it should be safe at suggested inclusion levels. The oilcake had a low microbial count and no pathogenic bacteria were found. The shelf-life study showed the oil to be relatively stable. Sensory analyses revealed that an 11% inclusion level of oilcake in brown bread was acceptable. In conclusion, it can be recommended that the locally produced oilcake is suitable for use in food and an 11% inclusion level will be safe and acceptable with nutritional benefits to the consumer.

M. Tech. Biomedical Technology. / Aims to determine whether pure type collagen biomaterial gels can be protected from scission damage by the addition of different fractions from ColBio, resulting in successful cross-linking by g-irradiation.

Each year, psychology departments across South Africa are faced with the arduous task of selecting the most suitable candidates to fill their Clinical, Counselling, Educational, and Industrial Psychology master’s coursework programmes. Although various criteria are considered in this process, personality has long been considered an important variable in the screening and selection of master’s psychology applicants, and some sort of personality assessment is commonly utilized by selection committees as part of the screening and selection procedures. While there are many different theoretical perspectives on personality and various personality assessment measures available, the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality has gained considerable attention over the last decade as a comprehensive and universal conceptualization of a broad trait structure for human personality. Currently, the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) is considered to be one of the best commercially available measures of the personality traits proposed by this model. The NEO PI-R provides a comprehensive measure of adult personality, has been extensively researched, and has demonstrated its utility across many different cultures, languages, and contexts. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the personality profiles of short-listed master’s psychology applicants at a higher education institution in South Africa, using the NEO PI-R, in an effort to explore the use of NEO PI-R profiles in the selection of master’s psychology applicants. The study was exploratory descriptive in nature and employed a quantitative research method. The sample of 247 participants was selected according to non-probability convenience sampling and was sourced from an archival research database. As part of the application process at the higher education institution, applicants were required to complete various tests, tasks, and questionnaires. The questionnaires selected for this study included a biographical questionnaire, used to describe the biographical variables of the sample, and the NEO PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992), used as a measure of personality. The NEO PI-R has been found to have good validity and reliability, with reliability in particular having being established in the South African context. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlations, cluster xiv analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), were utilized to analyze the data. Key findings revealed that overall, the group of short-listed master’s psychology applicants could be described as being emotionally well-adjusted and sociable, which is in line with previous national and international research. In addition, a cluster analysis revealed three significantly different personality subgroups within the total sample, thus highlighting the heterogeneous nature of this sample of applicants. Each of the three personality subgroups exhibited significantly different personality traits which were judged to be more or less suitable for potential psychologists-in-training. Clusters 1 and 2 exhibited the most desirable personality characteristics in relation to selection into a master’s psychology programme, while Cluster 3 exhibited the least desirable traits. Various classification functions were derived which classified applicants into “selected” and “not selected” groups as well as the three personality subgroups, which could aid selection committees in the future to screen out potentially unsuitable candidates earlier in the selection process. It was concluded that the use of NEO PI-R personality profiles could aid the screening and selection of short-listed master’s psychology applicants.

M. Tech. Business Administration / The aim of the study is to determine the influence of the implementation of job rotation on employees perceived job satisfaction and to identifiy the key factors that would influence the adoption of a job rotation strategy by the Registrar's environment of the Tshwane University of Technology.