Dissertation (MTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011 / This paper presents the development of a data collection system for a small unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight. The following three facets comprise of a UAV system: (1) a UAV aircraft; (2) onboard avionics; and (3) a ground control station subsystem (Taha et al., 2010:1). In this project, the UAV aircraft is based on the low-cost autonomous quad-rotator system named “Arducopter Quad”, where the onboard avionic system utilizes both an ArduPilot Mega (APM) on-board controller and IMU sensor shield, while the “Mission Planner” software operates as GCS software to gather essential flight data (Xiang & Tian, 2011:176). The approach provides the UAV system structure and both hardware and software with a small UAV data collection system, which is examined throughout the study. And introduce the concept of Arducopter dynamics for better understanding with its flight control. The study also considers the communication process between the UAV and the ground control station. The radio wave is an important aspect in the UAV data collection system (Austin, 2010:143). The literature review introduced the basis of the radio wave in respect of its travelling speed, and its characteristics of propagation, including how different frequencies will affect radio wave propagation. The aim of this project was to develop a platform for a small UAV real-time data collection system. The pendulum system was involved to simulate the “Roll” movement of the small UAV, while real-time IMU sensor data was successfully collected at ground control station (GCS), both serial communication and wireless communication, which was applied in the data collection process. The microwave generator interference test proves that the 2.4 GHz XBee module is capable of establishing reliable indoor communication between the APM controller and the GCS. The work of this project is towards development of additional health monitoring technology to prevent the safety issue of the small UAV. The data collection system can be used as basis for the future research of real-time health monitoring for various small UAVs.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Technology: Design in the Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / The aim of the research is to explore design education and designing as social practice; working with and for others to inform a more sustainable and meaningful future. Ways in which the lived experience of participants in the discipline of design, in the culturally diverse university and community contexts can be harnessed for social benefit, are interrogated. Themes are explored around the value of different world views and forms of knowing in design education to inform design research, in order to extend the knowledge paradigm to include lived experience not only as site of knowledge formation, but also of wisdom acquisition. The thesis presents an amalgamation of professional practice, creative practice and narrative set in qualitative research methods appropriate to the designer and artist who desire to work with lived experience in the academic context. Lived experience informs all we do and each educational event and encounter ought to be appraised and responded to in a contextually sensitive way. An important aspect flowing from this amalgamation is the recognition and analysis of the coexisting relationships of the roles inhering in the educator and the student. In order to immerse oneself in research and teaching, all aspects of the process have to be lived and filtered through the senses. This implies resisting abstractions by grounding research, teaching, design and making in the experience of the moment. The original contribution of this research then, is the synthesis of design, art and narrative writing that accompanied in a parallel line, the academic writing process to culminate in this design folio — a testament to grounding the research project in practice. Pedagogical approaches and lived experience embodied as recontextualised expressions in design teaching, supervision and creative practice, are presented in the folio. The boundaries of qualitative methods were tested with narrative and life writing, autoethnography, poetry, studio observations, extensive journalling, drawing, photography and printmaking processes. The results showed that a phenomenology of the senses in creative work, and locating the designer in her or his biography, is where original and imaginative design resides. Social and cultural aspects are some of the foundation stones of design education and ought to be informants of the creative process until the finish. Furthermore, authentic openness is required in supervision and teaching to facilitate deep listening, interpretation, intuition and “in-seeing” in educational encounters. Finally, being an active creative practitioner in design teaching is as important if not more important than content knowledge in that discipline, since the active practitioner “becomes” the Other through the collective dimension of design work.

THESIS Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MAGISTER TECHNOLOGIAE in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY in the FACULTY OF BUSINESS INFORMATICS at the CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY 2005 / The Internet has become the fastest growing technology the world has ever seen. It also has the ability to permanently change the face of business, including e-business. The Internet has become an important tool required to gain potential competitiveness in the global information environment. Companies could improve their levels of functionality and customer satisfaction by adopting e-commerce, which ultimately could improve their long-term profitability. Those companies who do end up adopting the use of the Internet, often fail to gain the advantage of providing a visible website. Research has also shown that even though the web provides numerous opportunities, the majority of SMMEs (small, medium and micro enterprises) are often ill equipped to exploit the web’s commercial potential. It was determined in this research project through the analysis of 300 websites, that only 6.3% of SMMEs in the Western Cape Province of South Africa appears within the top 30 results of six search engines, when searching for services/products. This lack of ability to produce a visible website is believed to be due to the lack of education and training, financial support and availability of time prevalent in SMMEs. For this reason a model was developed to facilitate the improvement of SMME website visibility. To develop the visibility model, this research project was conducted to identify potential elements which could provide a possible increase in website visibility. A criteria list of these elements was used to evaluate a sample of websites, to determine to what extent they made use of these potential elements. An evaluation was then conducted with 144 different SMME websites by searching for nine individual keywords within four search engines (Google, MSN, Yahoo, Ananzi), and using the first four results of every keyword from every search engine for analysis. Elements gathered through academic literature were then listed according to the usage of these elements in the top-ranking websites when searching for predetermined keywords. Further qualitative research was conducted to triangulate the data gathered from the literature and the quantitative research. The evaluative results provided the researcher with possible elements / designing techniques to formulate a model to develop a visible website that is not only supported by arrant research, but also through real current applications. The research concluded that, as time progresses and technology improves, new ways to improve website visibility will evolve. Furthermore, that there is no quick method for businesses to produce a visible website as there are many aspects that should be considered when developing “visible” websites.

Dissertation Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the M-tech in Public Relations Management Department of Public Relations Management Faculty of Informatics and Design 2013 / This study aims to investigate the selected perceptions of Public Relations Practitioners about the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA) Namibia, in order to recommend to PRISA Namibia ways they can attract membership and gain support and recognition from PR practitioners. This research was conducted through in-depth interviews. The participants in this study were divided into three groups, namely, the members, nonmembers and the Chairperson (current and previous) of PRISA Namibia. A total of 10 participants were interviewed. The results of the study indicate that PR practitioners in Namibia know relatively little about PRISA Namibia activities in Namibia. Most of the Participants are frustrated with PRISA Namibia’s lack of visibility and accessibility. However, most members acknowledged that PRISA Namibia had, in the past, added immense value to their Public Relations (PR) careers. The recommendations of the study include: PRISA Namibia organising conferences or workshops on ethics; PRISA Namibia publishing an ethics booklet that can be used by PR students and professionals to illustrate how practitioners can practically adhere to PRISA code of ethics on a day to day basis; and PRISA Namibia creating social media pages on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Tourism and Hospitality Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2009 / Sport tourism events have grown in prominence globally. Governments increasingly include these activities into their development and tourism strategies. Notably, there are benefits and costs to hosting sport mega-events. The 2010 FIFA World Cup presents South Africa with tangible and intangible benefits. Communities are one of the most important stakeholders of events. Research investigating residents’ perceptions on impacts of mega-events, especially those residing closest to the event location are limited. This study examined Green Point residents’ perceptions of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the impacts of the Green Point Stadium. The aim was to investigate the level of awareness, perceptions and attitudes of residents’ living within one kilometre of the Stadium using a spatially based stratified random sampling method. Interviewer completed questionnaires were administered and 344 responses from residents recorded. Findings reveal that residents have high levels of awareness about the event but more could be done to improve communication and the dissemination of information by stakeholders. Although, the stadium location was initially contested, the majority of residents favour the chosen site. Residents’ primary concern about South Africa hosting the event relate to crime, safety and security of visitors. Overall, residents have high expectations’ regarding social and economic impacts. Moreover, residents have positive attitudes towards the country hosting the mega-event and most believe that lasting legacies will be left for the nation. The findings encourage stakeholders to promote active community involvement and participation by using all communication methods available to regularly engage with residents to address and alleviate concerns about perceived negative impacts of the event and future events.

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology in Tourism and Hospitality Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / Sport tourism, mega-events and the impacts thereof, especially in developing countries, have, in the past, tended to have been overlooked academically. This study investigated 2010 Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) World Cup™ initiatives in the Eden District Municipality (EDM), Western Cape, South Africa, which is situated between the host cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The research investigated whether or not planning initiatives being conducted by the district and individual towns in the region were integrated or not, with special reference to the accommodation sector. The sector was the focus of the research, as most plans being conducted in the region were centred on the development of team base camps as accommodation satellites for travelling spectators. The research design consisted of self-administered electronic questionnaires, which were sent to a sample of 587 accommodation establishments. From the survey, a response of 251 valid questionnaires were received. In addition to the questionnaires, five key informant interviews were conducted with representatives from towns in the EDM. The findings indicated that, although stakeholders in the EDM were interested in becoming involved in 2010 FIFA World Cup™ planning, and despite the majority being involved in planning initiatives, little information reached the accommodation establishments in the region. As a result of such paucity of information, establishments were embarking on their own planning initiatives, which were not in conjunction with those being conducted by the EDM. The research also showed that awareness levels of plans being conducted by various stakeholders in the region were very low and that accommodation establishments knew very little about the plans concerned. Moreover, there was scant awareness of the roles of various stakeholders and involved parties in the region. The research established that, although a large number of establishments were aware of the services offered by MATCH Event Services Pty, which was appointed by FIFA to administer its Tour Operator Programme on its behalf, not many had registered with the body, due to any one or more of a range of reasons. Key informant interviews conducted as part of the study found that most of the above-mentioned respondents were working on projects in conjunction with other stakeholders, rather than in isolation, and that the level of buy-in from accommodation establishments was not very high. The majority of key informants agreed that there had not been sufficient or significant communication about the event from the EDM or from local municipalities and that the initiatives of which they were aware lacked a strong legacy focus. From the research conducted, recommendations made were that there should be a more consolidated marketing and planning effort for all towns in the EDM concerned with an event of this nature, while the individual needs, offerings and the nature of each of the towns should still be considered. Planning initiatives in a district municipality should involve all levels of stakeholders, and both communication channels, as well as the roles and responsibilities of all parties involved, must be clearly defined. In planning for the hosting of such an event as the FIFA World Cup™, the long-term needs of the area and the legacy of the event should be the main considerations in ensuring community development and sustainability radiating from the event.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister Technologiae: Public Management in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2013 / Service delivery is one of the key aspects of public and private organisations. It is therefore important for organisations to have a Performance Management System in place to monitor and evaluate the efficiency of its employees. A good Performance Management System sets a standard that determines whether an employee’s performance is of merit or has shortcomings. Furthermore it will aid the employee in being proficient in his\her work environment. This research project examined the effectiveness of the Performance Management System used within the Department of Economic Development and Tourism in the Western Cape, South Africa. Problems encountered by employees were identified by the researcher and recommendations were forwarded to the employees on how to improve the Department’s Performance Management System. The researcher undertook a quantitative research approach by administering a closed-ended questionnaire which was analysed by a registered statistician. The study found that most of the participants understood the Performance Management System used by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Furthermore the majority of participants understood their role within the Department and how they could meet the Department’s strategic objectives as set out in the Department’s annual performance plans..à h.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Public Management In the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2013 / Over the past few decades the study of intercultural communication has expanded to cover a diverse set of variables deriving from the concepts "communication" and "culture" and the combination of communication and culture. As is the case for the communication discipline itself, the study of intercultural communication is influenced by traditional disciplines such as anthropology, linguistics, philosophy, psychology and sociology (Chen & Starosta, 2005:13). The development of a global mindset has become pivotal for further human progress. This mindset can only result from intercommunication among diverse people (Chen & Starosta, 2005:4). Intercultural communication is essential to any organization or department as it is a process of sending and receiving messages between people whose cultural backgrounds could lead them to interpret verbal and non-verbal signs differently. The purpose of this study was to devise a communication strategy which will address intercultural communication, specifically designed to assist managers dealing with intercultural differences. The core objective of this study was to establish whether the existing Communication Policy of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD) adequately addresses intercultural communication in the work place and to verify the level of understanding of culture amongst employees of the DOJ&CD Western Cape Regional Office (WC RO) in order to determine whether a lack of cultural knowledge contributes to miscommunication in the department. In order to reach its objectives, the study employed a quantitative research approach whereby a non-probability sampling design in the form of a convenience sampling method was adopted and considered appropriate for this study, with specific reference to the DOJ&CD (WC RO). In terms of collecting the data, the study made use of structured questionnaires as a data collection method whereby questionnaires were administered and distributed to 85 employees of whom 70 participated. The results of the study reveal that cultural differences lead to misunderstandings, while lack of cultural knowledge is a major contributing factor of miscommunication within the DOJ&CD (WC RO). It is recommended that employees acquire knowledge about other cultures which will improve their understanding and reduce the chances of miscommunication in a multi-cultural environment to enhance intercultural communication and provide a harmonious working environment amongst employees of the DOJ&CD (WC RO) and the Public Service as a whole.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Public Management in the Faculty of business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013 / The study, which deals with Assessing Contributions of Tourism Development to Poverty Alleviation Programmes in Langa, Western Cape Province, was conducted against the background that Langa Township has all that it takes to be considered as a well developed tourist destination. Despite the great potential of tourism economic clusters in Langa Township, which covers its rich historical contribution in the history making of new the South Africa, cultural tourism and township tourism, the township faces a challenge of unemployment whilst there are few community members that perceive tourism as an escape industry that would create job opportunities for them, and hence contribute to a better life. Conversely, this study locates the tourism industry as key in efforts to uplift the poor standard of living that the Langa township community faces. In South Africa, generally, the tourism industry is recognised as one of the key economic sectors that has great potential to contribute towards eradicating community-based poverty challenges. The central focus of the study involves the viability of tourism business segments in Langa Township, community participation, community understanding and awareness of the tourism industry in the area, as well as basic infrastructure to support tourism industry. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methodology. The quantitative survey was administered by using Likert Scale questionnaires, which were distributed to community members who have stayed in Langa for more than five years. The quantitative survey was distributed to the Langa Local Economic Development Forum, tour operators based in Langa, and those who make use of Langa as a visiting destination, and community leaders. The main findings of the study revealed that there are few tour operators who conduct business based in Langa township, whilst those tourism establishments that exist are not widely marketed and properly planned to both lead and benefit from the potential of tourism economic segments in order to keep these operators highly viable and sustainable. Community understanding and awareness of the tourism industry in the area is at a fair level of understanding and awareness, but with little in-depth knowledge on how these communities can use it for the improvement of their living conditions. However, basic infrastructure to support the tourism industry in Langa is not at a high standard to attract tourist use. For example, the indoor sport centres, playing fields, and cultural yards are of a poor quality. This situation makes it difficult to currently position the tourism industry in Langa township, and drive it as a leading economic sector for poverty alleviation. Nonetheless, the study presents recommendation on how best to improve the current exploration on the tourism industry in Langa township for a positive impact on programmes towards poverty alleviation.

Mini-thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY: MARKETING MANAGEMENT in the Faculty of Business at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2010 / This study examines the validity of the mystery shopper research method, which was applied in the context of wine tourism. In the process of achieving this objective, the service quality of selected wine estates along the Stellenbosch Wine Route (SWR) was also established. Furthermore, the findings reveal whether this research method is beneficial to facilitate customer relationships. Wine tourism is considered a special interest tourism that has received heightened global attention in the past decade, both practically and academically. This growth is also mirrored domestically, as wine tourism is one of the major attractions in the Western Cape. Since 2006, the number of wine estates in the Stellenbosch region rose by 12.3%, resulting in more than 140 wine estates that are currently available. This ultimately means that there are more wine estates, which all compete for the same customer base, and this increases competitiveness. Moreover, being a relatively homogenous product offering, with the key differential point being the actual winescape, it is important that wine estates focus on delivering superior service quality in order to achieve competitive advantage. This also calls for a need to systematically test service quality and procedures to ensure that desired levels are maintained. The research methodology that was used is exploratory in nature, comprising of two in-depth interviews and sixteen mystery visits via judgmental sampling. The mystery visits were conducted at the Stellenbosch Hills and Bottelary Hills sub-routes. One popular and one less recognised wine estate per sub-route were observed. Findings showed that service quality at these estates are generally high, yet experiences at all estates were vastly different. The most important discovery is that the concept of mystery visitors is, in fact, an appropriate vehicle to assess service quality and to facilitate customer relationships. This method was successful in identifying the source of problems that led to sub-optimal performance, which allowed for corrective action to be taken. As a result, the service quality of the estates can be further increased to ensure a perfect experience on each occasion, which, over time, builds the reputati~n of the wine estate. Ultimately, this research has demonstrated that mystery visitors can be applied in the context of tourism on both an individual and collective scale. Key words: wine tourism, special interest tourism, wine tourists, Western Cape, Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch Wine Route, service quality, research method, mystery shopper and mystery visitor.