Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study investigated the nature of a steel production process in South Africa.
The Iron and Steel Corporation of South Africa (Iscor) was analysed within various
theoretical approaches within the sociology of science and technology.
Iscor follows the production processes that are based on a particular paradigm
practiced throughout the world by steel-making organisations. The study aims to
unlock this paradigm by using specific theoretical (ANT, SCOT and SSR) and
disciplinary (MOT) approaches. Each approach provides a unique analytical
dimension to the study: the influence of various human and non-human actors, the
influence of social pressures, the historical evolution of the current practices and
the management of risk.
The study explores how Iscor adheres to mainstream scientific work. Hence there
is a focus on endogeneous approaches - "processes of technological change and
their outcomes are part of what has to be explained and understood" (Rip et ai,
1995). It is also noted that the technologies are derived from practical experiences
and processes of scientific research.
There is an ongoing attempt to formulate an understanding between technical and
social content of steel-making processes because automated plant machinery
continue to replace manual labour. Finally, the study investigates how dominant
steel-making technologies within lscor's Vanderbijlpark (VP) and Saldanah Bay
(SB) plants have evolved to achieve a position of stability. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie het oorsake van die staal produksie proses in Suid Afrika geondersoek.
Die Yster en Staal Korperasie van Suid Afrika (Yskor) was geanaliseer binne die
verskillende teoretiese benaderings in die sosiologie van wetenskap en tegnologie.
Yskor volg 'n produksie wat gebaseer is op 'n spesifieke paradigm wat deur alle
staal vervaardigde organisasie wereld wyd gepraktiseer word. Die studie beoog
om hierdie paradigm te ontbloot, deur spesifieke teoretiese (ANT, SCOT and SSR)
en disiplinere (MOT) benaderings te gebruik. Elk van hierdie benaderings sal 'n
unieke analiese demensie voortbring aan die studie: die invloed van verskillende
menslike en nie-menslike aspekte, die invloed van sosiale druk, die
geskiedkundige evolusie van die huidige praktyke en die bestuur van risikos.
Die studie ondersoek hoe Yskor riglyne volg in die wetenskaplike veld. AI te mits is
daar 'n mikpunt op endogeniese benadering - "tegnologiese prosese verandering
en die resultate wat deel vorm van hoe die proses verduidelik word en
verstandbaar moet wees" (Rip et al, 1995). Dis is dus duidelik dat die tegnologie
verkry word deur praktiese ondervinding en wetenskappe navorsing prosese.
Daar is voortdurend pogings om die verwantskap tussen tegniese en die sosiale
inhoud van die staal vervaardigings prosese te formuleer, deurdat auto-matiese
mashienerie all deurgans oorneem van werkers. Laastens die studie ondersoek
hoe die dominante staal vervaardigde tegnologie binne in Yskor Vanderbijlpark
(VP) en Saldanha Baai (SB) verander het om 'n stabiele stands poort te verkry.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/50053 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Sedumedi, Boitshoko Kaelo |
| Contributors | Mouton, J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | vii, 88 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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