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Government IT mega-projects often end in costly failure, despite attempts to identify those Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that lead to project success. This raises questions about whether these CSFs are understood, applied and, if so, whether they are having an impact on the management and subsequent performance of government IT mega-projects. The literature review compared CSFs from the generic and IT project management literature to find that they are broadly similar. CSF frameworks were then assessed to find a measure of the impact of CSFs and a measure of ‘performance’ was also defined. CSFs were then identified from fifteen reports on IT and information infrastructure projects and verified against the CSFs identified in the literature to produce a synthesised list of twelve CSFs. The understanding, application and impact of these CSFs were examined through a case study of the MoD’s Defence Information Infrastructure (DII) Programme, a government IT mega-project to provide a more integrated and coherent Defence infrastructure. It was evident that the CSFs were recognised and they appeared to have been understood within the DII Programme. However, the extent to which they have been applied is variable with differing effect. Therefore, the impact that CSFs have had on the management of the DII Programme is debatable. There were areas where the project could have been managed better and, therefore, could be performing better, suggesting that the overall success of the project is potentially at risk. The overarching conclusion of this study is that, in terms of the management of the DII Programme, the impact of the identified CSFs is variable and, where they are not applied, there is an adverse effect on its performance, suggesting a causal relationship. More generally, not applying generic CSFs to project management is likely to lead to failure, but is unlikely to assure success. Unique projects operating in highly specific and complex contexts require more contingent solutions. As a result of these conclusions, further case studies are suggested, along with further study into government and MoD IT project management and the management of trust in contractual relationships.

The main goal of this study was to explore the perceptions of managers regarding their role in the successful implementation of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in the Department of Education (DoE) in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. The researcher used a qualitative research approach to explore the perceptions of managers regarding their role in the successful implementation of the EAP in the DoE. To do this, the researcher used a probability sampling technique with the purposive sampling method to select the sample for this study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with the use of an interview schedule to gather data form 24 participants. With regard to data analysis, the researcher employed Creswell’s (1998) analytical spiral to analyse the data collected from the participants. The analysis involved both the transcription and interpretation of the data. The empirical findings revealed, on the one hand, that participants were knowledgeable about the EAP and its usefulness in managing performance. Although this is case, the findings of the study showed, on the other hand, that these participants do not use the programme to manage poor performance within the DoE. As a justification, the participants reported a lack of understanding when it comes to referral processes and types of referrals to the programme. Even important to note was that managers showed little trust (if not completely none) to staff members who deal with the EAP when it comes to upholding confidentiality and professionalism. Thus, recommendations from the participants called for an active participation and involvement in the EAP on the part of the managers to ensure a successful implementation of the programme. Such recommendations included, amongst others, the training of managers in the DoE. / Dissertation (MSocSci)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio) / The aim of the study was to determine the effect of astatic stretching programme on injury prevention. Educational pamphlets and a static stretching regime were implemented to the experimental group. / South Africa

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The aim of this study was to develop guidelines for an HIV/AIDS support programme for teachers. In order to achieve this goal, Intervention Research: Design and Development model by Rothman and Thomas (1994) was adopted to guide the research process. Intervention research is a form of applied qualitative research utilized by researchers to design and develop interventions to ameliorate social problems. Intervention research: design and development model has six phases and unique operational steps to follow in each phase. The researcher adopted the first three phases to facilitate the design of the guidelines to assist with development of a programme to support teachers. Problem analysis and project planning is the first phase. In this phase, the aim was to understand the experiences of HIV/AIDS among teachers and in schools. Information was gathered from HIV/AIDS coordinators, principals, teachers living with HIV. / South Africa

Magister Public Health - MPH / Objective: The study aim was to measure the operational effectiveness of a single dose Nevirapine for PMTCT programme among infants aged six weeks in Khomas region of Namibia.Methods: This was a retrospective record review quantitative study based on a descriptive approach. The record review aimed at measuring operational effectiveness through the distribution of certain variables among HIV exposed infants including the socio economic variables such as age, sex and the breast feeding practices of their mothers. A total of 451 HIV positive mothers and their infant pairs` record registers were reviewed in two hospitals of Khomas region, Namibia.Results: A total of 451 PMTCT mothers’ records for the year 2007 (median age 29 years) were reviewed in the Katutura and Windhoek Central hospitals of Namibia.. The HIV prevalence among infants aged six weeks or more out of the total 167 tested was 5% (95%CI, 0.9 -3.7). Conclusion: The findings from this study shows that although the rate of PMTCT in tested infants was low, registers for maternity and infant follow up are extremely poorly completed with the vast amounts of missing information making it difficult to assess programme effectiveness and monitor programme outcomes. PMTCT programme registers and routine monitoring and evaluation data need to be strengthened.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Background: The South African government has taken a stance to prioritise sporting codes within South Africa that report high participation and is inclusive of the population demographic of South Africa. Netball has been highlighted as one of these sixteen named sporting codes. Linked to the high participation of netball players in the sport is a high prevalence of injuries, which is well documented throughout the literature. Injury management within a South African context presents a number of challenges due to the current environment of health care in the country as well as an array of barriers that directly impact the netball players themselves as well as netball as a federation. Injury prevalence results in a need to both manage and prevent sporting injuries. The purpose of this study was to develop an injury prevention programme for netball players in South Africa and to establish the feasibility of such a programme for implementation. Method: The study took place under the auspices of Netball South Africa and the injury prevalence data was collected at a national netball tournament at the University of Pretoria. Sequential mixed methods was used as a framework to guide the study, and included a range of research methods as part of that process. The problem was identified in two phases using a cross sectional self-administered questionnaire and a qualitative aspect using semi-structured interviews. The design of the injury prevention programme that aimed to address the problem was informed by a systematic review of literature. The process that guided the development of the injury prevention programme was intervention mapping. This process led to the development of an injury prevention programme that included a coach’s educational booklet, an injury prevention exercise protocol and an administrative structure of a National Physiotherapy Association. The evaluation for feasibility for the implementation of the injury prevention programme was evaluated via a Delphi study.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Eritrea, a relatively young African nation, is one of the least developed countries in the world. Its economy is predominantly dependent on subsistence agriculture and the level and magnitude of poverty is more severe in rural areas. The formal financial sector is underdeveloped, state-owned, far from being competitive, and limited in terms of depth and breadth as measured by the relevant financial sector development indicators. To address the limitations of the formal banking sector and to help fill the financing gap, and improve the general livelihood of those at the lower income group, the Government of Eritrea introduced a Saving and Microcredit Programme (SMCP) in 1996 for which no scientific study measuring its impact has been done at the household level. The study was conducted in rural areas to find out whether the SMCP as a microfinance institution has improved the livelihood of its clients. The specific objectives of the study were to describe the characteristic feature of rural livelihoods in terms of the resources owned, the strategies pursued and outcomes achieved, identify and examine the determinants of household participation in the SMCP and finally assess the impact of participation in SMCP on household livelihoods. The study employed a quasi-experimental cross-sectional survey design involving structured and semi-structured questionnaire administered to 500 respondents of whom 200 represented the treated group and 300 the controlled group. Logit regression was employed to identify the factors that determine household participation in the SMCP. In regard to this, age of the client household, household size, marital status, level of education of the client household, the size of first round loan, entrepreneurial experience, type of loan product offered by the institution, ownership of livestock and microenterprise, the perception of the client on involuntary deposits, the occurrence of a negative events (shock) to the household and village access to electricity were found to have statistically significant effect on the household‟s probability to participate in the SMCP. Furthermore, the marginal effects were also computed to evaluate the contribution of each of these factors to the likelihood of participating in the SMCP. A propensity score matching model was applied to assess the impact of the programme on the livelihood of its clients. The findings reveal that participation in the SMCP has a significantly higher average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) households. Profits generated from off-farm and small microenterprises, the values of household and livestock assets, food and non-food consumption expenditures and nutrition quality, were found to be on average higher for the treated households than for the controlled households. Therefore, it could be argued that the provision of micro financial resources has significant positive effects on household livelihood outcomes. The study has important social and economic policy implication regarding the role of finance in rural development.

This research project was concerned with the description of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) mainly in the South African mining industry. The focus was on the impact of legislation on the practice of EAP in the South African mining industry. The researcher used a qualitative approach in this applied research study. The researcher employed a phenomenological strategy within the exploratory study. This was done through the utilization of semi-structured interviews. The researcher first looked at the evolvement of EAP as a field of practice, following by a discussion of the current state of the EAP in the South African mining industry. The researcher continued by discussing relevant pieces of legislation that have a direct influence on the practice of EAP in the mining industry. The second part of the project was the empirical study. Ten respondents were drawn through the process of purposive sampling. The researcher mainly dealt with the views of four Human Resource practitioners and six EAP practitioners in the mining industry. Through this exercise, the researcher looked at what the practitioners’ views were on the role of legislation as specifically to two issues. The first was the general provision of EAP services. The second was the stipulation of the legislation according to them, pertaining the practicalities of the provision of the service. The researcher’s conclusions regarding impact of legislation on the practice of EAP in the South African mining industry can be presented in the following manner: • Legal provisions have played a significant role towards the development of the field of EAP in general; • Other implications have been difficult to implement for mostly two main reasons. The first is that they are too general and therefore are seen to mean different things to different people. The second is that the people who matter most do not know them. These are either human resources practitioners, occupational social workers and/or EAP professionals or union and/or employee representatives. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

HIV is a very small germ or organism, called a virus, which people become infected with. It cannot be seen with the naked eye, but only under a microscope. The body’s natural ability to fight illness is called the immune system. It is the body’s defence against infection. The virus attacks the immune system and reduces the body’s resistance to all kinds of illnesses. That is why HIV is called the Human Immuno Deficiency Virus. AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The word syndrome means that several symptoms occur at the same time. It is used to emphasize that people with AIDS have many signs and symptoms, because they suffer from several illnesses at once. Education is a process of learning, acquiring information or gaining knowledge through training, workshops or seminars. HIV/AIDS education refers to a way of disseminating information about HIV/AIDS pandemic in order to reduce ignorance and fear, thus preventing the spread of the virus infection. Education on the pandemic seems to be the only solution through which HIV/AIDS can be controlled. At present there is no medicine that can prevent people from being infected, and there is no cure for HIV/AIDS pandemic, which is a fatal disease. Some drugs seem to enable the body to defend itself against the opportunistic diseases like cancers, TB, pneunemia, flu or diarrhea, but these are expensive. The drugs are not yet available to many people in our country. This means that the death rate from HIV/AIDS pandemic is still climbing rapidly among men and women of all ages and race especially among sexual-active people. The only way to combat the pandemic is through massive programme of public education which will include the following: the basic information on the pandemic, modes of transmission, stages on HIV infection to AIDS, diagnosis of HIV infection, counseling, treatment and prevention of HIV infection. It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that there are programmes to educate the workers at all levels, on HIV/AIDS pandemic. The aim of the study is to explore the need for an HIV/AIDS education programme at Mokopane Police Station through literature review and administration of a questionnaire to participants. The research approach used was quantitative. This approach helped the researcher to clearly understand and investigate aspects of social reality. The type of research was applied research. Applied research focuses on problem solving in practice. In this study applied research was used as the findings of exploratory study to recommend to SAPS Management for a possible programme on HIV/AIDS education at Mokopane Police Station. Exploratory design was used to explore the need for HIV/AIDS education programme. The method for data collection was by means of self-constructed questionnaires. The population for the study was 126 police officers. Random systematic sampling method was used to select the sample of 42 respondents. The questionnaires were pilot tested on five (5) respondents who did not form part of the research study. Data was analysed and interpreted using tables, bar graphs and piecharts. / Dissertation (MSD (EAP))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted