Foreign Direct Investment, in spite of several challenges, is hailed as one of the vehicles for economic development, especially in developing countries. In the tourism industry, FDI brings much needed capital, technology, marketing skills and operations systems that would otherwise not be available in the host country. Both developed and developing countries are always competing to attract FDI to their countries. The primary goal of this study was therefore to investigate factors that investors consider when undertaking FDI into the tourist accommodation sector in Malawi. Malawi remains one of the few countries in Africa which has not attracted meaningful FDI into its tourist accommodation sector. The objective of the study is fourfold; to analyse foreign direct investment, to identify country and industry level factors that influence tourism FDI, to analyse Malawi's general investment climate and to make recommendations to government and industry on attracting FDI. The study conducted a literature study on general FDI and tourism-specific FDI and the Malawi investment climate. An empirical study was carried out, through a quantitative research method. The sample was derived using a probability sampling method and was extracted from a national tourist accommodation database. The research found that there is a strong relationship between the source country of tourist accommodation FDI in Malawi and tourist source countries. It also found that economic factors, perception and infrastructure, government policy, competitiveness and nature are important considerations when investing in the Malawi tourist accommodation sector, in that order. Industry level factors that respondents found important are protection of investment, availability of fresh water, labour disturbances I unrest and tourist receipts. Whilst the Malawi government uses investment incentives as a key to FDI attraction, researchers found that incentives are not ranked as important to prospective investors. / MCom (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

Foreign Direct Investment, in spite of several challenges, is hailed as one of the vehicles for economic development, especially in developing countries. In the tourism industry, FDI brings much needed capital, technology, marketing skills and operations systems that would otherwise not be available in the host country. Both developed and developing countries are always competing to attract FDI to their countries. The primary goal of this study was therefore to investigate factors that investors consider when undertaking FDI into the tourist accommodation sector in Malawi. Malawi remains one of the few countries in Africa which has not attracted meaningful FDI into its tourist accommodation sector. The objective of the study is fourfold; to analyse foreign direct investment, to identify country and industry level factors that influence tourism FDI, to analyse Malawi's general investment climate and to make recommendations to government and industry on attracting FDI. The study conducted a literature study on general FDI and tourism-specific FDI and the Malawi investment climate. An empirical study was carried out, through a quantitative research method. The sample was derived using a probability sampling method and was extracted from a national tourist accommodation database. The research found that there is a strong relationship between the source country of tourist accommodation FDI in Malawi and tourist source countries. It also found that economic factors, perception and infrastructure, government policy, competitiveness and nature are important considerations when investing in the Malawi tourist accommodation sector, in that order. Industry level factors that respondents found important are protection of investment, availability of fresh water, labour disturbances I unrest and tourist receipts. Whilst the Malawi government uses investment incentives as a key to FDI attraction, researchers found that incentives are not ranked as important to prospective investors. / MCom (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012

The aim of this project is to discern possible patterns in the changes of epistemic frameworks and in the way in which factors cause or stimulate such changes. Article 1 illustrates forms of consensus between the views of various prominent 20th century philosophers of science on the characteristics and functions of pre-scientific frameworks in scientific activity. This is done by highlighting various helpful insights from the reformational tradition as a point of departure. Article 2 attempts to achieve more clarity on how changes in epistemic frameworks occur, whilst article 3 discerns the factors influencing framework change. Article 4 illustrates and evaluates the relationship between change and constancy in the viewpoints of various philosophers and scientists throughout history. The project suggests that change and constancy can be related to epistemic frameworks according to a pattern referring to the irreducibility of coherents where change and constancy exist in cohesion. As a consequence, change is never completely random or absolute. Although a broad variety of factors play a role in framework changes, a pattern can be discerned in the sense that some factors play a regulative role, so that change is dynamic but not arbitrary. / Thesis (PhD (Philosophy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The aim of this project is to discern possible patterns in the changes of epistemic frameworks and in the way in which factors cause or stimulate such changes. Article 1 illustrates forms of consensus between the views of various prominent 20th century philosophers of science on the characteristics and functions of pre-scientific frameworks in scientific activity. This is done by highlighting various helpful insights from the reformational tradition as a point of departure. Article 2 attempts to achieve more clarity on how changes in epistemic frameworks occur, whilst article 3 discerns the factors influencing framework change. Article 4 illustrates and evaluates the relationship between change and constancy in the viewpoints of various philosophers and scientists throughout history. The project suggests that change and constancy can be related to epistemic frameworks according to a pattern referring to the irreducibility of coherents where change and constancy exist in cohesion. As a consequence, change is never completely random or absolute. Although a broad variety of factors play a role in framework changes, a pattern can be discerned in the sense that some factors play a regulative role, so that change is dynamic but not arbitrary. / Thesis (PhD (Philosophy))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The unemployment rate has become a major concern for policy makers in South Africa and therefore the National Plan for Higher Education states that higher education training providers should produce more graduates to address this problem. This resulted in a labour force that has grown rapidly and has become younger and more educated. It would therefore be expected that graduates with a post–matric tertiary qualification would be in high demand, resulting in a low graduate unemployment rate. The reality is that the unemployment rate among graduates has increased. This is not only a concern for the policymakers of South Africa but also for a private higher education training provider situated in the North West Province, specialising in information technology (IT) qualifications (and whose students and alumni participated in this study as part of the study population). The majority of the IT jobs available to their students are in the Gauteng province which means their graduates often need to relocate. As for all other entry level graduates they also have to make choices – when to decline or accept a job offer. This study determines what the expectations of these entry level IT graduates are and the factors that might influence their decision to accept or decline a job offer. For the training provider it is important to know what the challenges are that their graduates encounter. The factors contributing to unemployment among these IT graduates were also investigated. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The unemployment rate has become a major concern for policy makers in South Africa and therefore the National Plan for Higher Education states that higher education training providers should produce more graduates to address this problem. This resulted in a labour force that has grown rapidly and has become younger and more educated. It would therefore be expected that graduates with a post–matric tertiary qualification would be in high demand, resulting in a low graduate unemployment rate. The reality is that the unemployment rate among graduates has increased. This is not only a concern for the policymakers of South Africa but also for a private higher education training provider situated in the North West Province, specialising in information technology (IT) qualifications (and whose students and alumni participated in this study as part of the study population). The majority of the IT jobs available to their students are in the Gauteng province which means their graduates often need to relocate. As for all other entry level graduates they also have to make choices – when to decline or accept a job offer. This study determines what the expectations of these entry level IT graduates are and the factors that might influence their decision to accept or decline a job offer. For the training provider it is important to know what the challenges are that their graduates encounter. The factors contributing to unemployment among these IT graduates were also investigated. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Taxation and tax evasion is an observable fact that occurs in all societies. In South Africa, tax evasion is one of the most sinister forms of crime and millions of rands are sidetracked by tax criminals. Studies from various countries indicate that it is not unusual for about half of the possible tax revenues to remain uncollected. Tax evasion is not something that is restricted to poor third world countries, it is a global phenomenon that has been there from the time tax was invented and will in all likelihood be with us until the end of time. Tax evasion is an intricate and overall hidden behaviour, but it has significant social and economic consequences. Taking this into consideration almost anything could influence the taxpayer’s decision to evade tax or not. The decision to comply with tax laws or to evade tax depends on various internal and external factors with regard to the taxpayer and this may differ from person to person. This study discusses the various factors influencing the taxpayer’s decision to comply with tax legislation, and whether these factors differ or correlate in developed and developing countries. Firstly, the factors influencing tax evasion in the United States of America and Switzerland were determined, after which the factors influencing tax evasion in South Africa and Brazil were determined. Secondly, the factors in the developed countries were compared to those in developing countries. Lastly these comparisons were analysed and they determined whether there were any major differences between the factors influencing tax evasion in developed and developing countries. AFRIKAANS : Belasting en belastingontduiking is ‘n waarneembare feit wat in alle samelewings voorkom. Belastingontduiking is een van die mees ernstige vorme van misdaad in Suid-Afrika en miljoene rande word deur belastingontduikers gesteel. Studies vanuit verskillende lande dui daarop dat dit nie ongewoon is dat omtrent die helfte van die moontlike belasting- inkomste nie ingevorder word nie. Belastingontduiking is nie beperk tot arm derdewêreldlande nie, dit is 'n wêreldwye verskynsel, en was daar van die tyd dat belasting uitgevind is en sal in alle waarskynlikheid met ons wees tot aan die einde van tyd. Belastingontduiking is 'n ingewikkelde en grootliks verborge gedrag, maar dit het belangrike sosiale en ekonomiese gevolge. Met dit ingedagte kan byna enigiets die belastingbetaler se besluit beïnvloed om belasting te ontduik of nie. Die besluit om aan belastingwetgewing te voldoen of om belasting te ontduik hang af van verskeie interne en eksterne faktore met betrekking tot die belastingbetaler en verskil waarskynlik van persoon tot persoon. Hierdie studie bespreek die verskillende faktore wat die belastingbetaler se besluit om aan belastingwetgewing te voldoen beïnvloed, en of hierdie faktore verskil of korreleer tussen ontwikkelde en ontwikkelende lande. Eerstens was die doel van die studie om die faktore wat belastingontduiking in die Verenigde State van Amerika en Switserland beïnvloed te bepaal, gevolg deur die bepaling van die faktore wat belastingontduiking in Suid-Afrika en Brasilië beïnvloed. Tweedens is die faktore in ontwikkelde lande met dié in ontwikkelende lande vergelyk. Laastens is hierdie vergelykings ontleed om te bepaal of daar groot verskille is tussen die faktore wat belastingontduiking beïnvloed in ontwikkelde lande in vergelyking met ontwikkelende lande. Copyright 2011, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. Please cite as follows: Venter, JH 2011, Factors influencing tax evasion, MCom dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-03062012-153138 / > F12/4/149/gm / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Taxation / unrestricted

The study emanates from the need to explore and gain insight into the factors that led to the criminal behaviour of persons with mental disorders who are admitted to Lobatse Mental Hospital following a criminal offence. Objectives of the study were to provide a broad theoretical background on criminality amongst persons with mental disorders; to explore factors that contribute to the criminal behaviour of persons with mental disorders; and lastly, to draw conclusions and recommendations regarding reduction of criminal behaviour amongst persons with mental disorders. The study utilised and answered a research question that read as follows: What are the contributing factors to the criminal behaviour of persons with mental disorders? The study was therefore centred on this question as it was undertaken to find answers to the research question. The study used qualitative research approach because the researcher heavily relied on subjective data provided by the small sample, which in turn has been used to generate some understanding of the factors contributing to the criminal behaviour of persons with mental disorders. Applied research was used because it addresses the problem of criminal behaviour of persons with mental disorders and draws conclusions and recommendations to the reduction of the criminal behaviour amongst persons with mental disorders. The study also followed a qualitative research approach, in particular a collective case study strategy. The population for this study comprised of all offenders with mental disorders at Lobatse Mental Hospital. The researcher relied on purposive sampling technique to select the participants. Twelve patients with a mental disorder admitted at Lobatse Mental Hospital were interviewed face-to-face by the researcher and a tape recorder was used to capture the data. In analyzing the data themes that were categorised in line with emerging patterns, particularly with reference to the research question, were identified. The conclusion from the literature review revealed that there is a causal relationship between mental disorders and criminal behaviour. It however revealed that persons with mental disorders with psychotic symptoms are at increased risk of criminal behaviour. Literature also showed that persons with mental disorders can commit crimes not necessarily due to their mental disorder but to other factors such as greed, lack of conscience and revenge. The factors contributing to the criminal behaviour of persons with mental disorders as revealed by the participants are as follows: mental disorder accompanied by psychotic symptoms; alcohol and substance abuse; male; single; lower educational achievement; unemployed; self defence; mixing traditional and modern medicine; treatment non-adherence; poor interpersonal relationships with significant others; delay in seeking appropriate treatment; lack of education on one mental condition; living alone without anyone to monitor the signs and symptoms of the mental condition; poor conflict resolution skills. Copyright / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The event tourism industry is one of the fastest growing tourism industries worldwide. One type of event that is growing immensely is festivals, especially music festivals such as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. As a result of the fast growing pace of festivals, it has become crucial for a festival to sustain itself in the market place to stay competitive. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (the Jazz Festival) is a fast growing music festival and hosts numerous well–known local and international jazz artists, as well as young up–and–coming artists. For this exciting Jazz Festival to keep growing, it needs to be sustainable. To achieve this, the organisers and managers of the Jazz Festival need to know what is important to the visitors of the Jazz Festival, so they can fulfil their needs. This in turn leads to satisfied visitors that will return to the Jazz Festival and keep the festival sustainable. Generally speaking, music festivals have a more professional management approach than other tourism events and thus are more likely to be more successful. Key Success Factors (KSFs) are a precondition for the success of any event and will influence the competitiveness of the event in the market place. It is imperative for organisers to identify the KSFs that are important to the visitors so as to provide them with a satisfactory experience. This will also assist in measuring the achievement of the event’s goals and objectives. The main purpose of this study was to determine the KSFs in managing the visitor experience at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. To reach this goal, the study is divided into two articles. Research for both articles was conducted at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival through distributing 400 questionnaires randomly throughout the two days of the festival, which was held on 3 and 4 April 2010. Article 1 is titled: “Key aspects for efficient and effective management of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival: a visitor’s perspective”. The main purpose of this article was to identify the Key Success Factors in managing the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, to determine what visitors deemed as important when attending the Jazz Festival. A factor analysis was done to achieve this goal. Results indicated that Hospitality Factors, Quality Venues, Information Dissemination, Marketing and Sales, and Value and Quality are the KSFs that are of importance when managing the Jazz Festival. The results of this article provided festival managers with valuable information when organising an event such as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Article 2 is titled: “The importance of different Key Success Factors to different target markets of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival based on travel motives”. The main purpose of this article was to determine whether different target markets that are visiting the Jazz Festival, deemed different KSFs as important, depending on their travel motives. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done to determine if there were statistically significant differences between the three clusters and the KSFs that they deemed important. Results showed that the three clusters, namely, Escapists, Culture Seekers and Jazz Lovers, deemed different KSFs as important when they are visiting the Jazz Festival. The results of this article gave festival organisers and marketing managers insight as to which markets to focus scarce marketing resources on and which markets to keep growing, as they will sustain the festival in the long term. Therefore, this research revealed the KSFs that are of utmost importance when managing the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, and that these aspects differ for certain markets. Organisers therefore need to assess the KSFs to provide products that will satisfy the visitor in order for him/her to return each year and keep the festival competitive and sustainable. / Thesis (M.Com. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The event tourism industry is one of the fastest growing tourism industries worldwide. One type of event that is growing immensely is festivals, especially music festivals such as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. As a result of the fast growing pace of festivals, it has become crucial for a festival to sustain itself in the market place to stay competitive. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (the Jazz Festival) is a fast growing music festival and hosts numerous well–known local and international jazz artists, as well as young up–and–coming artists. For this exciting Jazz Festival to keep growing, it needs to be sustainable. To achieve this, the organisers and managers of the Jazz Festival need to know what is important to the visitors of the Jazz Festival, so they can fulfil their needs. This in turn leads to satisfied visitors that will return to the Jazz Festival and keep the festival sustainable. Generally speaking, music festivals have a more professional management approach than other tourism events and thus are more likely to be more successful. Key Success Factors (KSFs) are a precondition for the success of any event and will influence the competitiveness of the event in the market place. It is imperative for organisers to identify the KSFs that are important to the visitors so as to provide them with a satisfactory experience. This will also assist in measuring the achievement of the event’s goals and objectives. The main purpose of this study was to determine the KSFs in managing the visitor experience at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. To reach this goal, the study is divided into two articles. Research for both articles was conducted at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival through distributing 400 questionnaires randomly throughout the two days of the festival, which was held on 3 and 4 April 2010. Article 1 is titled: “Key aspects for efficient and effective management of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival: a visitor’s perspective”. The main purpose of this article was to identify the Key Success Factors in managing the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, to determine what visitors deemed as important when attending the Jazz Festival. A factor analysis was done to achieve this goal. Results indicated that Hospitality Factors, Quality Venues, Information Dissemination, Marketing and Sales, and Value and Quality are the KSFs that are of importance when managing the Jazz Festival. The results of this article provided festival managers with valuable information when organising an event such as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Article 2 is titled: “The importance of different Key Success Factors to different target markets of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival based on travel motives”. The main purpose of this article was to determine whether different target markets that are visiting the Jazz Festival, deemed different KSFs as important, depending on their travel motives. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done to determine if there were statistically significant differences between the three clusters and the KSFs that they deemed important. Results showed that the three clusters, namely, Escapists, Culture Seekers and Jazz Lovers, deemed different KSFs as important when they are visiting the Jazz Festival. The results of this article gave festival organisers and marketing managers insight as to which markets to focus scarce marketing resources on and which markets to keep growing, as they will sustain the festival in the long term. Therefore, this research revealed the KSFs that are of utmost importance when managing the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, and that these aspects differ for certain markets. Organisers therefore need to assess the KSFs to provide products that will satisfy the visitor in order for him/her to return each year and keep the festival competitive and sustainable. / Thesis (M.Com. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.