The management of projects has been area of intense study for many years, yet few researchers have ventured outside parameters of the mainstream concerns. This research aims to move outside the parameters of mainstream project management research, in order to explore other perspectives, with the purpose of illuminating new concerns and agendas. An abductive research strategy within a single case study was utilized to obtain rich data and new insights. This research seeks to uncover the social forces that influence the adoption of mainstream project and programme management standards and structures. The literature revealed that mainstream project management has idealogical foundations rooted within a 'Cartesian-Taylorist' paradigm and these have affected the development of programme management. The empirical findings indicated that a superficial understanding existed regarding the motivation for the adoption of project management standards and structures, within the case company. In addition, it was noted that the adoption of these project management standards and structures was perceived to provide more control and legitimacy. A consequence of these practices, within the case organization, is that it created a strong resource dependence on external consultants. The theoretical explanations illuminated that the desire for control, reducing uncertainty and the need for competitiveness serve as social forces towards the adoption of mainstream project and programme management standards and structures. Furthermore, the research explored the consequences of this phenomenon, within the case organisation.

Includes bibliographical references / Member countries of multilateral and regional organisations have progressively negotiated tariff preferences and achieved tariff reductions on substantial trade. However, a tendency of policy reversal has been witnessed due to non-tariff barriers (NTBs) being imposed to control trade and recoup losses arising from reduced duties. To address the proliferation of NTBs, multilateral and regional organisations are implementing various forms of NTB notification, reporting, monitoring and eliminating mechanisms. The broad objectives of this study is to evaluate the performance of the tripartite NTBs reporting, monitoring and eliminating mechanism against best practice and establish its effectiveness to remove NTBs in the tripartite region. The main aim is to identify challenges and gaps in the design of the mechanism that are critical to the effective management of NTBs. Existing literature on mechanisms to address NTBs was reviewed. The focus of which was the main elements of reporting, monitoring and resolution of NTBs through the online mechanism. Policies dealing with NTBs were identified. The short comings of the tripartite online NTB mechanism (NTB-RMM) particularly with regards to data inadequacies, poor categorisation which impact negatively on NTB monitoring and policy improvements in the tripartite countries were also identified from literature. The online mechanism, hosted on the website www.tradebarriers.org was the primary source of the information and data utilised for analysis in this study. Supplementary information was obtained from the actual responses from a target group using questionnaires and interviews. Data analysis was done by aggregating and assessing results from the data extracted from the mechanism, responses from questionnaire, available literature, findings from the desk research and oral and telephonic interviews. Evidence from literature indicated that there are basically two types of NTB mechanisms implemented at multilateral, regional and national levels. These are web and non-web based notification and reporting mechanisms. The mechanisms designed by the WTO, EU and OECD are notification mechanisms whereas the mechanisms implemented by other organisations like ECOWAS, COMESA, EAC and SADC are reporting mechanisms.

The world of international trade has evolved over the centuries and, with this process of evolution, unique challenges have emerged over time. International trade, in essence, involves the movement of goods and services across borders; it is conducted mainly by private firms rather than governments. The suggested role of government is to create an environment that allows for efficient international trade. Such an environment is manifested in the provision of an adequate physical infrastructure and a transparent regulatory environment. Today, an organisation such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), whose members direct the vast bulk of international trade, plays an active role in advancing the agenda of a rules-based international trade regime. This same organization also provides, on an ongoing basis, initiatives directed to improving the facilitation of trade internationally. Examples of trade facilitation initiatives are the recent Bali-Agreement (The Trade Facilitation Agreement, 2013), signed by WTO members in 2013 in Bali, and the Revised Kyoto Convention of the World Customs Organization (WCO) which has, as its objective, the elimination of barriers to efficient international trade. This dissertation focuses on customs penalty regime as utilised by South Africa. The South African regime is compared with certain foreign and international customs penalty regimes (in this case, Canada, the United States of America and the European Union). The study further explores the appeal system available to transgressors of these regimes. The penalty - and appeal regimes is further analysed against recommendations and prescripts in international agreements to which these countries are parties, specifically the WTO Bali Agreement and the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention. A practical and transparent customs penalty regime will obviously support the agenda to improve trade facilitation, a situation that is desired by traders throughout the globe.

The application of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) and specifically non-automatic import licensing schemes has been a source of intense debate to date, despite prohibitive provisions enshrined in multilateral trade agreements. The main aim of this case study research was to assess the consistency of the implementation of the Namibian Horticultural Market Share Promotion Scheme (MSPS) under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The second segment of this study looked at identifying problems associated with the implementation of the scheme, and proposed policy recommendations that are responsive to competitive challenges facing industries in the 21st century. The study used a triangulation research methodology and a rating scale was used to conduct the assessment with respect to all the applicable provisions covered in the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures. A reliability test was conducted using the SPSS statistical software in order to measure the credibility of the data (scores). In this regard, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was very instrumental in measuring the degree of data consistency. Moreover, the relative frequency distribution was used to analyse the quantitative data, while an Interrelationship Diagram was used to analyse qualitative data.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-140). / This research project's objective was the development of a systemic disaster prevention paradigm. Disasters can generally be classified as either natural or man-made, although hybrid disasters also do occur. The research effort focussed on man-made disasters and numerous past disasters in all spheres of life were investigated. Man-made disasters are complex, systemic phenomena that can only be understood by adopting a holistic and systemic view. This high stakes world constituted the situation to be dealt with in there search project. The research work started off with a fixation on disasters in the mining industry. It was however soon realised that in all man-made disasters there are factors and dynamics in force that are industry and context insensitive.

Includes bibliographical references / This study sought to clarify the role of Customs Risk Management (CRiM) in facilitating cross-border trade at Beit Bridge border post from 2001 to 2014. Qualitative methods of survey questionnaire and face-to-face interviewing techniques were used to gather primary data. Secondary data was collected from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)'s internal sources such as Asycuda System and internal reports. Externally, sources like internet and research findings from other researchers in the same field were used. An in-depth literature review was done so as to simplify the research problem. Data analysis and presentation was done using diagrams, graphs and tables where applicable. The following research findings were then critically discussed in light of the literature reviewed: On the role of CRiM Training in cross-border trade facilitation, the study revealed that an overwhelming majority had not received any form of specialized training on CRiM or some form of work-related CRiM Training in the last 2 years. There exist a strong demand for CRiM Training in risk intelligence gathering, risk audit techniques and risk profiling. A majority, 93% of the respondents confirmed that ZIMRA's Strategic Plan makes some form of reference to CRiM. However, 73% of this majority, indicated that there is a greater and urgent need for management to provide operational staff with CRiM tactical implementation guidelines for easy of enforcement on the ground. 87% said the main purpose of applying CRiM in Customs procedures was mainly to maximize revenue collection ahead of trade facilitation. 76% expressed the same view with regards to use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in the procedures. 100% said the level of co-operation on exchange of ICT-based risk related information exchange between ZIMRA and other government departments was almost nil. In response to these findings, the study recommends that ZIMRA: continuously offer CRiM Training to its operational staff over short periods of time in a single year, effectively make use of CRiM techniques such as intelligence gathering, risk profiling, risk auditing techniques in identifying high risk cargo, and to eradicate lack of confidence in the flexible use of existing ICT systems among staff by giving them further training. According to this study, benefits of implementing these recommendations will be: increased revenue collection, reduced border clearance time, reduced costs of compliance, rationalized customs controls and predictability in the nature and level of controls all in the best interest of trade facilitation.

The expansion of global trade, especially trade in intermediate products, compels goods to cross borders multiple times before assembly. This phenomena requires better trade facilitation mechanisms in conveyancing goods and people across borders. The World Customs Organization, among many other organizations, has been in the fore-front of promoting these trade facilitation techniques. This qualitative case study has an objective of analyzing the current trade facilitation techniques used at Kasumbalesa. It also aims at pointing out any outdated customs procedures. During the study, data was collected using questionnaires and oral interviews. Secondary data was also collected from publications of the World Customs Organization, World Bank and the World Trade Organization, among other sources. In addition, observational methods were also used to collect data. The case study focuses on Kasumbalesa as a representative entry/exit point in Zambia. Consequently, identification of challenges faced by goods and people crossing Kasumbalesa can help streamline operations at other Zambian borders.

The recent adoption of the Trade Facilitation Agreement by WTO members in 2014 renewed the global impetus to ease the movement of goods. Developing countries in Sub Saharan Africa have joined the global community in this regard. It has been noted that although tariffs in developing countries have been lowered, numerous non-tariff barriers and non-tariff measures are stifling trade. Cumbersome border processes have added avoidable costs to trade. In this study, we examine the challenges being faced in Zimbabwe in the transboundary movement of goods. The study makes use the World Bank database on Trading Across Border, Logistics Performance Indicators, and the Ad Valorem Equivalent by the World Bank's Economic and Social Community for Asia and Pacific. The data is compared with South Africa, Zambia, OECD High Income Countries, and East Asia. The findings show that, it is a huge challenge to move goods in Zimbabwe. In other words, doing business with Zimbabwe is not for the faint at heart. These challenges emanate from exorbitant administrative fees, high document requirements, and time delay constraints. These costly non-tariff barriers present a costly murky trade protectionism. The entire logistics chain and infrastructure system need to be revamped to improve reliability and minimise trade costs. When compared to ad valorem equivalent, Zimbabwe trade costs with South Africa and Zambia in agriculture are in excess of 100%, while those for the manufactured goods average 65%. The high trade costs in agriculture are high mainly due to excess requirements in terms of processes and procedures to move goods across borders. Combining trade costs data with specific knowledge on trade facilitation, logistics and trade policy will provide a comprehensive diagnosis that will help to prioritize reform packages that carry maximum impact. In light of these findings, the research recommends to customs officials and government policy makers, areas to address in the entire trade facilitation process that will bring huge impact in terms of removal of border inefficiencies, minimising of trade costs, and improvement of the logistics chain. These recommendations range from the establishment of single window system, integrated border management, and one stop border posts as part of the entire process under trade facilitation.

During the period of the years 1952 to 2009, there have been only two automotive piston manufacturers in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). SACU is comprised of the following five member states; South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. Owing to the SACU agreement, these countries have enjoyed fairly good trade flows in goods and services amongst each other. The role of the abovementioned piston manufacturers was the provision of piston components to engine assembling companies in the SACU region as well as for sale to the aftermarket.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-81). / Includes abstract. / This study aimed to investigate the impact that the diagnosis of cancer has on the relationship of couples where one of the partners have been diagnosed with cancer. In order to achieve this, the study explored the elements in the cancer process that were most difficult for couples to cope with and what supported them most in coping. There are already many stressors in couples' lives without the added stress of cancer. When cancer is diagnosed in one of the partners, the couple is exposed to extraordinary challenges that they had never encountered before. It changes the appearance and the quality of the relationship. Their lives are disrupted by changes in all aspects. It was observed that the relationships of the couples were not adequately attended to during the cancer process. The study therefore attempted to assist couples and their medical teams to better understand some of the particular factors that could impinge on the relationship between patient and partner. Couple participants were conveniently selected. The study used qualitative methods to elicit thoughts and attitudes of couples experiencing the cancer process.