Assignment (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although there are serious hurdles to overcome before green, energy-efficient homes become common; the technological and market-based foundations are already in place to support a shift in standard practice. Many organizations, from the federal government to local non-profits, are driving the transition to more efficient homebuilding practices through research, market-based competition, and tax incentives. However, many builders are resisting the transition, due to the fragmented nature of the building industry and a perceived lack of consumer demand. Because of the nature of the US economy, until American consumers understand green homes and demand builders to build them, green homebuilding will not reach its full potential. If building practices are left unchanged, inefficient homes will continue to cause dire consequences to the world because of their contribution to global climate change. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hoewel daar ernstige struikelblokke bestaan, wat oorkom moet word alvorens groen, energie-doelmatige wonings algemeen raak, is die tegnologiese en markgerigte grondslae reeds gelê om ’n verskuiwing in standaard-praktyk te onderskraag. Verskeie instansies – van die federale regering tot nie-winsgewende organisasies – verleen stukrag deur middel van navorsing, markgerigte mededinging en belastingaansporings aan die oorgang na meer doelmatige gebruike rondom praktyke ten opsigte van die konstruksie van huise. Weens die gefragmenteerde aard van die boubedryf en die waarneembare gebrek aan verbruikersaanvraag staan talle bouers egter die vermelde oorgang teen. Weens die aard van die VSA se ekonomie en totdat Amerikaanse verbruikers groen tuistes kan verkoop en by bouers aandring om hulle op te rig, sal groen woningkonstruksie nie sy volle potensiaal bereik nie. Indien boupraktyke onveranderd gelaat word, sal ondoelmatige wonings as gevolg van hulle bydrae tot globale klimaatsverandering steeds aaklige gevolge vir die wêreld tot gevolg hê.

Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A community-centred development which can be qualified as authentic development leads to the sustainability of the community. This must be understood as a process of economic, political and social change springing from the efforts of people themselves working for the benefit of themselves, their families and, hopefully, their communities, which process can be referred to as a self-reliant participatory development. This calls for active mutual self-help among people working together in their common struggle, at the grassroots level, to deal with their common problems. It is also acknowledged that if development efforts are to be effective, then the participation of problem-affected groups is necessary, with support from local government, NGO’s, local resource people and donors, willing to live and work among them. The success of this self-reliant participatory development approach accompanied by inner conviction, a shared understanding, and awareness or consciousness-awakening that people have of their common problems, and finding ways of mobilising resources, planning, implementing and eventually controlling their own development activities. Against this background, however, the roles of government as well as of NGOs, in fighting against poverty and social transformation that leads to the development of the community, remain indispensable. Government roles should be enabling and supportive, and create a space for communities’ needs. This study aimed to explore the decentralisation process to boost the community efforts towards participation in local development management. As the public participation processes in local government do not yield the outcomes that reveal a fully optimised process, the role of the community developer is merely to create an environment of freedom within which the latent development potential of the community can bloom (Schutte, 2000:5). This Rwandan case study offers an overview of its decentralisation and community development policies. The literature review provides the definitions of key concepts regarding the topic, in both the international context as well as Rwandan context. It discusses the topic and highlights definition, objective, different forms of decentralisation, community development and its delivery framework. The findings show that community development depends on the political will that establishes effective and favourable institutions to sustain the self-reliance of the community as well as the awareness of the community of its daily problems and its participation in planning and implementing solutions. The SWOT analysis provides a situation from which to adopt new alternatives and strengthen the existing one in order to face challenges. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gemeenskapgesentreerde ontwikkeling wat kwalifiseer as oorspronklike ontwikkeling, lei tot die volhoudbaarheid van die gemeenskap. Dit moet gesien word as ‘n proses van ekonomiese, politieke en sosiale verandering wat sy oorsprong het in die pogings van die mense self, wat werk tot voordeel van hulself, hulle gesinne, en hopelik hulle gemeenskappe. Hierdie proses kan na verwys word as selfstandige deelnemende ontwikkeling. Dit vereis aktiewe, onderlinge selfhulp waar mense saamwerk en saamstreef op voetsoolvlak, om hulle gemeenskaplike probleme te oorkom. Daar word ook erken dat om doeltreffend te wees, die deelname van die voordeeltrekkers nodig is, met die ondersteuning van plaaslike regering, Nie-Regerings Organisasies (NGOs), plaaslike kundiges en donateure wat gewillig is om tussen die mense te woon en te werk. Om die sukses van hierdie deelnemende ontwikkelingsbenadering te verseker, moet dit gesteun word deur innerlike oortuiging, ‘n gesamentlike siening, en die bewuswording van die mense self van hulle gesamentlike probleme. Hulle moet maniere vind om hulle hulpbronne te mobiliseer, om te beplan, die planne te implementeer en uiteindelik om hulle eie ontwikkelingsaktiwiteite te beheer. Teen hierdie agtergrond, egter, is die rolle van die regering en die nie-regerings organisasies in die stryd teen armoede onontbeerlik en is dit nodig om sosiale transformasie wat kan lei tot die ontwikkeling van die gemeenskap, te bewerkstellig. Die regering se rol is om die gemeenskap te bekwaam en te ondersteun, en om spasie te skep vir die vervulling van die gemeenskap se behoeftes. In hierdie studie word die desentralisasieproses wat die gemeenskap se pogings tot deelname in plaaslike bestuur bevorder, ondersoek. Aangesien die uitkomste van publieke deelname prosesse in plaaslike regering nog nie ten volle geoptimaliseer is nie, moet die gemeenskapontwikkelaar ‘n omgewing skep waarin die latente ontwikkelingspotensiaal van die gemeenskap vryelik kan blom (Schutte, 2000:5). Hierdie Rwandese gevallestudie bied ‘n oorsig van die desentralisasie en gemeenskapsontwikkeling beleid in Rwanda. Definisies van sleutelkonsepte rakende die onderwerp, in beide die internasionale konteks en die Rwandese konteks word in die literatuuroorsig verskaf. Die onderwerp word bespreek en die definisie, doelwit, verskillende vorme van desentralisasie, gemeenskapontwikkeling en die raamwerk waarbinne dit moet plaasvind, word beklemtoon. Die bevindinge toon dat gemeenskapsontwikkeling afhang van die politieke wil om doeltreffende instansies te skep vir gemeenskappe wat op hulleself kan steun en wat bewus is van hulle daaglikse probleme asook hoe hulle moet deelneem in die beplanning en implementering van oplossings. Die SWOT ontleding verskaf ‘n situasie waaruit nuwe oplossings kan ontstaan en bestaande oplossings versterk kan word, om sodoende nuwe uitdagings tegemoet te gaan.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cities and in particular, secondary cities are fast emerging as the dominant form of human settlement. Considering the anticipated growth in the population and the expected global economic growth, what role will cities play in addressing the core issues pertaining to sustainable development? Will cities be able to address these issues at all? Addressing the sustainability of cities is about focussing on addressing the key issues of form and function. These, coupled with the specific social interactions, the cultural and political actions, are the drivers that need to be harnessed, integrated and reworked if cities are to be sustainable in any way. Without a collective and concerted drive to make direct inputs into the three main drivers of a city; planning and design, the resource use and inputs and the social interactions within cities, no efforts to address the hope of leaving legacies of resources for future generations will be realised. If these efforts do not originate in, and grow out of cities, cities will not support, but rather undermine, any attempts at achieving sustainable development. There is an increasing realisation that the current approaches to development are not meeting the needs of the growing global populations and as such, new approaches need to be sought. The one key area where these new approaches hold potential is to attempt to seek ways to create sustainable communities, communities with equitable access to resources and where communities are designed to function in different ways. The town and outlying areas of the Grabouw region in the Western Cape provide a unique and extremely rare opportunity for implementing a wide range of Government policies that have been adopted at the National, Provincial and Local Government levels to give effect to the national commitment to sustainable development and the creation of sustainable communities. These policy commitments span social, environmental and economic policies. Grabouw is perfectly configured in both geographical and strategic terms to become a national model for ‘integrated sustainable development’ and to demonstrate in practice how the attainment of the concept of sustainable development and sustainable communities can be supported. The intention of the project proposal is to facilitate specific actions that would include the framing of a foundation that is the core discussion document for the engagement with the broader communities. The purpose of this document and supporting plan would be to facilitate the communities’ participation in the creation and design of the project that serves to transform the town of Grabouw, and the region, ultimately becoming a national model of sustainability with a community that is resilient and equitable, meeting their current needs fairly, but doing so in a manner that preserves resources for future generations of Grabouw residents and South Africans. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Stede, en sekondêre stede in die besonder, wen vinnig veld as die dominante vorm van menslike vestiging. Met inagneming van die verwagte groei in die bevolking en die verwagte globale ekonomiese groei, kan die vraag gestel word watter rol stede gaan speel om die kernvraagstukke met betrekking tot volhoubare ontwikkeling aan te spreek. Sal stede hoegenaamd daartoe in staat wees om hierdie vraagstukke aan te spreek? Van deurslaggewende belang vir die volhoubaarheid van stede is die fokus op die sleutelvraagstukke van vorm en funksie. Dit, gekoppel aan die spesifieke maatskaplike interaksies, die kulturele en politieke aksies, is die sleutelaandrywers wat ingespan, geïntegreer en herbeplan moet word om stede volhoubaar te hou. Sonder 'n kollektiewe en volgehoue plan om direkte insette te lewer in die drie sleutelaandrywers van 'n stad – beplanning en ontwerp; die gebruik van hulpbronne en insette; en die maatskaplike interaksies binne stede – sal daar niks kom van die wens om hulpbronne vir toekomstige nageslagte na te laat nie. As hierdie pogings nie in stede ontstaan en uit stede groei nie, sal stede nie daarin slaag om enige pogings tot volhoubare ontwikkeling te ondersteun nie, maar dit eerder kelder. Daar word toenemend besef dat die huidige benadering tot ontwikkeling nie in die behoeftes van die groeiende globale bevolkings voorsien nie en dat nuwe benaderings op die proef gestel moet word. Die een sleutelgebied waar 'n nuwe benadering belofte inhou, is om maniere te ondersoek om volhoubare gemeenskappe te skep – gemeenskappe met gelyke toegang tot hulpbronne en waar gemeenskappe ontwerp is om op verskillende maniere te funksioneer. Die dorp en distrik Grabouw in die Wes-Kaap bied 'n unieke en uiters seldsame geleentheid vir die implementering van breë nasionale, provinsiale en plaaslike regeringsbeleide om uitvoering te gee aan die nasionale verbintenis tot volhoubare ontwikkeling en die skepping van volhoubare gemeenskappe. Maatskaplike, omgewings- en ekonomiese beleide word in hierdie beleidsverbintenisse saamgesnoer. Grabouw is ideaal vanuit 'n geografiese sowel as strategiese oogpunt om 'n nasionale model te word vir 'geïntegreerde volhoubare ontwikkeling' en om prakties te demonstreer hoe volhoubare ontwikkeling en volhoubare gemeenskappe ondersteun kan word. Die oogmerk van die projekvoorstel is om spesifieke aksies te fasiliteer, soos die opstel van 'n kernbesprekingsdokument met as doelwit die betrekking van die breër gemeenskappe. Die doel van hierdie voorstel is die fasilitering van die gemeenskappe se deelname aan die skepping en ontwerp van die projek wat dien om die dorp en distrik Grabouw te transformeer tot 'n nasionale model van volhoubaarheid, met 'n gemeenskap wat kragtig en gelyk is, en waar in huidige behoeftes voorsien word, maar op so 'n manier dat hulpbronne vir toekomstige geslagte Grabouw-inwoners en Suid-Afrikaners bewaar word.

Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Thc purpose of this research was to design a model for the delegation of roles and responsibilities within a performance management system (PMS) that will assist Oudtshoom Municipality in the implementation ofPMS. The motivation for the study was the fact that performance management is a relatively new legislative requirement for local government in South Africa. Local government authorities are currently experiencing many problems in the delivering of services to their respective communities, and this makes performance management a contemporary issue. The objectives of this research project are to o Explain what PMS is; o Explain how I'MS fits into the legislative framework in local government in South Africa; o Explain the importance of defining roles and responsibilities in a PMS; o Design a model for the delegation of roles and responsibilites within a PMS for Oudtshoorn Municipality; o Make recommendations for the successful implementation of PMS at Oudtshoorn Municipality. The research design that was used in this study was a combination of a model-building design and a case study design. The study was qualitative in nature and was a combination of non-empirical and empirical studies. Semi-structured interviews were held with a selected group of individuals who are key role-players in I'MS at Oudtshoorn Municipality. Some of the aims of the interviews were to establish the respondents understanding of PMS, and roles and responsibilities. The same respondents were given a table of different roles and responsibilities, to determine whether they knew what the different roles and responsibilities are of the different stakeholders in the PMS. The data analysis showed that the stakeholders (participants in the research) within the PMS at Oudtshoorn Municipality could not assign roles and responsibilities correctly. In order for PMS to be implemented successfully at Oudtshoorn Municipality, stakeholders in the PMS need to know exactly what is expected of them. It is not only from an organisational point of view that roles and responsibilities are important, but it is also a legislative requirement that roles and responsibilities need to be clarified before implementing a PMS. This problem created the need to design a model for the delegation of roles and responsibilities within a PMS that will assist Oudtshoorn Municipality in the implementation of PMS. The model is presented and an explanation of the model is given to understand how to use the model. Since Oudtshoorn Municipality is in the process of developing a PMS, a few recommendations are made to assist the municipality in the implementation of PMS. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om 'n model te ontwikkel vir die delegering van rolle en verantwoordelikhede binne 'n prestasie besluurstelsel, wat Oudtshoom Munisipaliteit kan help met die implementering van 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel. Die motivering vir die studie was die lcit dat prestasie bestuur 'n relatiewe nuwe wetlike vereiste vir plaaslike regering in Suid-Afrika is. Plaaslike regerings owerhede ondervind tans baie probleme met dienslewering aan hulle onderskeie gemeenskappe en dit maak prestasie bestuur 'n kontemporere saak. Die doel van hierdie navorsingsprojek is om, o Te beskryfwat 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel is; o Te beskryf hoe 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel inpas in die wetlike raamwerk van plaaslike regering in Suid-Atrika; o Te beskryf die belangrikheid om rolle en verantwoordelikhede binne 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel te definieer; o Om 'n model vir die delegering van rolle en verantwoordelikhede binne 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel vir Oudtshoorn Munisipaliteit te ontwikkel; en o Aanbevelings te maak vir die suksesvolle implementering van 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel by Oudtshoorn Munisipaliteit. Die navorsingsontwerp wat gebruik was in hierdie studie was 'n kombinasie van modelbou ontwerp en 'n gevallestudie ontwerp. Die studie was kwalitatief van aard en was 'n kombinasie van nie-empiriese en empiriese studies. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude was gevoer met 'n geselekteerde groep individue wat sleutel rolspelers is, in prestasie bestuur, by Oudtshoom Munisipaliteit. Sommige van die mikpunte van die onderhoude was om vas te stel die respondente se verstaan van prestasie bestuurstelsels en rolle en verantwoordelikhede. Dieselfde respondente het ook 'n tabel voltooi wat verskillende rolle en verantwoordelikhede van die onderskeie rolspelers binne 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel aandui. Die data analise hel getoon dat rolspelers (deelnemers in die navorsing) binne die prestasie bestuurstelsel by Oudtshoom Munisipaliteit nie rolle en verantwoordelikhede korrek kon toeken nie. Om 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel suksesvol by Oudtshoom Munisipaliteit te implementeer, is dit belangrik dat elke rolspeler presies sal weet wat van homlhaar verwag word. Dit is nie net vanuit 'n organisatoriese oogpunt belangrik dal rolle en verantwoordelikhede gedefinieer moet word nie, maar wetgewing vereis ook dat rolle en verantwoordelikhede duidelik moet wees voordat 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel geimplementeer word. Die probleem wat hier ontstaan het, het die geleentheid geskep om 'n model te ontwikkel vir die delegering van rolle en verantwoordelikhede binne 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel wat Oudtshoom Munisipaliteit kan help met die implementering van 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel. Die model, met 'n verduideliking hoc om die model te verstaan, word ook voorgestel. Oudtshoorn Munisipaliteit is tans besig om 'n prestasie bestuurstelsel te ontwikkel. Aanbevelings word gemaak om die munisipaliteit te help met die implementering van 'n prestasie besluurstelsel.

Assignment (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The greatest challenge for our time is to ensure the preservation of our environment and the well being of our people. With this in mind and the fact that almost half of the world’s population is living in urban areas, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that cities develop in a sustainable manner. Cities are regarded as one of the most magnificent creations of human achievements, but when looking at urban areas around the world it can also be regarded as one of the most problematic achievements. The growth of cities is a natural process and an unstoppable progression of events. Modern cities have a major impact on the environment and to ensure successful reduction of this impact, certain problem areas will have to be identified and addressed without delay in order to be in a position to make any significant change in the long run. Interventions of some sort are needed to make living in cities as well as on the planet as a whole more sustainable. The big question is however, how this can be achieved? One of the possible new interventions is the Smart Growth Concept, which is a form of growth management. Although Smart Growth has been around from the early 70’s, it is still a new concept that has not been explored to its full potential. The concept is well known in America but in most countries around the world, including South Africa, it is still a vague concept, which needs more introductions, convincing and ultimately, implementation. Although this article will focus on the Smart Growth concept as a possible solution to creating sustainable cities, the critics do not all agree with this point of view. Enough evidence is however provided to prove that Smart Growth can make a difference in our daily lives. The main aim of this article is to provide the reader with enough information on the subject of Smart Growth, and address the criticism against the concept of Smart Growth, to be able to see the positive influence that the Smart Growth concept can have on our cities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die grootste uitdaging van ons tyd is om te verseker dat die ons omgewing beskerm word en die welstand van ons mense bevorder word. Met dit in gedagte en die feit dat ongeveer die helfte van die aarde se bevolking in stedelike areas woonagtig is, is dit van uiterste belang dat stede op ‘n volhoubare manier ontwikkel word. Stede kan as een van die grootste skeppings van die mensdom beskou word, maar as daar gekyk word na stedelike areas rondom die wêreld kan dit ook as een van die problematiese skeppings beskou word. Die groei van stede is natuurlike proses en is onstuitbare sameloop van gebeurlikhede. Moderne stede het groot inpak op die omgewing en om te verseker dat die impak suksesvol beperk word, is daar sekere probleemareas wat geïdentifiseer moet word en wat sonder enige verder vertraging aangespreek moet word, ten einde in ‘n posisie te wees om enige beduidende verandering op die lang duur te maak. Ingryping op een of ander manier is nodig om stede meer bewoonbaar te maak, asook die planeet as ‘n geheel meer volhoubaar te maak. Die groot vraag is egter, hoe om dit te doen? Een van hierdie moontlike ingrypings is die Innoverende Groei (‘Smart Growth’) Konsep, wat ‘n vorm van groeibestuur is. Alhoewel die Innoverende Groei Konsep al sedert die sewentiger jare bestaan, is dit steeds ‘n nuwe konsep wat nog nie tot sy volle potensiaal ontwikkel is nie. Die konsep van Innoverende Groei is bekend in Amerika maar is in die meeste lande rondom die wêreld, insluitend Suid-Afrika, nog steeds ‘n vae konsep wat nog verder bekendstelling en oortuiging vereis en uiteindelik geïmplementeer moet word. Alhoewel hierdie artikel die fokus plaas op die Konsep van Innoverende Groei as moontlike oplossing in die skepping van volhoubare stede, is daar kritici wat nie saamstem met hierdie sienswyse nie. Genoeg bewyse word egter voorgehou om te bewys dat die Konsep van Innoverende Groei ‘n verskil kan maak in ons daaglikse lewe. Die hoof doel van hierdie artikel is om die leser van genoeg inligting te voorsien rondom die Konsep van Innoverende Groei , en om die kritiek teen die konsep aan te spreek, ten einde die leser te oortuig dat die konsep positiewe invloed op die groei van ons stede kan hê.

77 leaves single side printed, preliminary pages i-v and numbered pages 1-72. Includes bibliography. / Thesis (MPhil (Sustainable Development Planning and Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis explores how to bring about change through innovation by using current power structures to move towards a more sustainable society. The type of change we are concerned with is the transformation from social structures, economic systems and institutions which diminish natural resources; to systems of production, institutions and social structures which affirm and interact productively with living systems, assuring their own sustainability. This change cannot be limited to address the social, environmental and economic consequences of the current system but should redefine the basic principles of society’s design and operation. One of the key actors in the current system are Multinational Corporations (MNCs) which have the capacity to mobilize natural resources, labour, and financial capital at a global scale. It is defined that to contribute proactively towards sustainability, the role of the corporation is to innovate in its core business, creating products and services that help to solve the current un-sustainability patterns of society. However, how effective are targeted innovation platforms within MNC’s in designing and implementing meaningful innovations for sustainability? How meaningful are these innovation efforts in terms of the broader CSR strategy of the company and its sustainability performance? What can we learn from business innovation platforms in terms of organization and entrepreneurship for sustainability? In order to answer these questions an action research method was used in which I reflect on my own experience of using the innovation platform from the Royal Dutch Shell Group (Shell) to develop sustainability innovations. Within this perspective, the notion of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is re-visited to highlight its potential to hinder or facilitate this process. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Hierdie tesis ondersoek hoe verandering met innovasie te weeg gebring kan word deur gebruikmaking van huidige magstrukture om sodoende te beweeg na ’n meer volhoubare gemeenskap. Die verandering waarmee ons gemoeid is, is die transformasie van sosiale strukture, ekonomiese stelsels en instansies - wat natuurlike hulpbronne verminder - na stelsels van produksie, asook instellings en sosiale strukture wat regstel en produktief wisselwerk met lewenskragtige stelsels om sodoende hulle eie volhoubaarheid te verseker. Hierdie verandering kan geensins beperk word om die sosiale, omgewings en ekonomiese gevolge van die huidige stelsel aan te spreek nie, maar behoort die basiese beginsels van die gemeenskap se ontwerp en optrede te herdefinieer. Een van die sleutelspelers in die huidige stelsel is die Multinasionale Korporasies (‘MNCs’) wat oor die vermoë beskik om natuurlike hulpbronne, arbeid en geldelike kapitaal op globale skaal te mobiliseer. Om pro-aktief tot volhoubaarheid by te dra, moet die rol van die korporasie – volgens definisie – van so ’n aard wees dat hy in sy kern-sakebedrywighede innoverend optree om produkte en dienste te skep wat sal bydra om die huidige nie-volhoubare patrone binne die gemeenskap uit te skakel. Maar hoe doeltreffend is geteikende innovasie-platforms binne die Multinasionale Korporasies egter vir soverre dit die ontwerp en toepassing van betekenisvolle innovasies betref wat op volhoubaarheid gerig is? Hoe betekenisvol is dié pogings rondom innovasie gemeet teen die breër strategie van korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid van die maatskappy en sy volhoubaarheidsprestasie? Wat kan ons van innovasie-platforms van sakeondernemings met betrekking tot organisasie en entrepreneurskap - gerig op volhoubaarheid - wys word? Met die oog op die beantwoording van hierdie vrae, is ’n aksie-navorsingsmetode gebruilc, waarin ek besin oor my eie ondervinding met die gebruik van innovasieplatforms van die Royal Dutch Shell Group (Shell) om volhoubaarheidsinnovasies te ontwikkel. Binne hierdie perspektief word weer gekyk na die konsep van korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid om sodoende sy potensiaal om dié proses te kortwiek of te fasiliteer, uit te lig.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Overberg District Municipality is required by law to develop and implement a organisational performance management system. This requirement by law is in recognition of the need for government to take real steps to ensure that municipalities effectively deliver on their constitutional mandate. The transformation of local government ushered in a pertinent focus on developing and implementing performance management systems. The researcher experienced that municipalities are at this stage primarily focusing on developing systems for organisational performance management, resulting in minimum attention to individual performance management. The purpose of this research is to develop an individual performance management instrument, integrating the strategic objectives as identified in the Integrated Development Plan of the Overberg District Municipality with the objectives of the individual. The proposed instrument should enhance integrated human resource management and be commensurate with applicable labour legislation. A literature review of performance management and related human resource management practices was conducted in order to gain better insight into the topic. Further to this, legislation and policy documents were analysed with specific reference to performance management. After gathering the information through the literature review, a proposed individual performance management instrument was developed and submitted to subject matter experts for their input. The research is concluded with a presentation of recommendations for implementation at Overberg District Municipality. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Overberg Distriksmunisipaliteit moet volgens wet 'n organisatoriese prestasiebestuurstelsel ontwikkel en implementeer. Hierdie wetlike vereiste erken die vereiste dat die regering doelgerigte stappe moet doen om te verseker dat munisipaliteite hul grondwetlike mandaat doeltreffend uitvoer. Die transformasie van plaaslike regering het 'n besliste fokus op die ontwikkeling en implementering van prestasiebestuurstelsels meegebring. Die navorser het ondervind dat munisipaliteite op hierdie stadium hoofsaaklik op die ontwikkeling van stelsels vir organisatoriese prestasiebestuur ingestel is, en dus die minimum aandag aan individuele prestasiebestuur gee. Die oogmerk van hierdie navorsing is om 'n individuele prestasiebestuursinstrument te ontwikkel, en daardeur die strategiese doelwitte wat in die Geintegreerde Ontwikkelingsplan van die Overberg Distriksmunisipaliteit geidentifiseer is, met die individu se doelwitte te integreer. Die voorgestelde instrument moet geintegreerde menslikehulpbronbestuur versterk en in ooreenstemming met toepaslike arbeidswetgewing wees. 'n Literatuuroorsig van prestasiebestuur en verwante menslike hulpbronbestuurspraktyke is gedoen ten einde 'n beter begrip van die onderwerp te kry. Verder is wetgewing en beleidsdokumente ontleed met spesifieke verwysing na prestasiebestuur. Nadat die inligting by wyse van die literatuuroorsig versamel is, is 'n voorgestelde individuele prestasiebestuursinstrument ontwikkel en aan kundiges op hierdie gebied voorgelê vir hulle insette. Die navorsing is afgesluit met aanbevelings vir implementering by die Overberg Distriksmunisipaliteit.

Thesis (MPA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The traditional skills required in government-wide local knowledge, sound political judgment and concern for the welfare of people-are still essential in the global information society. But, to be more effective, these skills now have to be supported by the new decision-making techniques of operations research and decision support systems. The capacity of the human mind to handle complex issues is limited. This situation of complexity and incapacity makes the application of operations research techniques and electronic DSS essential for good governance outcomes. Operations research is a multidisciplinary discipline that requires a team approach to decision making. It is based on systems analysis approach because of its preoccupation with interconnections among parts rather than within the parts themselves. This systems approach allows the optimization of an organization's overall goals, not just those of isolated departments. Optimization is one of the functions of operations research techniques. Linear programming models are most effective at the operational level of decision making with a single objective where scarce or limited resources must be allocated or used in an optimal manner. At the policy level where there are many uncertainties and conflicting objectives, multiobjective programming is more suitable. On the other hand, dynamic programming is flexible and is particularly applied whenever a sequence of decisions must be made and the goal is to find the combination of decisions that optimizes the overall effectiveness of the entire set of decisions. However, when a problem is too complex to be treated by numerical optimization techniques, simulation is used. That is when the problem either cannot be formulated for optimization, because the formulation is too large, there are too many interactions among the variables, or the problem is stochastic (probabilistic) in nature. Despite the analytical power of operations research, many real-world problems are not amenable to direct analytical solution by known mathematical techniques. Hence, in the absence of exact methods to solutions, we usually resort to heuristics, i.e. finding a good but not necessarily the best solution. Other problems encountered by public sector agencies include service stations (waiting lines), inventory levels, forecasting, and project scheduling, which all need decision support systems. To reduce the adverse impact of waiting to acceptable levels one has to minimize costs associated with providing service and those associated with waiting time. For smooth operations, inventory of goods must be kept to an acceptable level to minimize setup or ordering, inventory holding, and shortage (public complaints, and loss of good will and sales) costs. Forecasting is crucial as most managerial decisions are based on projected information and policy analysis is almost always about future outcomes. Many government policies and programs are implemented through projects. Project managers must know how long a specific project will take to finish, what the critical tasks are, and what the probability of completing the project within a given time span is. Successful applications of operations research and decision support systems in the public sector have been recorded including in the areas of the military, transportation, crime and justice, police units, energy, natural resources, facility location, and land use planning. However, operations research applications are not without impediments. Technical and institutional barriers are some of the problems encountered in the effort to apply operations research in the public sector. Similarly, reasons for the slow growth of decision support systems include lack of user demand, lack of system designer motivation, lack of system designer expertise, reluctance to change, and increased risk of failure In the Eritrean public sector, the low level of awareness of operations research and decision support systems is reflected in the inadequacy of addressing multicriteria decision processes, the lack and lor inappropriate selection of decision support systems, improper project management techniques, suboptimal facility locations and service stations, the low level of multidisciplinary approach, and the absence of national standards for pollution control. In general, constraints such as the lack of capacity, awareness, know-how, and software, are rampant. The study concludes that policy-making processes should incorporate opportunities to exercise choices and explore rational options. These rational options are the results of appropriate interface of human, operations research and decision support systems. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tradisionele vaardighede wat van 'n regering verwag word - wye kennis van plaaslike omstandighede, goeie politieke oordeel en besorgdheid oor die welvaart van mense - was nog altyd belangrik in die moderne wêreld. Hierdie vaardighede moet egter ondersteun word deur die nuwe besluitnemingstegnieke van operasionele navorsing en besluitnemings ondersteuningstelsels om effektief te wees. Die vermoë van die menslike brein om komplekse kwessies te hanteer, is beperk. Hierdie situasie van kompleksheid aan die een kant en onvermoë aan die ander kant maak die aanwending van operasionele navorsingstegnieke en elektroniese besluitneming nodig vir goeie regeringsuitkomste. Operasionele navorsing is 'n multidisiplinêre disipline wat 'n spanbenadering tot besluitneming benodig. Dit is baseer op die sisteemanalise benadering omdat dit gaan oor interkonneksies tussen onderdele en nie soseer oor die onderdele self nie. Hierdie sisteembenadering maak die optimisering van die sisteem se oorhoofse doelwitte moontlik, nie net die doelwitte van geïsoleerde departemente nie Optimisasie is een van die funksies van operasionele navorsing. Liniêre programmeringsmodelle is meer effektief op die operasionele vlak van besluitneming met 'n enkel doelwit waar skaars of beperkte bronne toegewys of gebruik moet word op 'n optimale wyse. Op die beleidsvlak waar baie onsekerhede en botsende doelwitte voorkom, is multi-doelwit programmering meer geskik. Aan die ander kant is dinamiese programmering meer toepaslik en buigsaam, veral as dit toegepas word waar 'n reeks besluite geneem moet word en die doel is om 'n kombinasie van besluite te vind wat die oorhoofse effektiwiteit van die hele stel besluite optimiseer. Sekere probleme is egter te kompleks om met numeriese optimisering op te los, omdat die probleem nie geprogrammeer kan word vir optimisering nie, omdat die formulasie te groot is, daar te veel interaksies tussen die veranderlikes is, of die probleem stogasties van aard is. Dan kan simulasies oorweeg word om oplossings te probeer vind. Ten spyte van die analitiese krag van operasionele navorsing, kan baie werklike probleme nie direk deur analitiese wiskundige tegnieke opgelos word nie - altans nie deur bekende wiskundige tegnieke nie. As 'n presiese oplossing nie moontlik is nie, kan kan 'n heuristiese oplossing ondersoek word, d.w.s. 'n goeie, maar nie noodwendig die beste oplossing nie. Ander probleme wat deur die openbare sektor ondervind word, sluit in diensstasies, inventarisvlakke, voorspellings, en projekskedulering. Hulle benodig almal besluitnemingsstelsels vir effektiewe oplossings. Om die wagtydperk te verminder tot 'n aanvaarbare vlak moet die koste verbonde aan die verskaffing van die diens en die koste verbonde aan wagtydperke minirniseer word. Om 'n operasie glad te laat verloop moet die inventaris van goedere op 'n aanvaarbare vlak gehou word om die koste van bestellings, die byhou van voorrade en tekorte (klagtes van die publiek, die verlies aan vertroue en verkope) te minirniseer. Voorspelling is van die uiterste belang vir hierdie doel, omdat bestuursbesluite baseer is op geskatte syfers en beleidsontleding betrekking het op toekomstige uitkomste. Baie regeringsbeleide en -programme word deur projekte geïmplementeer. Projekbestuurders moet weet hoe lank dit sal neem om 'n projek te voltooi, wat die belangrike take is en hoe waarskynlik dit is dat die projek betyds voltooi sal word. Operasionele navorsing en besluitnemingsondersteuning stelsels is al suksesvol aangewend in die volgende openbare sektore: militêre funksies, vervoer, misdaad en justisie, die polisie, energie, natuurlike hulpbronne, en die beplanning van grondgebruik. Tegniese en ander hindernisse word egter soms ondervind by die gebruik van operasionele navorsingstegnieke in die openbare sektor. Redes hoekom die gebruik van sulke stelsels so stadig toeneem, sluit in die gebrek aan aanvraag van verbruikers, die gebrek aan stelselontwerp motivering, die gebrek aan stelselontwerp vaardighede, onwilligheid om te verander en die groter risiko van mislukking. In die openbare sektor van Eritrea word die lae vlak van bewustheid van operasionele navorsing en besluitnemingsondersteuning stelsels gereflekteer in 'n onvermoë om dit te gebruik, die gebrek aan of verkeerde keuse van sulke hulpmiddels, verkeerde bestuurstegnieke, suboptimale plasing van dienspunte, die afwesigheid van multi-disiplinêre benaderings, en die afwesigheid van nasionale standaarde vir die beheer van besoedeling. Beperkings soos 'n gebrek aan kapasiteit, bewustheid, kennis en sagteware kom algemeen voor. In hierdie studie word daar tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat beleidmakende prosesse die geleentheid behoort in te sluit om keuses te maak en om verskillende opsies te toets. Hierdie rasionele opsies is die gevolg van die regte interaksie tussen die mens, operasionele navorsing en besluitnemingsondersteuning stelsels.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Urbanisation is a complex phenomenon and is a trend witnessed across the globe. Africa particularly has been experiencing the world’s most rapid rate of urbanization and cities are faced with the resulting pressure on natural resources. Water is one of the resources under pressure and the provision thereof is complicated by the deteriorating quality and quantity thereof. This study takes a brief look at the water situation in a water scarce region in Africa and concentrates on the urban water supply sector. It takes an in depth look at the measures used to secure water supply to a city in this very dry part of the world. The area under study is Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, situated in the southwestern corner of Africa. Namibia is the driest country in Sub-Saharan Africa and is characterised by a semi-arid nature, which results in a very hot and dry climate with erratic rainfall patterns. Windhoek has a low average rainfall associated with very high evaporation rates. No permanent water bodies exist near the city and the bulk of Windhoek’s water supply comes from storage dams quite a distance from the capital. Most of these sources of supply have been developed and are nearing the limit of their potential. A desperate need therefore exists to develop reliable additional water resources to secure the water supply especially during periods of prolonged drought. The case study gives examples of the initiatives taken by water authorities to improve the security of supply and keep up with the growing demand in the city. These initiatives include a dual pipe system for the distribution of semi-purified sewage for irrigation, reclamation of domestic sewerage, aquifer recharge and the implementation of Water Demand Management principles. An analysis of the most efficient and cost-effective means of supply augmentation namely aquifer recharge, have been balanced against the potential water savings of Water Demand Management in the city. The study also takes a brief look at the principles of Integrated Water Resource Management and how it is incorporated in the strategies used to augment supply to the city. The research found aquifer recharge as the most efficient and cost-effective means to augment supply to the city and together with Water Demand Management creates an approach complying with the goals of Integrated Water Resource management. The study concludes by identifying gaps in demand management in the city. It also suggests relevant recommendations on how to increase the effectiveness of Water Demand management. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verstedeliking is ‘n komplekse verskynsel en ‘n tendens wat regoor die wêreld voorkom. Die hoogste voorkoms van verstedeliking vind in Afrika plaas wat groot druk plaas op die natuurlike hulpbronne van stede. Water is een van die hulpbronne onder druk en die voorsiening daarvan word bemoeilik deur die verswakking van die kwaliteit en die beskikbaarheid daarvan. Hierdie studie konsentreer op die watersituasie in ‘n waterskaars streek in Afrika en die stedelike watervoorsieningssektor. Dit behels ‘n in diepte ondersoek na metodes wat gebruik word om die watervoorraad van die stad te verseker in hierdie droogte gesteisterd deel van die wêreld. Die gebied onder bespreking is Windhoek, die hoofstad van Namibië, wat geleë is in die Suidwestelike deel van Afrika. Namibië is die droogste land in die Sub-Saharastreek en word gekenmerk deur gereelde droogtes met ‘n gepaardgaande warm droë klimaat en onreëlmatige reënvalpatrone. Windhoek word gekenmerk deur ‘n lae gemiddelde reënval met ‘n baie hoë verdampingstempo. Geen permanente waterbronne kom in die nabyheid van die stad voor nie en die watervoorraad word gestoor in opgaardamme wat redelik ver van die hoofstad geleë is. Hierdie voorsieningsbronne is voortdurend in gebruik en die voorraad is beperk. Daar onstaan dus ‘n dringende behoefte aan betroubare bykomende waterbronne om voortdurende voorsiening aan die stad te verseker veral gedurende aanhoudende droogtes. Die gevallestudie konsentreer op voorbeelde en inisiatiewe wat deur die Water Owerhede geneem word om die voorsiening van water, aan die immergroeiende behoeftes van die stad te verbeter en te verseker. Hierdie pogings sluit in,‘n dubbele pyplynsisteem vir die verspreiding van halfgesuiwerde rioolwater vir besproeiingsdoeleindes, herwinning van huishoudelike rioolwater, herlaai van ondergrondse watervoorraad en die implimentering van wateraanvraag bestuursmaatreëls. Die geskiktste en mees koste-effektiewe metode van verhoogde watervoorsiening naamlik die herlaai van ondergrondse waterbronne, is ontleed, en die voordele opgeweeg teen die potensiële waterbesparing deur die Bestuur van Wateraanvraag in die stad. Daar is ook kortliks gekyk na die beginsels van Geintigreerde Water Bronne Bestuur en hoe dit by bestaande strategieë ingelyf is om uitbreiding van voorsiening aan die stad te verseker. Die navorsing het bevind dat die herlaai van ondergrondse waterbronne as die geskikste en mees koste-effektiewe metode beskou kan word om die verhoogde aanvraag van die stad die hoof te bied. Die studie word afgesluit deur die tekortkominge in die Water Aanvraagbestuur van die stad te identifiseer. Relevante aanbevelings word gemaak van hoe om die effektiwiteit van hierdie betrokke strategie te verbeter.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This theoretically guided qualitative and quantitative study aims at investigating the extent to which centralization of fiscal powers in the Namibian State has been detrimental to development activities of the Okavango Regional Council. A further aim is to make recommendations and suggest balanced inter-governmental fiscal relations between central and regional governments in Namibia. The significance" of this study lies in the fact that, since the abolition of homelands in Namibia by the incumbent goven:rrnent in the 1990s, no comprehensive study has been carried out to analyze the socio-economic implications of such centralization of powers by central government. The study demonstrates that the degree of autonomy afforded to regional governments in Namibia stagnates their role as socio-economic development agents/facilitators. The study also examines the causes of disparities between centnil and regional governments. Important among the causes is the legal framework, which does not specify a fixed sharing formula. A number of corrective measures are suggested by the study. Among these measures are the decentralisation of functions that can be efficiently performed by regional governments, assignment of taxes to regional governments and amendment of existing legislation to allow for a balanced inter-governmental relations policy. The study further suggests that decentralization of functions to regions needs to be carefully planned and implemented because to lack of resource endowment and experienced personnel in the regions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie teoreties-gefundeerde kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe studie is daarop gemik om te bepaal tot watter mate die sentralisering van fiskale magte in die Namibiese regering 'n nadelige effek op die ontwikkelings-aktiwiteite van die Okavango Streeksraad gehad het. Nog 'n doelwit (van die studie) is om aanbevelings en voorstelle te maak vir die daarstelling van gebalanseerde inter-regeringsverhoudings tussen sentrale- en streeksowerhede in Namibië. Die waarde van hierdie studie lê in die feit dat, sedert die afskaffing van tuislande in Namibië deur die huidge regering in die 1990s, geen omvattende ondersoek nog gedoen is om die sosio-ekonomiese implikasies van so 'n sentralisering van magte deur die sentrale regering te ontleed nie. Die studie dui aan dat die mate van selfbestuur wat aan streeksowerhede in Namibië toegeken is, hulle rol as die agente/fasiliteersders van sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling kniehalter. Die studie ondersoek ook die oorsake van die verskille wat tans tussen sentrale- en streeksowerehede bestaan. Een van die hoofredes hiervoor blyk te wees die feit dat die bestaande resraamwerk/statutêre nie 'n vaste formule (vir die deling van mag) bepaal nie. 'n Aantal korrektiewe maatreëls word deur die studie aan die hand gedoen. Die aanbevelings sluit onder andere in maatreëls om dié funskies te densentraliseer wat effektief deur streeksowerhede gedoen kan word, die toekenning van belasting aan streeksowerhede en die wysiging van bestaande wetgewing om voorsiening te maak vir 'n gebalanseerde interregeringsverhoudingsbeleid. Die studie beveel verder aan dat die desentralisering van funkies na streke noukeurig beplan en geimplementeer moet word in die lig van 'n gebrek aan middele en ervare personneel in die streke.