I experimentally examine whether disclosure of corporate social responsibility (CSR) investment facilitates cooperation in business collaborations. Business collaborations are essential for firms to maintain their competitive advantage. However, half of all ventures fail. A major reason for this high failure rate is a lack of cooperation among business collaboration partners, known as relational risk. Findings suggest that CSR disclosure leads to greater CSR investment, but does not result in an overall higher level of cooperation. However, CSR disclosure moderates the link between CSR investment and cooperation. When CSR investment is disclosed, cooperation is highest when both managers invest in CSR. Further, managers who invest in CSR are more sensitive to CSR disclosure information than managers who do not invest in CSR. Managers who invest in CSR are more cooperative when they receive a signal their partner also invested in CSR. Managers who do not invest in CSR do not attend to CSR disclosure information and are equally cooperative when partnered with a CSR investor or a non-CSR investor. Finally, when CSR investment is not disclosed, managers who invest in CSR are no more likely to cooperate than managers who do not invest in CSR. Although CSR is widespread, little is known about why managers invest in CSR or disclose CSR information. This study has implications for practitioners and academics on CSR by demonstrating a potential benefit of CSR investment and disclosure, mitigating relational risk in business collaborations.

A number of issues in the thesis need to be clarified and will be discussed individually below. The term Third World, which is used in the thesis to describe developing countries in a disadvantageous economic position in relation to developed countries, is unsatisfactory. It is a collective term which combines countries with dissimilar cultures, ideologies and future prospects into one category (De Souza & Porter, 1974). Debate continues whether South Africa can be classified as a First or Third World country (Fair, 1982). Rogerson & Beavon (1980) indicate that South Africa can be described as dichotomous because it reflects characteristics of both First and Third World countries. In comparison De Souza & Porter (1974,1) include South Africa among the Third World countries, because four-fifths of the people have an income that is six times less than the income of the other fifth, and they live in a condition of underdevelopment. Conditions in Fingo Village resemble those described by De Souza & Porter (1974) and hence the results of the Fingo Village survey are compared with similar studies, elsewhere in the Third World. However, it would be naive to assume that Fingo Village is unaffected by development within the core regions of South Africa, which in many instances epitomize the First World. The term informal sector, used throughout the thesis, is also unsatisfactory, and debate continues as theorists attempt to find a more appropriate term. Santos (1979) indicates that the term informal sector is contentious, by placing it in single quotation marks. From the literature survey it emerged that the majority of authors did not follow Santos' convention (1979) and thus it seemed acceptable to use the term, informal sector, without placing it in single quotation marks. Chapter Two deals in-depth with the problem of defining the informal sector, and a working definition for the Fingo Village survey is presented in section 2.4.1. The informal sector embraces a wide diversity of economic activities. Due to the limited time and funds available, it was decided to isolate one aspect of this sector, namely, hawking. Sections 2.3 and 2.7 of Chapter Two indicate that hawking is an exemplary informal sector activity. All the different hawking types could not be given close attention and therefore, for practical purposes, it was decided to select one facet of hawking, namely, fruit and vegetable hawkers. Mobile fruit and vegetable hawkers were excluded from the study as it was impossible, during the mapping survey, to isolate a specific hawking site for each mobile hawker. Furthermore, a mobile hawker could easily be enumerated on more than one occasion, and hence a margin of error would automatically occur in the study. This was another reason for excluding mobile hawkers from the study and merely focusing upon static and semi-static fruit and vegetable hawkers. It is difficult to collect comprehensive quantitative data on informal sector activities (Preston-Whyte et al, 1984). The interviewer has to gain the confidence and trust of the subjects. The interviewer for the Fingo Village survey was a well known local personality and a man of some standing in the Black community. Daniel Sandi was the Secretary, of the Grahamstown Association (GRACA), which was reputed to have the support of the majority of the Black residents in Grahamstown until it was banned under the State of Emergency in July 1985. Daniel Sandi was also known for his contribution in literary circles as an epic poet. His previous experience conducting socio-economic surveys, as a researcher for the Border Council of Churches and as the Teba Research Assistant for the Institute of Social and Economic Research, Rhodes University, was also helpful. Sporadic unrest in the study area, from September 1984 and throughout 1985, prevented further fieldwork from being conducted in Fingo Village.

Notre recherche doctorale vise la problématisation des TIC, le téléphone mobile en rapport avecla question du développement socio-économique au Congo-Brazzaville. C’est l’occasion de mettre entension les discours des acteurs institutionnels et les pratiques des usagers. Nous inscrivons notre problématique en SIC, dont le « caractère interdisciplinaire peut permettre de multiplier les angles de vue » (Loneux, 2007). Nous privilégions le projet scientifique d’Harold Garfinkel, l’ethnométhodologie, en tant qu’ « analyse des façons de faire ordinaires que les acteurs sociaux ordinaires mobilisent afin de réaliser leurs actions ordinaires » (Mucchielli, 2004). La notion de communication est au coeur de notre réflexion : saisir la propension de l’activité communicationnelle à participer aux reconfigurations des pratiques socio-organisationnelles. Ainsi, notre perspective d’interprétation du réel s’emploie à dépasser les présupposés patents ou inavoués pour prétendre mettre en lumière, puis en discussion, les nouveauxmodes d’appropriation du téléphone mobile dans les nouvelles formes d’organisation des activités socioéconomiquesdes acteurs en contexte situé. Les discours de légitimation des TIC des officiels congolais relèvent de la pure « dépossession de la discursivité ». Or, les TIC ne peuvent servir le développement intégral que si les populations qui les utilisent se les approprient dans leur vie quotidienne. En ce sens, les usages du téléphone mobile ne peuvent pas être envisagés comme étant isolés, plutôt dans leur « enchâssement » dans les autres pratiques sociales des usagers congolais. Les résultats de cette recherche visent donc à enrichir les débats en SIC autour des nouvelles visions sur l’usage des TIC / This doctoral research aims to problematize ICT, connecting the mobile phone with the socioeconomic development in Congo - Brazzaville. It is the opportunity to oppose the discourses of institutional actors and practices user. We record our problem in CIS, which the "interdisciplinary nature can help to multiply the angles" (Loneux, 2007). We favor the scientific project of Harold Garfinkel, namely ethnomethodology, as an "analysis of ordinary ways to make that ordinary social actors mobilize to achieve their common shares" (Mucchielli, 2004). The notion of communication is at the heart of our reflexion : to understand the propensity of communicative activity to participate in reconfigurations of socio-organizational practices. Thus, our perspective of interpretation of reality seeks to overcome overt or unspoken presuppositions to reveal and discuss the new modes of ownership of the mobile phone in the new forms of organization of the socio-economic activities of the actors within a given environment. The discourse of legitimation of ICT Congolese officials is pure "dispossession of discursivity", (Serge Latouche, 1986). However, ICT can not serve the integral development unless people appropriate them in their daily lives. In this sense, the uses of the mobile phone cannot be considered as isolated but should be seen in their "entrenchement" in existing social practices of Congolese users. The results of this research thus aim to enrich the debates in SIC around new visions on the use of ICT

Masters of Art / This thesis explores the shifting cultural identities of young Owambo migrants living in Babilon, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Windhoek, Namibia. Through an investigation of their social, cultural and economic lives, I show how these young people invoke their Owambo-ness, but how they also transcend their ethnic identifications through engaging in an emerging Namibian youth culture, which cuts across rural-urban, ethnic, and socio-economic divides. I argue that young migrants from Ovamboland, who intend to escape their poverty stricken rural homes and arrive on packed busses, bringing with them few possessions and great expectations, constantly shift and resituate their cultural identities while trying to make a living in the city. These young people are eager to engage fully in a better life and hope to find employment in the urban economy. For many, however, this remains just that - hope. In their daily lives, the young migrants replicate, reproduce and represent rural Owambo within the urban space. Using the examples of 'traditional' food and small-scale urban agriculture, I explore how their ideas of Owambo-ness are imagined, enforced and lived in Babilon. I argue that although migrants identify themselves in many ways with their rural homes, and retain rural values and practices to a large extent, this does not mean that they would remain "tribesmen", as earlier, how classic studies in Southern African urban anthropology argued (Mayer 1961; Wilson and Mafeje 1963). They also appropriate "ideologies" and practices of the emerging Namibian youth culture, especially popular local music and cell phones. My study thus shows that the migrants develop multiple, fluid identities (with reference to Bank 2002); they identify concurrently with the urban and the rural and develop a synthesis of both. The thesis is based on ethnographic research, which was conducted between February and May 2008. During the fieldwork, I engaged daily in informal discussions with many residents of Babilon, and carried out life history interviews, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews with key research participants. / South Africa

Magister Philosophiae (Land and Agrarian Studies) - MPhil(LAS) / In the Western Cape, snoek (Thyrsites atun) is a target for small scale fisheries. This fishery is comprised of recreational, subsistence and traditional line fisheries in the province. Snoek contributes 40% to 50% of the line fish which is landed. This thesis sought to identify the roles which are performed by informal snoek traders in certain Cape Town coloured1 townships in the snoek value chain. There are various aspects of this fish which heightens its importance in the Western Cape. Snoek is significant in the provision of food security for many poor and working class individuals and households within the coloured townships of Cape Town. Snoek is an omega 3-rich fish and is one of the Cape’s most well-known gastronomic traditions. It provides affordable and easily absorbable proteins, vitamins and minerals for township people. Poor people mostly rely on starches and fail to afford the most expensive protein sources like red meat. The snoek trade also helps in the creation of jobs and enables people to earn cash income. The study revealed that there is specialisation and division of labour between snoek traders and fishers. Snoek is sold via the auction system at the various landing zones scattered all over the Western Cape. It was observed that the snoek value chain is dominated by men and there are few women in the value chain who sell or clean snoek. Informal snoek traders ply their business next to shops or on the sides of busy roads using ‘bakkies’2 from where the fish is flayed and sold to the waiting customer to emphasise its freshness. Snoek traders create convenience by bringing fresh fish to customers in the townships. They also assume risks which come with venturing in business. Some snoek traders engage in multiple livelihood strategies by diversifying income generating activities rather than relying on one income source. Among the several challenges which snoek traders confront, one pressing challenge they need to address is their lack of organisation which prohibits them from speaking with one voice. The snoek value chain should be more efficient so that it keeps supplying the much needed nutrients in the townships. Both primary and secondary data collection techniques were used. Snoek traders face a myriad of challenges which require the authorities to address. They have no access to infrastructure with sanitary facilities. The other problem they face is that they are disorganised amongst themselves which weaken their cause. Traders and fishers would like to see the real transformation taking place within this snoek fishery. Traders are convinced that there is corruption within the fisheries department and many have lost faith in the system.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / This study assesses the challenges of microfinance and its prospects for poverty reduction in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. It further assesses the challenges faced by the regulators of microfinance in this economy. In doing so, the study informs the policy makers in Lesotho about strategies that could be adopted to improve the microfinance industry in the country for the benefit of a large sector of the population that does not have access to formal lending channels. The study examined ten informal and formal microfinance groups, five representatives of the formal institutions and two from the Government: the Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL) and the Ministry of Finance and Social Development. The results of the study reveal some fundamental lessons for microfinance industry in Maseru, Lesotho, which could be applicable to other developing countries as well. First, microfinance in Maseru has had a positive change on the lives of its participants as articulated by the interviewees in this study. Second, it has promoted entrepreneurship and enabled its participants to open small and medium enterprises. The results of which has been a shift in consumption patterns of participants and poverty reduction. Despite the positive impacts, microfinance in Maseru has had challenges. These challenges include unlawful practices undertaken by the informal microfinance institutions such as seizure of the assets from those who default on their loans. The lending risks faced by formal institutions as well as regulation challenges by the CBL. The policy implication of this study is that the CBL and the Ministry of Finance need to require informal groups to register for licences to eliminate the level of corruption and unlawful practices experienced in the informal microfinance industry.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / The involvement of local communities in crime prevention programmes emerged as an alternative strategy for fighting and preventing crime after the failure of the criminal justice system to control and deter criminal activities effectively. Governments across the globe regard local communities as key actors in fighting and preventing crime. Community participation in crime prevention has become a key strategy to improve safety and security. The main aim of this study is to explore the extent to which residents of Khayelitsha contribute to the maintenance of security and order in their area; and to investigate the extent to which residents are empowered to solve crime problems on their own. The framework of this study is grounded on theories of crime namely: occupational choice, social learning, and social disorganisation; and concepts such as crime, crime prevention, and community participation. The literature review of this study focuses crime situation in South Africa with emphasis on crime trends, costs of crime, determinants of crime, and attempts made by the South African government to fight and prevent crime at national and local government levels. The study used key informant in-depth interviews with representatives of anti-crime community-based organisations in Site B and as well as ordinary residents of Site B. Data of this study is largely qualitative although it is supplemented with quantitative data relating to crime statistics which was collected as secondary data. In this study, both narratives and crime statistics reveal that robbery and theft-related crimes, drug abuse, and assaults are among the most predominant crimes. All informants perceived poverty and the use of drugs and alcohol as root causes of crime in Site B. The residents contribute in preventing and fighting crime in Site B by engaging in the following activities: patrolling streets as volunteers in Community Policing Forums (CPF); and providing crimerelated information to anti-crime organisations such as South African Police Service (SAPS), South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO), and Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF). The residents also get involved in crime prevention informally by exercising informal social sanctions. However, challenges such as ineffectiveness of the law enforcement and lack of financial support hinder the residents’ participation in crime prevention.

Seminario para optar al Título de Ingeniero Comercial / Dada la gran cantidad de empresas informales que se desarrollan hoy en día en nuestro país, provocando el ejercicio de las actividades económicas bajo una gran irregularidad y precarias condiciones laborales, la siguiente investigación busca identificar este problema que atañe directamente al empleo y al desarrollo económico de Chile. Se analiza la cuantificación del sector informal y se caracterizan e identifican las principales limitantes que tienen los microempresarios y TCP informales. En primera instancia, podemos decir que el término informal es un concepto muy relativo y depende de las interpretaciones y políticas que se quieran aplicar al respecto. En términos generales para nuestro país, se tiende a asociar este sector con baja escolaridad, con pobreza y con un difícil acceso a capitales y recursos. Estas variables, exponen a los individuos a una gran vulnerabilidad y mínimas condiciones de vida, lo cual les limita el desarrollo de sus negocios en los mercados modernos, relegándolos a moverse en un escenario de irregularidad, actuando al margen de las estipulaciones legales existentes, llámense éstas iniciación de actividades, declaración de impuestos y permisos municipales o patentes. Existen muchos obstáculos que hacen que estos individuos permanezcan en una situación de informalidad, la principal razón que encontramos en el estudio es la falta de recursos para cumplir con las obligaciones que implica mantenerse en la formalidad y que además les limita el acceso a oportunidades. Las distintas percepciones que se tienen respecto de la formalización, varían principalmente por el nivel de educación y las condiciones de vida en las que estos individuos permanecen, pero en términos generales apreciamos que no existe una fuerte motivación para formalizarse ya que no lo ven como un mecanismo efectivo para crecer.

A dearth of information was found to guide food product formulation for low-income consumers. The political change in South Africa and neighbouring countries and the accompanying influx to economic centres, resulted in the unprecedented growth of urbanised informal settlements. These communities, accommodating the poorest of the poor and experiencing a high prevalence of nutritional devastation, indicated a merited project opportunity. The purpose of the study was to develop a food product formulation framework for low-income consumers living in urbanised informal settlements in South Africa. The unique contribution of this approach is based on the depiction of the food product attribute (concept) needs perceived as most important by these respondents during purchasing choice of their staple food, maize meal. The study comprised five sub-objectives, executed in three phases. The concepts required by low-income consumers were identified, selected and organised through a baseline survey in an informal settlement (n = 60). Satiety value, affordability, packaging size, value for money and taste were identified, in sequence, as the most important design parameters for the framework. The food industry (n = 17) indicated affordability, nutrient content, taste and product quality as the food product attributes of most importance during food product development, indicating a discrepancy. Phase 2 of this study consisted of two parallel approaches, comprising an extended survey to validate the suggested design parameters in the target market against an established product maize meal) (quantitative approach) and the description of the identified concepts to reveal embedded elements to clarify terminology use (qualitative approach). Three informal (n = 401) and one formal (n = 101) settlement were involved. All groups agreed regarding the need for satiety value, product acceptability, convenience and the influence of household factors. Consumers from the informal settlements identified satiety value and affordability as of highest importance, followed by taste. Appearance, product quality, texture, product safety/ shelf life, brand loyalty and nutrient content were indicated as less important, prioritising concepts linked to survival during severely constrained economic conditions. Consumers living in the urbanised formal settlement, identified taste as the key concept. Focus group discussions revealed no differences in the meaning ascribed to terminology, although perceptions reflected the variance in income level. The identified concept elements revealed the interlinked nature of satiety value and affordability. Differences in the understanding of concepts between these consumers and literature, were revealed. Concepts to consider when developing food products for low-income consumers were identified as satiety value, affordability, taste, product acceptability, convenience/ ease of preparation, household influence, appearance, value for money, product quality, packaging size, texture, product safety/ shelf life, brand loyalty and nutrient content, in the stated sequence. A framework was proposed. However, from a humanitarian point of view, nutrient content cannot be ignored by the food industry. As the key to market success lies in the potential of a product to find solutions relating to its physical nature, as well as in the use and advantages of the product, the results of this research project have great application value. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Consumer Science / unrestricted

Informal settlements are a common occurrence in South African due to housing backlogs and shortage of housing subsidies, and are often located on disputed land. To improve in-situ circumstances of these communities, informal settlement upgrades and urban design is required. Spatial data and maps are essential throughout the entire upgrading and urban design process in order to understand the current environment, plan new developments and communicate planned developments. All stakeholders need to understand maps to ensure active participation in the urban design process. Previous research demonstrated that a large number of planning professionals in South Africa have a relatively low level of map literacy, which is considered to be inadequate for effective planning. Many researchers proclaimed that because 3D visualisations resemble the real environment more than traditional maps, and are more intuitive, therefore 3D geovisualisations are easier to interpret. The goal of this research is to investigate the use of 3D geovisualisations (specifically 3D city models) for urban design in informal settlement upgrading in South Africa. To achieve this goal, the following topics were investigated: modelling processes (manual and procedural); visual design (visual characteristics, visual complexity and visual variables); and cognition related to spatial tasks on 3D geovisualisations and comparable alternatives (i.e. topographic maps, aerial photographs, 2D maps) when performing basic map reading tasks. Procedural modelling was found to be a feasible alternative to time-consuming manual modelling and has the capabilities to produce high-quality models. When investigating the visual design, the visualisation characteristics of 3D models of informal settlements, and relevance of a subset of visual variables for urban design activities of informal settlement upgrades were assessed. The results were used to produce various maps and 3D geovisualisations that were presented in quantitative user studies and expert interviews. The results of four user studies and expert interviews contributed to understanding the impact of various levels of complexity in 3D city models and map literacy of future geoinformatics and planning professionals when using aerial photographs, 2D maps and 3D models. The research results could assist planners in designing suitable 3D models for use throughout the entire urban design process. / As gevolg van agterstande met behuising en ’n tekort aan behuisingsubsidies, is informele woongebiede ’n algemene verskynsel in Suid-Afrika en is dit dikwels op betwiste grond geleë. Om hierdie in-situ omstandighede van die gemeenskappe te verbeter, is daar opgradering en stedelike beplanning nodig. Ruimtelike data en kaarte is deurlopend noodsaaklik vir die volledige opgradering en stadsbeplanningproses om sodoende die huidige omgewing te verstaan, nuwe ontwikkelings te beplan en die beplande ontwikkelings te kommunikeer. Dit is noodsaaklik dat alle rolspelers kaarte verstaan om aktiewe deelname aan die stedelike beplanningsproses te verseker. Vorige navorsing het getoon dat ’n groot aantal professionele beplanners in Suid-Afrika ’n relatiewe lae vlak van kaartgeletterdheid het, wat beskou word as onvoldoende om doeltreffende beplanning te kan doen. Baie navorsers maak daarop aanspraak dat 3D geovisualiserings nader aan die werklike omgewing is en dat dit meer intuïtief en makliker as tradisionele kaarte vertolk kan word. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om die gebruik van 3D geovisualiserings (meer spesifiek 3D stadsmodelle) te ondersoek om die ontwikkeling van stadsbeplanning in informele woongebiede in Suid-Afrika op te gradeer. Om hierdie doelwit te bereik, is die volgende onderwerpe nagevors: modelleringsprosesse (volgens handleidings en prosesse); visuele ontwerp (visuele eienskappe, visuele kompleksiteit en visuele veranderlikes); en die herkenning van verwante ruimtelike take op 3D geovisualiserings en vergelykbare alternatiewe (byvoorbeeld topografiese kaarte, lugfoto’s, 2D kaarte) wanneer basiese kaartlees take uitgevoer word. Prosedurele modellering is ’n haalbare alternatief teenoor tydrowende modellering volgens handleidings en dit het die moontlikhede om hoë kwaliteit modelle te lewer. By die ondersoek van visuele ontwerp is die visuele karaktereienskappe van 3D modelle van informele woongebiede en die relevantheid van ’n onderafdeling van visuele veranderlikes beoordeel/geassesseer vir ontwerpaktiwiteite by informele nedersettings. Die resultate is gebruik om verskillende kaarte en 3D geovisualiserings te skep wat in kwantitatiewe gebruikerstudies en in onderhoude met kenners aangebied is. Die resultate van vier gebruikerstudies en onderhoude met kenners, het bygedra om die impak te verstaan van verskillende moeilikheidsvlakke van 3D stadsmodelle en kaartgeletterdheid van toekomstige geoinformatika- en professionele beplanners wanneer lugfoto’s, 2D kaarte en 3D modelle gebruik word. Die navorsingsresultate kan beplanners ondersteun om geskikte 3D modelle te ontwerp wat deurlopend in die stedelike beplanningsproses gebruik kan word. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / National Research Foundation (NRF) / German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) / University of Pretoria’s vice-chancellor academic development grant / University of Pretoria’s Study Abroad programme / Centre for Geoinformation Science / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / PhD / Unrestricted