published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

Water is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s most valuable resources. Without significant improvement in the efficiency of use of this resource, we may experience wide-ranging shortages throughout the country within the not too distant future. The educational sector in South Africa could play a pivotal role in the education of learners and their communities, relating to the responsible use of water. This education, however, requires a parallel demonstration of these values within the boundaries of the school yard in order to maintain credibility amongst those being taught, and to enjoy the financial and environmental benefits of water saving initiatives. Primary and Secondary Schools in South Africa currently accommodate approximately 11,6 million learners and 360,000 educators. These learners and educators are accommodated in 27,200 schools, of which approximately 19,600 urban schools are supplied with water on site. Included in these schools are approximately 75,000 hostel beds, with supporting infrastructure such as canteens and laundry facilities. Other water uses within these schools include 63,700 sports facilities for various sports codes such as swimming, rugby, soccer, hockey, athletics, cricket and volleyball. Specialist laboratories, home economics and science centres total approximately 3,400. (National Department of Education, 2001, Schools Register of Needs). This portfolio of facilities represents a major water use within South Africa, costing schools and the Department of Education, approximately R216m per annum, plus estimated losses, due to leakage and wastage of approximately R74m per annum. This study has also shown that billing under-recovery to local supply authorities, providing water to schools, amounts to approximately R90m per annum. Based on cursory audits of 64 schools in Gauteng North, as well as their utility service provider accounts, this project sets about defining key performance indicators for use by schools to assist with the management of their water resource use. A simplified, paper-based water use simulation tool is developed for use by schools nationally, in establishing an ethic of measuring and monitoring within their institutions. School water use is fragmented, at facility level, into various major uses, including ablution consumption, irrigation of sports fields and landscaping, other ancillary uses and water losses, due to leakage and wastage. This project outlines the impacts, financial and environmental, of school water efficiency initiatives, illustrating technology options using life-cycle costing studies, and desktop simulations. / Dissertation (MSc (Quantity Surveying))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Construction Economics / unrestricted

Quantity surveying is concerned with controlling and managing the construction projects. Working with quantity surveying will give us an understanding of the technical aspects of construction over the whole life of a building or facility, accommodate the requirements of a building to suit the particular circumstances of a project, achieve the best quality and value within the client’s specifications and understand contracts, budgets, quantities and measurements.The aim of this study is to provide an introduction to the role of Quantity Surveying in the Construction Industry to explain the measurement process in variation order, waste management and preparing of the bills of quantities. Providing instruction in developing skills and logical approach in measuring simple building works and provide a platform for further studies in the measurement and pricing of building works.Choosing the right strategy is a crucial step when pursuing a desired goal, this necessity applies to companies, organizations, and individuals and as well research. A Comparison between Sweden and United Kingdom (UK) in project practices with focus on quantity surveying is studied to enable and increase the understanding of organizational roles and responsibilities for any construction project.This degree thesis contains four main parts and it is based on interviews with project team members chosen for the examination in different project based companies in Malmö and other cities in Sweden, and relevant theories and information from the literature and various reports.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / "1995"--Cover. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology in Construction Management Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying in the Faculty of Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2014 / Many South African quantity surveying practitioners are not committed to developing knowledge and skills, a factor that may hinder the development and viability of the firm. Owing to this problem, the research focuses on the strategic role of management with an emphasis on the support mechanisms for learning and the development of knowledge. The research population focuses on professional quantity surveying firms in the Western Cape region of South Africa. The aim of the research is to understand and identify key components of management‟s strategic influence on: (a) the organisation‟s culture, (b) the development of knowledge and (c) the development of related services and skills within professional quantity surveying firms. The research methodology consists of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Management members provided qualitative data by participating in interviews and staff members provided quantitative data by completing questionnaires. The data for the research comprised a criterion sample of eleven small- and medium-sized diversified firms. The core elements of the research are the organisational culture, learning, and the development of knowledge and service diversification. The research expands information on management‟s role in the organisation‟s culture and development of knowledge in professional quantity surveying firms. The research found that there are many supportive learning elements within the organisational cultures of most quantity surveying firms. Most management members discuss employee development and performance issues, and the lessons learnt from projects. Management occasionally mentors employees and regularly allows employees to undertake challenging work activities. Management members do not, however, include employees in the development of the firm‟s related services. Management primarily established related services because there was a need for these services. The development and transfer of related service knowledge and skills are restricted to management members to a large degree. Management‟s influence on the development of knowledge and skills of employees is somewhat limited and inconsistent. Organisational culture factors such as job satisfaction and the professional development of staff members have to be given appropriate attention by management, especially from a consistency and formal standpoint. Elements that require reviewing include the time allocated for internal learning activities and learning initiatives, other than on-the-job training. Service diversification factors, such as management members restriction of staff members to core quantity surveying services, also have to be reconsidered. Elements of some related services may improve the quality of core quantity surveying services. KEYWORDS: QUANTITY SURVEYING; PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FIRM; CULTURE; LEARNING; KNOWLEDGE; SERVICE DIVERSIFICATION

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship that exists between academic self-concept, motivation and academic achievement at the University of the Free State. The primary aim of this study was to determine if academic self-concept and motivation of quantity surveying students at the University of the Free State could predict their level of academic achievement. The sample was selected by means of convenience sampling. Relevant literature indicated that there are contrasting findings about whether a relationship exists between students’ academic self-concepts and motivation, and academic achievement. The empirical investigation revealed that there are only significant correlations between academic self-concept, motivation and academic achievement in some of the study year levels and not in all of them. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Adult education)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship that exists between academic self-concept, motivation and academic achievement at the University of the Free State. The primary aim of this study was to determine if academic self-concept and motivation of quantity surveying students at the University of the Free State could predict their level of academic achievement. The sample was selected by means of convenience sampling. Relevant literature indicated that there are contrasting findings about whether a relationship exists between students’ academic self-concepts and motivation, and academic achievement. The empirical investigation revealed that there are only significant correlations between academic self-concept, motivation and academic achievement in some of the study year levels and not in all of them. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Adult education)