Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to provide the first in depth description of the natuurboerdery farming system as developed and adopted by ZZ2, a privately-owned farming conglomerate in South Africa. Natuurboerdery aims to increase agricultural productivity and sustainability while maintaining environmental integrity to contribute to overall sustainability. A case study research design using multiple sources and techniques for data gathering was applied to investigate the reasons for and process of converting from conventional farming to natuurboerdery, describe the principles and practices of natuurboerdery farming and document the changes and benefits realised by conversion. It was established that ZZ2 converted to natuurboerdery farming due to the challenges associated with conventional methods of farming. The main challenges ZZ2 experienced were recurrent pests and diseases which were becoming difficult to control with inorganic pesticides, large decreases in yields and unsustainable production outputs or returns to support production costs mainly due to the escalating cost of inorganic pesticides and fertilisers. ZZ2 also became aware of the growing customer demand for healthy food produced by ethically accepted methods while minimising environmental degradation. A conceptual framework was developed to describe the natuurboerdery farming system, based on five principles or health aspects: agro-ecosystem health, soil health, plant health, food health and human health. All of the practices developed and adopted by ZZ2 were described and classified in terms of this framework. Natuurboerdery integrates the use of inorganic fertilisers and organic soil amendments for soil health and plant nutrition; inorganic pesticides, fermented plant extracts from herbal plants with insecticidal properties, EM products, compost teas and biological control agents for plant protection. The conversion to natuurboerdery resulted in changes and benefits which were described and classified under: strategic and technical, economic, social and ecological and environmental. The main findings were that soil health has improved, soil organic carbon levels have increased, the use of inorganic products for plant nutrition and protection has decreased with significant cost savings, yields have risen, water availability has increased and energy spending has been reduced. The conclusions drawn from the research findings indicate that natuurboerdery is neither organic nor conventional farming which indicates that inorganic and organic inputs are compatible in sustainable farming systems. The natuurboerdery farming approach is a potentially sustainable farming system which works with nature. Areas for further scholarship, research and recommendations have been identified to improve the sustainability of natuurboerdery. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie tesis was om die eerste in-diepte beskrywing van natuurboerdery saam te stel soos dit deur ZZ2 ontwikkel en gebruik is. ZZ2 is ‘n Suid Afrikaanse boerdery konglomoraat in privaatbesit. Natuurboerdery beoog om boerdery produktiwiteit en volhoubaarheid te verhoog, terwyl dit die integriteit van die natuuur in stand hou om tot algehele volhoubaarheid by te dra. ‘n Gevallestudie is as navosingsontwerp gebruik en verskeie bronne en metodes is toegepas om inligting in te samel. Die proses en redes vir die oorskakeling van konvensionele boerdery na natuurboerdery is ondersoek, terwyl die beginsels en praktyke van natuurboerdery beskryf is en die veranderings en voordele van die oorskakeling gedokumenteer is. Dit is vasgestel dat ZZ2 na natuurboerdery omgeskakel het as gevolg van uitdagings wat met konvensionele boerderymetodes gesassosieer word. Die hoof-uitdagings wat ZZ2 ondervind het was terugkerende peste en siektes wat moeilik beheerbaar was met onorganiese plaagdoders, groot afnames van oeste en onvolhoubare produksie uitkomste of winste om die produksiekostes te dra. Stygende pryse van onorganiese plaagdoders en kunsmis was die grootste oorsaak van hoë produksiekostes. ZZ2 het ook bewus geraak van die groeinde klante-aanvraag vir gesonde kos wat op eties-aanvaarbare metodes geproduseer is en skade aan die natuurlike omgewing verminder. ‘n Konsepsuele raamwerk is ontwikkel om natuurboerdery as ‘n boerdery-sisteem te beskryf en is gebasseer om vyf beginsels of gesondheidsaspekte: agroekosisteemgesondheid, grondgesondheid, plantgesondheid, voedselgesondheid en menslike gesondheid. Al hierdie praktyke wat deur ZZ2 ontwikkel en gebruik is word in hierdie tesis beskryf en geklassifisseer in terme van die konsepsuele raamwerk. Natuurbeordery integreer die gebruik van onorganiese kunsmis en organiese grondwysigings vir grondgesondheid en plantvoeding. Geïntegreerde praktyke sluit in: onorganieise plaagdoders, gefermenteerde kruieplant-ekstrakte met insek-bestrydende einskappe, EM produkte, kompos-tees en biologiese beheeragente vir plantbeskerming. Die oorskakeling na natuurboerdery het sekere veranderings en voordele gehad. Dit word geklassifiseer volgens die betrekking wat dit het op die strategiese en tegniese, ekonomiese, maatskaplike en ekologiese en omgewings-aspekte van ZZ2. Die hoofbevindings was verbeterde grondgesondheid, verhoogde organiese koolstofvlakke in die grond, laer gebruik van onorganiese produkte vir plantvoeding en beskerming met noemenswaardige koste-besparings, verhoodge oeste en waterbeskikbaarheid, en kleiner spandering op energie. Die navorsingsbevindings wys daarop dat natuurboerdery nie organies of konvensionele boerdery is nie en dat onorganiese en organiese insette dus verenigbaar is in volhoubare boerdery-sisteme. Die natuurboerdery uitkyk is ‘n potensiële volhoubare boerderysisteem wat in staat is om saam die natuur te werk. Areas vir verdere studie, navorsing en voorstelle is geïdentifiseer om die volhoubaarheid van natuurboerdery te verbeter.

Thesis (MPA (Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Local Government Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA, Act 56 of 2003) is the final piece of legislation to completely overhaul local government budgeting and financial management in South Africa. The MFMA recognises that previous budgeting and financial management practices of municipalities suffered from a number of weaknesses that hampered transformation and service delivery in communities. This research project evaluates the local government budget process and implementation within the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM) by focusing on the framework within the MFMA and providing a budget process guideline for the annual budgets of municipalities. Specifically, the roles and responsibilities of various role-players within the budget process are clarified. Key characteristics of the budget process are also evaluated as well as key challenges and constraints within local government. The elements crucial to a good budget process includes: establishing broad goals to guide local government decision-making; developing approaches to achieve goals; developing a budget consistent with these approaches to achieve goals and evaluation of performance and making adjustments. Furthermore the various outcomes and opportunities within the budget process, particularly at the Cape Winelands District Municipality are identified. A simplified guide to the budget process and essential recommendations were made. Recent local community issues and public debate on local government finances – pertaining to corruption, mismanagement and lack of service delivery – can adversely affect the community’s confidence in municipalities to deliver services. As the last sphere of government to undergo transformation, municipalities find it difficult and more challenging to effectively address the multiplicity of issues and needs within the community. The transformation in public financial management, particularly, public budgeting, is crucial in ensuring a smooth transition to a better life for all. For the budget process to be successful, all role-players must recognise that with the implementation of the MFMA, a re-engineering of the budget process needs to take place. The organisational structure and financial budgeting framework must change from one of control to one of management. Role-players, individuals and departments within municipalities – that have for years ‘jealously guarded their turf’ must work together to improve public budgeting, implementation, transparency and delivery – a difficult challenge that is not easily tackled. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Wet op Plaaslike Regering: Munisipale Finansiële Bestuur, 2003 (WMFB,Wet 56 van 2003) is van die wetgewing wat ingestel is op plaaslike regeringsvlak om veranderinge in veral munisipale begrotings en finansiële bestuur in Suid Afrika te weeg te bring. Die WMFB erken en stel dit duidelik dat vorige praktyke in begroting en finansiële bestuur van munisipaliteite, veranderinge, transformasie en dienslewering in gemeenskappe verhinder het. Hierdie navorsingsprojek evalueer die begrotingsproses en implementering in die Kaapse Wynland Distriksmunisipaliteit met die fokus op die raamwerk binne die WMFB. Duidelike riglyne word voorgestel wat die jaarlikse begrotingsproses van munisipaliteite uiteensit. Meer spesifiek word daar ook gekyk na die rolle en verantwoordelikhede van die verskeie rolspelers in die begrotingsproses. Die kritieke eienskappe van die begrotingsproses word ook ge-evalueer sowel as die uitdagings en tekortkominge binne plaaslike owerhede. Die belangrike eienskappe van ’n goeie begrotingsproses sluit in: die vestiging van breë doelwitte om sodoende leiding te verskaf vir besluite wat deur die Plaaslike Regering gemaak word; die ontwikkeling van verskeie benaderinge om doelwitte te bereik en die evaluering van prestasie sowel as veranderinge wat aangebring word. Verder word daar ook gekyk na die verskeie resultate en geleenthede binne die begrotingsproses soos identifiseer by die Kaapse Wynland Distriksmunisipaliteit. Onlangse gemeenskapsprobleme en debatte oor munisipale dienslewering en veral finansiële bestuur – soos korrupsie, wanbestuur en geen dienslewering – kan ‘n negatiewe invloed hê op gemeenskappe se vertroue in munisipaliteite om wèl noodsaaklike dienste aan die gemeenskap te lewer. As die laaste regeringsvlak om transformasie te ondergaan, vind munisipaliteite dit al moeiliker en meer uitdagend om aan die gemeenskap se wye spektrum van behoeftes te voorsien. Die huidige veranderinge en transformasie in openbare finansiële bestuur, veral die begrotingsproses, is belangrik sodat tranformasie gouer kan plaasvind vir ‘n beter lewe vir almal. Vir die begrotingsproses om suksesvol te wees, sal alle rolspelers moet erken dat met die implementering van die WMFB, ‘n herstruktuering van die begrotingsproses noodsaaklik is. Die strukture binne organisasies sowel as die finansiële begrotingsraamwerke, moet verander vanaf ‘n situasie van kontrole tot hedendaagse bestuursmeganismes. Rolspelers, individue en departemente binne munisipaliteite wat oor jare hul ‘eie stukkie grond’ jaloers beskerm en verdedig het, sal moet saamwerk om die openbare begrotingsproses, implementering, deursigtigheid en dienslewering in die gemeenskap te verbeter. ‘n Moeilike en uitdagende taak wat nie maklik aangepak kan word nie.

Thesis (MA (Development Admin.))--University of Stellenbosch, 1975. / A detailed account of the geography, history and demography of the Caprivi was compiled and in addition an investigation of the Fwe kinship structure and social organization and their judicial process was carried out. This study provided a framework within which Fwe law operates.

This study reports research about innovation and change in the professional practice of the staff at the Library and Information Service (LIS) staff at Curtin University of Technology, Perth, in Western Australia. The historical context of the study is Australian higher education and university libraries in the early 1990s. It reports, examines and analyzes key events and activities of the LIS staff strategic planning process both as an educational innovation and a driver of change in professional practice. The investigation of educational innovation and change is the object of the study, specifically the application of strategic planning.Literature from the 30-year history of writing and research about educational innovation and change is reviewed in terms of its relevance to the study. In addition, selected literature about organizational theory and strategic planning in libraries is presented. From this literature emerged the particular innovation and change framework, which guide the research.A justification for the selection of the particular research approach is explained and data collection, organization and analysis are described. The study uses official LIS corporate records as its primary source of data, supplemented by published materials to assist in the explanation of the particular circumstances of the LIS case.The results of the data analysis are presented in terms of the key events and activities of the LIS case. From this analysis conclusions are drawn in relation to the research questions which underpin the study and in terms of the component parts of the innovation and change framework. In particular, conclusions relate to the key organizational factors shaping the response to innovation; the characteristics of the context of change; key organizational processes helping to ensure successful adoption; the articulation of a shared vision and ++ / processes to ensure a shared vision. In relation to the innovation and change framework the change process is viewed as adoption dominated; as a move towards a learning organization; through the characteristics of the context of change and through other factors influencing change.Flowing from the research findings, recommendations are made for professional practice and further research.As a case study that reports, examines and analyses the complex dimensions of organizational change, the study is rich in detail and provides a real-life example of organizational and educational change.

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2007. / Abstract and vita. Includes final project proposal. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 190-196, 74-78).

Diss. Stockholm : Tekn. högsk., 2005.

The study is concerned with evaluating the growth strategy of MBSA Consulting which is primarily aligned to the key principles of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). As a black owned company practising in the field of civil engineering consulting, there is strong competition from both established companies and other BEE companies. The literature review included the general overview of South African legislation and regulation related to BEE and has also revisited the academic framework in the field of strategic management. According to the findings of the study, clients of MBSA which are mainly government departments and institutions are generally satisfied with the work of MBSA. However, they felt that MBSA should incorporate non-Historically Disadvantaged Individuals in order for them to compete with established companies which generally are owned and managed by non-HDls. The findings of the study revealed that the employee satisfaction level of MBSA employees is good and that can translate to employee encouragement to stay longer with the firm. Finally, the study concluded that MBSA's growth strategy is feasible and there is potential for this company although the issue of skills shortage in the country remains a problem. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

Today, the only certainty is uncertainty. The rate of change is continuing on a steep curve upward, information is growing in volume constantly, and the complexity of the marketplace is increasing exponentially. In order to survive, decision-makers need to anticipate and accommodate developments in the world outside, to sustain and exceed their core competitive advantage. The question is how do they go about doing this? The answer lies in competitive intelligence! Competitive Intelligence is a systematic process involving planning, gathering, analysing and disseminating information on external environment for opportunities or developments that have the potential to affect a company's competitive situation. Research reveals that competitive intelligence (Cl) has evolved from an informal into a formal discipline. While many still confuse it with just being competitor information, it has proven to expand much further into a meaningful and value-added input in the strategic decision-making process. Decisionmakers need to be equipped with the proper tools before they start the strategic planning process. The purpose of this research study is to explore the impact of competitive intelligence practices on strategic decision-making. It aims to identify the best way forward in making competitive intelligence more credible within organisations. The accelerating speed and complexity of change in the business environment places a heightened premium on timely, rigorous understanding of developing threats and opportunities. Consequently, the success of competitive advantage within organisations increasingly depends on aggressive and systematic competitive intelligence efforts to support and enable strategic decision-making. The study presents an holistic competitive intelligence framework, taking theoretical, best practices and a case study approach, enabling any organisation to successfully adapt Cl processes and structures in any given situation. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, 2003.

Natural resources are part of the social capital. It is useful to classify them in relation to their use by man. Renewable resources can be used and yet perpetuated at a given Isvel of quantity and quality. They include the attributes of soil and landscape, the btotic and water resources. Minerals and fossil fuels, on the other hand are depleted through use. They are non-renewable resources. Renewable resources, together with man, comprise a dynamic bio-system. Any usage of resources affects the system and, in turn, society and vice versa. The resource uses considered here are agriculture, horticulture, forestry, grazing, and watershed protection. These uses embrace an area's rural sector. This includes that part of the output of goods and services and of employment in the economy which depends on the use of land conceived as a natural resource. A conjoint consideration of all the above uses is required to adapt an area's resource-use pattern to society's needs. For this, case studies are needed. This Investigation pertains to Kashmir valley in north India. The role of renewable resources in development is analysed in chapter II. This provides a conceptual background. In a poor region like Kashmir, renewable resources have an important place in catalysing development. This involves the transformation of the available renewable resource capital, such as forests, into more productive forms. Additionally, the effects of the increasing man/land ratio can be offset through an intensification of land-use. A conservationist policy, which impedes the above process, is unhelpful to economic development. The policy should be to economizeon scares man-made capital and skills. They may be combined with larger doses of underutilized renewable resources and unskilled labour. The question in development is not of locking up the social capital for posterity or of canalising society's limited resources into one or the other sector. It is of allocating resources to most productive opportunities. The planning method evolved here consists of synthesising biotechnical, economic and institutional analyses. The analytical stages do not rigidly follow this order; for, in practice, one analysis has feed-back effects on another.[See text for remainder of abstract].

In recent yerars there has been a general concern over the performance of the UK construction industry. This has been reflected in the reports of Latham (1994) and Egan (1998) stating that the UK is still suffering from underachievements and low productivity. Clients critisise the industry for not always achieving what they need and the majortiy of them are not satisfied with the quality of the construction industry. Many of the problems encountered in the design and construction phases orginate from from the pre-project planning phase. The main problems are frequently attributed to poor planning and poor identification of client needs which act as contributory factors to poor project performance. These problems have led to the need for a change in the construction industry by focusing on the roots of the problems attributed to poor performance. One approach that could help to improve construction performance is to pay more attention to the pre-project planning phase since major decisions concerning the project are made during this phase. The main aim of the research is to develop a framework for improving pre-project planning to enable construction clients overcome the problems that they encounter with other project participants. Such a framework would assisst construction clients to identify and communicate their needs more clearly to other stake holders. The framework provides a comprehensive tool to help solve problems that occur during pre-project planning with respect to project objectives and goals of the construction project to enable performance to be measured and improved. This thesis presents a framework for improving pre-project planning of construction projects. The methodology adopted to conduct the research involved a comprehensive literature review. Critical pre-project planning functions have been presented and tested through the questionnaire survey and case interviews to determine how clients perform pre-project planning