The gap between language policy and implementation – a study of the strengths and weaknesses of the government’s implementation of language policy
- Marais, Duduzile Kate Khethiwe
- Authors: Marais, Duduzile Kate Khethiwe
- Date: 2013-06-18
- Subjects: Language policy - South Africa , Pan South African Language Board , National Language Policy Framework (South Africa)
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7586 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8452
- Description: M.A. (Applied Linguistics) , The main aim of this study is to evaluate the implementation of government’s language policy in terms of the Implementation Plan: National Language Policy Framework (NLPF). This involved investigating the extent to which the NLPF has or has not been implemented. The study began to quantify and to conduct an in-depth micro level analysis into the gap between the language policy and implementation through a comparison of what exists or does not exist on the ground against the stipulations of the Implementation Plan – NLPF. The research design involved making use of a combination of primary data and documentary analysis. The primary data was obtained from interviews and questionnaires from a range of respondents including language practitioners and experts in the field of language management and practice. Data was also gathered from former members of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). The documentary analysis involved perusing the Annual Reports of the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) and the questions from Members of Parliament to the Minister of Arts and Culture on language policy implementation matters. The role of the DAC was explored as it is the department with the language portfolio within government. The mandate of the DAC on language policy implementation is also reflected in their vision, mission and strategic objectives as follows: to ‘develop and promote official languages of South Africa and enhance the linguistic diversity of the country’ and to ‘develop, promote and protect the 11 official languages through policy formulation, legislation and implementation of the language policy in order to allow South Africans to realise their language rights’ (DAC Annual Report 2008/2009: 10 and 59). iv The Pan South African Language Board was also identified because in terms of the Constitution of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996 and legislation (Pan South African Language Board Act 59 of 1995) PanSALB is the entity and statutory body tasked with promoting and creating conditions for the development of all the official languages. The City of Tshwane Municipality was used as a case study to shed some light on what is possibly happening at other spheres of government on the implementation of the language policy. The purpose of the case study was to establish if the City of Tshwane Municipality has developed and adopted a language policy. And if there is a language policy to establish its main elements and to ascertain to what extent such a language policy of the City of Tshwane Municipality has been aligned to or informed by the National Language Policy Framework (NLPF). For this purpose the Director of the Language Services Unit of the City of Tshwane was interviewed. A small sample of the residents of City of Tshwane was also requested to respond to a questionnaire. The purpose of the questionnaire to the residents of the City of Tshwane was to elicit their views and perceptions about the language policy and practice of the City of Tshwane so as to validate what emerges from the Language Services Unit of the City of Tshwane Municipality about the implementation of its language policy.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Marais, Duduzile Kate Khethiwe
- Date: 2013-06-18
- Subjects: Language policy - South Africa , Pan South African Language Board , National Language Policy Framework (South Africa)
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7586 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8452
- Description: M.A. (Applied Linguistics) , The main aim of this study is to evaluate the implementation of government’s language policy in terms of the Implementation Plan: National Language Policy Framework (NLPF). This involved investigating the extent to which the NLPF has or has not been implemented. The study began to quantify and to conduct an in-depth micro level analysis into the gap between the language policy and implementation through a comparison of what exists or does not exist on the ground against the stipulations of the Implementation Plan – NLPF. The research design involved making use of a combination of primary data and documentary analysis. The primary data was obtained from interviews and questionnaires from a range of respondents including language practitioners and experts in the field of language management and practice. Data was also gathered from former members of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). The documentary analysis involved perusing the Annual Reports of the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) and the questions from Members of Parliament to the Minister of Arts and Culture on language policy implementation matters. The role of the DAC was explored as it is the department with the language portfolio within government. The mandate of the DAC on language policy implementation is also reflected in their vision, mission and strategic objectives as follows: to ‘develop and promote official languages of South Africa and enhance the linguistic diversity of the country’ and to ‘develop, promote and protect the 11 official languages through policy formulation, legislation and implementation of the language policy in order to allow South Africans to realise their language rights’ (DAC Annual Report 2008/2009: 10 and 59). iv The Pan South African Language Board was also identified because in terms of the Constitution of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996 and legislation (Pan South African Language Board Act 59 of 1995) PanSALB is the entity and statutory body tasked with promoting and creating conditions for the development of all the official languages. The City of Tshwane Municipality was used as a case study to shed some light on what is possibly happening at other spheres of government on the implementation of the language policy. The purpose of the case study was to establish if the City of Tshwane Municipality has developed and adopted a language policy. And if there is a language policy to establish its main elements and to ascertain to what extent such a language policy of the City of Tshwane Municipality has been aligned to or informed by the National Language Policy Framework (NLPF). For this purpose the Director of the Language Services Unit of the City of Tshwane was interviewed. A small sample of the residents of City of Tshwane was also requested to respond to a questionnaire. The purpose of the questionnaire to the residents of the City of Tshwane was to elicit their views and perceptions about the language policy and practice of the City of Tshwane so as to validate what emerges from the Language Services Unit of the City of Tshwane Municipality about the implementation of its language policy.
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Causes of delay and cost overruns in EPCM (Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management) projects in South Africa
- Authors: Nkobane, Mpho Arnold
- Date: 2013-06-03
- Subjects: Construction industry - Costs , Construction projects - Management , Construction industry - Management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7572 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8435
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Please refer to full text to view abstract
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nkobane, Mpho Arnold
- Date: 2013-06-03
- Subjects: Construction industry - Costs , Construction projects - Management , Construction industry - Management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7572 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8435
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Please refer to full text to view abstract
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Facilitation of mental health of women living with borderline personality disorder
- Authors: Mthethwa, Nompumelelo
- Date: 2013-06-03
- Subjects: Borderline personality disorder - Treatment , Women - Mental health
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/375220 , uj:7573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8436
- Description: M.Cur. (Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing) , Few studies have been done on life stories of women living with borderline personality disorders in South Africa. It was therefore considered to find out how women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder would tell their life story. For the researcher working in a psychotherapy ward, where women are mostly diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, and the care of these women is of vital importance, as mental health care providers understand them less. The research aimed to explore and describe the life stories of women living with borderline personality disorder and to formulate guidelines for psychiatric nurse practitioners to facilitate the mental health of women living with borderline personality disorder. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study design was used. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews focusing on the question “Tell me your life story,” Tesch’s method was used for data analysis and an external coder was utilised. Eight participants were interviewed. In the findings it is evident through the life stories of women living with borderline personality disorder that there are childhood experiences of living within an unsafe space related to unhealthy family dynamics, boundary violations and educational challenges. They experienced chronic feelings of emptiness in the relationship they also presented with a pattern of unstable interpersonal relationships and compromised mental health, which was evident through early onset of mental problems, emotional upheaval, looking for emotional escape and having different trigger factors. Lastly all these women yearned for facilitated mental health.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mthethwa, Nompumelelo
- Date: 2013-06-03
- Subjects: Borderline personality disorder - Treatment , Women - Mental health
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/375220 , uj:7573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8436
- Description: M.Cur. (Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing) , Few studies have been done on life stories of women living with borderline personality disorders in South Africa. It was therefore considered to find out how women diagnosed with borderline personality disorder would tell their life story. For the researcher working in a psychotherapy ward, where women are mostly diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, and the care of these women is of vital importance, as mental health care providers understand them less. The research aimed to explore and describe the life stories of women living with borderline personality disorder and to formulate guidelines for psychiatric nurse practitioners to facilitate the mental health of women living with borderline personality disorder. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual study design was used. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews focusing on the question “Tell me your life story,” Tesch’s method was used for data analysis and an external coder was utilised. Eight participants were interviewed. In the findings it is evident through the life stories of women living with borderline personality disorder that there are childhood experiences of living within an unsafe space related to unhealthy family dynamics, boundary violations and educational challenges. They experienced chronic feelings of emptiness in the relationship they also presented with a pattern of unstable interpersonal relationships and compromised mental health, which was evident through early onset of mental problems, emotional upheaval, looking for emotional escape and having different trigger factors. Lastly all these women yearned for facilitated mental health.
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The effects of ischaemic compression vs integrated neurosmuscular inhibition technique on the gluteus medius muscle in the treatment of sacroiliac joint syndrome
- Authors: Nowak, Thomas
- Date: 2013-06-03
- Subjects: Gluteus medius , Sacroiliac joint diseases - Chiropractic treatment , Myofascial pain syndromes - Chiropractic treatment
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7574 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8437
- Description: M.Tech. (Chiropractic) , Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the most effective way of treating Sacroiliac (SI) joint syndrome with associated Gluteus Medius muscle myofascial trigger points (MFTP) by using adjustive techniques performed on the SI joint with a soft tissue technique. The soft tissue techniques were either ischaemic compression (IC) vs integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique (INIT). Study Design: This was a randomised comparative trial. Setting: The participants were treated at the University of Johannesburg Chiropractic day clinic. Subjects: Thirty participants were randomly divided into two groups consisting of fifteen individuals each. There was a random selection of males and females which was not limited to any particular race or gender. Participants were limited to between the ages of 18 to 35 years of age. Participants diagnosed with SI joint syndrome and who had active Gluteus Medius myofascial trigger points were eligible for this study. Method: Subjective data was collected, by the participants completing an Oswestry low back pain and disability questionnaire and a Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS). The objective data readings involved assessing the range of motion of the hip joint, with a goniometer. Algometry readings of the most active Gluteus medius trigger point were taken, to measure the amount of force on the muscle trigger point before pain was felt. Each participant was seen seven times over the span of three weeks and underwent six treatments. Group 1 received ischemic compression to the Gluteus Medius trigger points followed by an adjustment to the predetermined restricted SI joint during visit 1-6. Group 2 received INIT to the Gluteus medius trigger points followed by an adjustment to the predetermined restricted SI joint during visits 1-6. Measurements were taken at visit 1, 4, and 7 before the treatment. Results: The results indicated that neither the IC group nor the INIT group showed statistically significant improvements when comparing the two treatment methods to each other. The comparison between the two techniques did however show clinical benefit in the subjective and objective readings throughout in the intra group analysis. It appears that that the ischemic compression had more clinical benefit in terms of subjective pain readings for the Oswestry low back pain and disability questionnaire and the NPRS. The INIT seemed to provide greater clinical improvement in terms of hip range of motion as it showed to be more beneficial in increasing hip adduction and abduction. Conclusion: The results of this study was that neither group had showed statistically significant improvements when comparing the two treatment methods to each other and therefore neither method exhibited superiority over the other according to the statistical analysis in the treatment of Gluteus Medius myofascial trigger points and SI joint syndrome.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nowak, Thomas
- Date: 2013-06-03
- Subjects: Gluteus medius , Sacroiliac joint diseases - Chiropractic treatment , Myofascial pain syndromes - Chiropractic treatment
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7574 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8437
- Description: M.Tech. (Chiropractic) , Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the most effective way of treating Sacroiliac (SI) joint syndrome with associated Gluteus Medius muscle myofascial trigger points (MFTP) by using adjustive techniques performed on the SI joint with a soft tissue technique. The soft tissue techniques were either ischaemic compression (IC) vs integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique (INIT). Study Design: This was a randomised comparative trial. Setting: The participants were treated at the University of Johannesburg Chiropractic day clinic. Subjects: Thirty participants were randomly divided into two groups consisting of fifteen individuals each. There was a random selection of males and females which was not limited to any particular race or gender. Participants were limited to between the ages of 18 to 35 years of age. Participants diagnosed with SI joint syndrome and who had active Gluteus Medius myofascial trigger points were eligible for this study. Method: Subjective data was collected, by the participants completing an Oswestry low back pain and disability questionnaire and a Numerical pain rating scale (NPRS). The objective data readings involved assessing the range of motion of the hip joint, with a goniometer. Algometry readings of the most active Gluteus medius trigger point were taken, to measure the amount of force on the muscle trigger point before pain was felt. Each participant was seen seven times over the span of three weeks and underwent six treatments. Group 1 received ischemic compression to the Gluteus Medius trigger points followed by an adjustment to the predetermined restricted SI joint during visit 1-6. Group 2 received INIT to the Gluteus medius trigger points followed by an adjustment to the predetermined restricted SI joint during visits 1-6. Measurements were taken at visit 1, 4, and 7 before the treatment. Results: The results indicated that neither the IC group nor the INIT group showed statistically significant improvements when comparing the two treatment methods to each other. The comparison between the two techniques did however show clinical benefit in the subjective and objective readings throughout in the intra group analysis. It appears that that the ischemic compression had more clinical benefit in terms of subjective pain readings for the Oswestry low back pain and disability questionnaire and the NPRS. The INIT seemed to provide greater clinical improvement in terms of hip range of motion as it showed to be more beneficial in increasing hip adduction and abduction. Conclusion: The results of this study was that neither group had showed statistically significant improvements when comparing the two treatment methods to each other and therefore neither method exhibited superiority over the other according to the statistical analysis in the treatment of Gluteus Medius myofascial trigger points and SI joint syndrome.
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An AHP approach to systems development and implementation for improved sustainability
- Authors: Nkosi, Samkele N.
- Date: 2013-05-28
- Subjects: Software engineering management , Computer software development , Analytic Hierarchy Process , Computer-aided engineering
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7560 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8422
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Sustainable development is the buzz word of the twenty-first century and it is the prerogative of the modern organization to ensure that it keeps up with sustainable development initiatives in order to keep its products marketable. As such a need has arisen to assist OPSI Systems, an IT company that specializes in software development, in selecting appropriate algorithms, implementation architectures and business processes to implement in order to achieve improved sustainability in the development, deployment and usage of its software products. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is the management tool of choice for this. Opsi Systems is an IT company that develops niche vehicle routing and scheduling software for the transport logistics industry. Opsi Systems' software products are typically used by distribution planners and managers to find the most efficient combinations of vehicles to use to transport goods, assignment of goods to vehicles, routes to take and stops to make along routes, in order to optimise the value-chain in the supply of products to customers. As a software development and support company, there are various documented methodologies that can be used to enhance Opsi Systems' own value-chain in delivering its software products to its clients. The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) approach is used in the development of OPSI Systems' products and a lifecycle approach to product development is important in catering for sustainability in the software design process[3]. The main objective of OPSI systems software products is optimally realistic solution of the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), which is quite key for logistics and supply chain management companies to be able to conduct their business with minimal impact to the environment. The use of fewer vehicles and a reduction in the total distance travelled by those vehicles means lower fuel consumption and lower cost of business. IT integration also leaves less of a paper trail and thus electronic processing of orders is possible at a much reduced cost to the company and the environment than traditional paper based sign-off . The savings introduced by e cient solution of the VRP has a direct positive impact on sustainable development. As such research on the VRP is also an important component of this study.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nkosi, Samkele N.
- Date: 2013-05-28
- Subjects: Software engineering management , Computer software development , Analytic Hierarchy Process , Computer-aided engineering
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7560 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8422
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Sustainable development is the buzz word of the twenty-first century and it is the prerogative of the modern organization to ensure that it keeps up with sustainable development initiatives in order to keep its products marketable. As such a need has arisen to assist OPSI Systems, an IT company that specializes in software development, in selecting appropriate algorithms, implementation architectures and business processes to implement in order to achieve improved sustainability in the development, deployment and usage of its software products. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is the management tool of choice for this. Opsi Systems is an IT company that develops niche vehicle routing and scheduling software for the transport logistics industry. Opsi Systems' software products are typically used by distribution planners and managers to find the most efficient combinations of vehicles to use to transport goods, assignment of goods to vehicles, routes to take and stops to make along routes, in order to optimise the value-chain in the supply of products to customers. As a software development and support company, there are various documented methodologies that can be used to enhance Opsi Systems' own value-chain in delivering its software products to its clients. The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) approach is used in the development of OPSI Systems' products and a lifecycle approach to product development is important in catering for sustainability in the software design process[3]. The main objective of OPSI systems software products is optimally realistic solution of the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), which is quite key for logistics and supply chain management companies to be able to conduct their business with minimal impact to the environment. The use of fewer vehicles and a reduction in the total distance travelled by those vehicles means lower fuel consumption and lower cost of business. IT integration also leaves less of a paper trail and thus electronic processing of orders is possible at a much reduced cost to the company and the environment than traditional paper based sign-off . The savings introduced by e cient solution of the VRP has a direct positive impact on sustainable development. As such research on the VRP is also an important component of this study.
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An investigation into the management of geographically dispersed (virtual) engineering teams in the South African railway industry
- Authors: Misthry, Kavish
- Date: 2013-05-28
- Subjects: Virtual engineering , Virtual work teams , Railroads management , Transnet (Firm : South Africa) , Teams in the workplace - Management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7564 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8426
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , This dissertation covers research into the principles and processes associated with the management of geographically dispersed project teams in the railway industry of South Africa; and aims to highlight possible problem areas as well as techniques in order to assist with effective virtual project management. The paper details several key areas in virtual team management and railway signalling, that are spread over various chapters. An introduction to the railway industry is presented in Chapter 1 to provide the background on which this research is based. Thereafter the problem statement and research objectives are outlined, with particular attention paid to the organisation on which this study is aligned: Transnet Freight Rail, a division of Transnet Ltd. The concept of teams and its importance in project management (using both classic and virtual teams) is a topic widely explored in the academic world. A literature review is necessary to identify areas which need further expansion. The topic of virtual projects in the S.A. railway industry is one such example. Virtual teams do not benefit from working together in a lab or boardroom, hence the need for an alternative form of management. Teamwork cannot be successful unless there is trust, and this is more evident in a virtual team whereby trust is harder to form and easier to break. Chapter 2 elaborates on various methods to build trust and how not to break it.Various methods of research exist and are generally divided into two categories: Qualitative and Quantitative. A review is required in order to accurately select the applicable form of research. This resulted in the decision to utilise both qualitative and quantitative research, via case studies, surveys and casual-comparisons. This topic is further expanded on in chapter 3. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 present all results obtained during the course of this research. The case study in Chapter 4 aims to analyse the detailed processes used in the management of a railway signalling project with a widely dispersed project team. Chapter 5 introduces the research survey performed by various signalling project and engineering managers in the organisation.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Misthry, Kavish
- Date: 2013-05-28
- Subjects: Virtual engineering , Virtual work teams , Railroads management , Transnet (Firm : South Africa) , Teams in the workplace - Management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7564 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8426
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , This dissertation covers research into the principles and processes associated with the management of geographically dispersed project teams in the railway industry of South Africa; and aims to highlight possible problem areas as well as techniques in order to assist with effective virtual project management. The paper details several key areas in virtual team management and railway signalling, that are spread over various chapters. An introduction to the railway industry is presented in Chapter 1 to provide the background on which this research is based. Thereafter the problem statement and research objectives are outlined, with particular attention paid to the organisation on which this study is aligned: Transnet Freight Rail, a division of Transnet Ltd. The concept of teams and its importance in project management (using both classic and virtual teams) is a topic widely explored in the academic world. A literature review is necessary to identify areas which need further expansion. The topic of virtual projects in the S.A. railway industry is one such example. Virtual teams do not benefit from working together in a lab or boardroom, hence the need for an alternative form of management. Teamwork cannot be successful unless there is trust, and this is more evident in a virtual team whereby trust is harder to form and easier to break. Chapter 2 elaborates on various methods to build trust and how not to break it.Various methods of research exist and are generally divided into two categories: Qualitative and Quantitative. A review is required in order to accurately select the applicable form of research. This resulted in the decision to utilise both qualitative and quantitative research, via case studies, surveys and casual-comparisons. This topic is further expanded on in chapter 3. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 present all results obtained during the course of this research. The case study in Chapter 4 aims to analyse the detailed processes used in the management of a railway signalling project with a widely dispersed project team. Chapter 5 introduces the research survey performed by various signalling project and engineering managers in the organisation.
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Management skills for engineers & technologists : industry perceptions and implications for management of engineering systems
- Authors: Malene, Patrick
- Date: 2013-05-28
- Subjects: Engineering management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7563 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8425
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Today’s technical challenges are seldom solved by an individual. A team of people usually get involved when new products, processes, organizational structures or technologies are developed, tested and subsequently maintained. Such teams comprise of engineers, technologists and project managers and their roles being to direct others, control, plan, administer and manage these technologies. Engineering managers have become the pillars of most organizations, which are using sophisticated equipment to produce high-technology products. The ability of companies to generate new business has become increasingly dependent on technical knowledge. Implicitly, people with both technical knowledge and managerial skills with the capability to think strategically about the technology and business goals are required. There are several reasons why engineers and technologists should be effective in the general management of technical orientated business. In such organizations, efficient planning is required to ensure that the organizational objectives are met. The other reason for the engineers and technologists to have management skills is that, they are typically people who employ technical personnel. Therefore they need to understand and follow the human resource management process, for them to effectively evaluate these candidates. Other than that, engineers play a role in financial decision making for their organizations, marketing and other nonengineering departments. Engineers and Technologists at all levels must be adept in business realities, developing large scale engineering systems, and working with other people. These factors depict the reality of contemporary organizations, thus the management training of these technical people will ensure effectiveness in their leadership style. This mini dissertation will emphasize the need to equip technical people with management..Further, it will briefly discuss the management functions that engineers and technologist assume at different organizations.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Malene, Patrick
- Date: 2013-05-28
- Subjects: Engineering management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7563 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8425
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Today’s technical challenges are seldom solved by an individual. A team of people usually get involved when new products, processes, organizational structures or technologies are developed, tested and subsequently maintained. Such teams comprise of engineers, technologists and project managers and their roles being to direct others, control, plan, administer and manage these technologies. Engineering managers have become the pillars of most organizations, which are using sophisticated equipment to produce high-technology products. The ability of companies to generate new business has become increasingly dependent on technical knowledge. Implicitly, people with both technical knowledge and managerial skills with the capability to think strategically about the technology and business goals are required. There are several reasons why engineers and technologists should be effective in the general management of technical orientated business. In such organizations, efficient planning is required to ensure that the organizational objectives are met. The other reason for the engineers and technologists to have management skills is that, they are typically people who employ technical personnel. Therefore they need to understand and follow the human resource management process, for them to effectively evaluate these candidates. Other than that, engineers play a role in financial decision making for their organizations, marketing and other nonengineering departments. Engineers and Technologists at all levels must be adept in business realities, developing large scale engineering systems, and working with other people. These factors depict the reality of contemporary organizations, thus the management training of these technical people will ensure effectiveness in their leadership style. This mini dissertation will emphasize the need to equip technical people with management..Further, it will briefly discuss the management functions that engineers and technologist assume at different organizations.
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Risk and uncertainty in the aerospace industry : a focus into the manufacturing environment
- Authors: Moti, Mitesh
- Date: 2013-05-28
- Subjects: Aerospace industries - Risk management , Manufacturing industries - Risk management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7561 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8423
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Many companies measure their performance on how well they manage projects. In some cases using only project management methods will not be able to deliver a successful project when unexpected incidents and various uncertainties are present within a project. The aim of project managers is to ensure a smooth and methodical process is followed to achieve the expected outcome in terms of on time schedule delivery, quality and repeatability. Yet uncertainty is intrinsic in every aspect of the project. The ability to identify and react to the effects of uncertainty will significantly impact the final outcome of the project. The objective of this dissertation is to identify processes that can be improved to manage risks as well as creating a mindset of how successful the company can become by improving the current process of managing risks, by introducing proven concepts and the ability to realise and overcome these risks. Specific research questions were posed and during the implementation phase, the answers of these questions were given. Finally the management of opportunities will be looked at, and how these can be improved, as well as being competitive when bidding for jobs and establishing a costing method that has minimal risk when costing for new work.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Moti, Mitesh
- Date: 2013-05-28
- Subjects: Aerospace industries - Risk management , Manufacturing industries - Risk management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7561 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8423
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Many companies measure their performance on how well they manage projects. In some cases using only project management methods will not be able to deliver a successful project when unexpected incidents and various uncertainties are present within a project. The aim of project managers is to ensure a smooth and methodical process is followed to achieve the expected outcome in terms of on time schedule delivery, quality and repeatability. Yet uncertainty is intrinsic in every aspect of the project. The ability to identify and react to the effects of uncertainty will significantly impact the final outcome of the project. The objective of this dissertation is to identify processes that can be improved to manage risks as well as creating a mindset of how successful the company can become by improving the current process of managing risks, by introducing proven concepts and the ability to realise and overcome these risks. Specific research questions were posed and during the implementation phase, the answers of these questions were given. Finally the management of opportunities will be looked at, and how these can be improved, as well as being competitive when bidding for jobs and establishing a costing method that has minimal risk when costing for new work.
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The sustainability of life cycle costs in a systems engineering process of a 21st century reliability engineering environment
- Authors: Maoto, Reboneng Mothupi
- Date: 2013-05-28
- Subjects: Sustainable development , Life cycle costing , Systems engineering , Reliability (Engineering) , Value analysis (Cost control) , Engineering economy
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7562 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8424
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , With the current global political and economic environments, there is a lot of economic fluctuation and uncertainty in the world markets. This results in the instability of prices for goods and other products. And since we operate in a globalised era, this has a direct impact on the life cycle costs of many systems and products. Experience has indicated that a large portion of the total cost of many systems is as a direct result of activities associated with the operation and support of these systems and products, while the commitment of these costs is based on decisions made in the early stages of the system life cycle (Blanchard, 1990:505 & Blanchard, 2004:24-26). Further, the various costs associated with the different phases of the life cycle of a system or a piece of equipment are interrelated. Thus, in addressing the economic aspects of a system, one must look at the total cost in the context of the overall life cycle, particularly during the early stages of conceptual design and advanced system planning. Life cycle cost, when included as a parameter in the systems engineering process, provides the opportunity to design for economic feasibility. To address these aspects the following questions are answered through the research: What are life cycle costs and what are the benefits of costing them? When and where are costs incurred in a systems life cycle? What are the key variables in establishing life cycle costs? How can these variables be better defined to ensure that the life cycle costs are sustained through the entire life of a system? Can the engineering inflation be defined and be used instead of the general inflation rate? Now the challenge is that with the fluctuating economic conditions mentioned earlier, one cannot predict the life cycle costs of a system as closely accurate as is required. The proposed research focused on identifying sustainable measures to ensure that life cycle costs remain relevant through the lifespan of a system or equipment.
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- Authors: Maoto, Reboneng Mothupi
- Date: 2013-05-28
- Subjects: Sustainable development , Life cycle costing , Systems engineering , Reliability (Engineering) , Value analysis (Cost control) , Engineering economy
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7562 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8424
- Description: M.Phil. (Engineering Management) , With the current global political and economic environments, there is a lot of economic fluctuation and uncertainty in the world markets. This results in the instability of prices for goods and other products. And since we operate in a globalised era, this has a direct impact on the life cycle costs of many systems and products. Experience has indicated that a large portion of the total cost of many systems is as a direct result of activities associated with the operation and support of these systems and products, while the commitment of these costs is based on decisions made in the early stages of the system life cycle (Blanchard, 1990:505 & Blanchard, 2004:24-26). Further, the various costs associated with the different phases of the life cycle of a system or a piece of equipment are interrelated. Thus, in addressing the economic aspects of a system, one must look at the total cost in the context of the overall life cycle, particularly during the early stages of conceptual design and advanced system planning. Life cycle cost, when included as a parameter in the systems engineering process, provides the opportunity to design for economic feasibility. To address these aspects the following questions are answered through the research: What are life cycle costs and what are the benefits of costing them? When and where are costs incurred in a systems life cycle? What are the key variables in establishing life cycle costs? How can these variables be better defined to ensure that the life cycle costs are sustained through the entire life of a system? Can the engineering inflation be defined and be used instead of the general inflation rate? Now the challenge is that with the fluctuating economic conditions mentioned earlier, one cannot predict the life cycle costs of a system as closely accurate as is required. The proposed research focused on identifying sustainable measures to ensure that life cycle costs remain relevant through the lifespan of a system or equipment.
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An assessment of the maturity and implementation of assurance frameworks on building construction projects within construction companies in South Africa
- Authors: Govender, Trevor Desigan
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Project management , Engineering management , Construction projects - Management , Construction industry - Quality control
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8405
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , In the wake of the recent global financial crisis, the engineering and building construction industry has been faced with great uncertainty. Emerging from the crisis, investors are taking a cautious approach to how, with, and through whom they invest money. Organisation’s shareholders and stakeholders are therefore seeking new ways to run their businesses looking at cost optimisation and enhanced performance to increase their profitability. Companies are moving towards ensuring tighter control through stronger governance, closer risk management and compliance to statutory and regulatory requirements. To achieve this, assurance frameworks are being used to test, monitor and report to senior management on the organisation’s status. This dissertation highlights the importance of governance, risk and compliance control mechanisms specifically in the building construction sector within construction companies in South Africa. It will assess the maturity of such assurance frameworks and its implementation on building construction projects undertaken by large construction companies. These practices will be compared to the assurance frameworks as recommended and implemented by international leading practice. The dissertation will review the impacts that effective and weak assurance practices have on an organisation’s projects, their businesses and their statutory liability. To understand this, the research conducted interviews, surveys and case studies on large Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed construction companies in South Africa. The data was analysed: quantitatively, qualitatively, statistically as well as trended conclusions are made. The dissertation ends by pointing to the advantages of proper assurance controls on building construction projects and presents a template of an assurance framework that may be developed by construction companies into assurance programmes and other tools for use in their environment.
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- Authors: Govender, Trevor Desigan
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Project management , Engineering management , Construction projects - Management , Construction industry - Quality control
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7547 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8405
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , In the wake of the recent global financial crisis, the engineering and building construction industry has been faced with great uncertainty. Emerging from the crisis, investors are taking a cautious approach to how, with, and through whom they invest money. Organisation’s shareholders and stakeholders are therefore seeking new ways to run their businesses looking at cost optimisation and enhanced performance to increase their profitability. Companies are moving towards ensuring tighter control through stronger governance, closer risk management and compliance to statutory and regulatory requirements. To achieve this, assurance frameworks are being used to test, monitor and report to senior management on the organisation’s status. This dissertation highlights the importance of governance, risk and compliance control mechanisms specifically in the building construction sector within construction companies in South Africa. It will assess the maturity of such assurance frameworks and its implementation on building construction projects undertaken by large construction companies. These practices will be compared to the assurance frameworks as recommended and implemented by international leading practice. The dissertation will review the impacts that effective and weak assurance practices have on an organisation’s projects, their businesses and their statutory liability. To understand this, the research conducted interviews, surveys and case studies on large Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed construction companies in South Africa. The data was analysed: quantitatively, qualitatively, statistically as well as trended conclusions are made. The dissertation ends by pointing to the advantages of proper assurance controls on building construction projects and presents a template of an assurance framework that may be developed by construction companies into assurance programmes and other tools for use in their environment.
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An integrated process framework for engineering endeavours
- Authors: Erasmus, Jonnro
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Engineering firms - Management , Project management , Strategic planning , Risk management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7549 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8407
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , With the exponential increase in the complexity of modern products, the enterprise which creates the product also increases in complexity. Projects to realise engineering products are often fraught with delays, budget overruns and unsatisfied clients. Such failures are often caused by any of the following factors: Lack of understanding and definition of the responsibilities of the parties involved; Lack of understanding of the challenges and planning to deal with those challenges; Lack of control of the input and output requirements, information and risks; Poor communication in the project team due to ambiguous and undefined technical terms; and Lack of work integration due to poor understanding of the different domains involved in the project. This dissertation sets about exploring the domains of systems engineering, project management and quality management, by extensively referencing industry standards and international good practice in the quest of unravelling conflicts and uncertainties. Selected concepts and business processes of each domain are studied to arrive at an understanding of the objectives and scopes of those processes. This understanding enables the integration of these business processes and concepts by utilising the widely-used plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. The business processes of each domain are divided into the four PDCA quadrants and integrated models of those quadrants are presented. The four quadrants are synthesised into a single framework which shows the project management, quality management and systems engineering processes performed during a single project phase. This Engineering Management Framework may be tailored for the design and realisation of any complex product, given adequate planning, understanding of the challenges and knowledge of the subject matter.
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- Authors: Erasmus, Jonnro
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Engineering firms - Management , Project management , Strategic planning , Risk management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7549 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8407
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , With the exponential increase in the complexity of modern products, the enterprise which creates the product also increases in complexity. Projects to realise engineering products are often fraught with delays, budget overruns and unsatisfied clients. Such failures are often caused by any of the following factors: Lack of understanding and definition of the responsibilities of the parties involved; Lack of understanding of the challenges and planning to deal with those challenges; Lack of control of the input and output requirements, information and risks; Poor communication in the project team due to ambiguous and undefined technical terms; and Lack of work integration due to poor understanding of the different domains involved in the project. This dissertation sets about exploring the domains of systems engineering, project management and quality management, by extensively referencing industry standards and international good practice in the quest of unravelling conflicts and uncertainties. Selected concepts and business processes of each domain are studied to arrive at an understanding of the objectives and scopes of those processes. This understanding enables the integration of these business processes and concepts by utilising the widely-used plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. The business processes of each domain are divided into the four PDCA quadrants and integrated models of those quadrants are presented. The four quadrants are synthesised into a single framework which shows the project management, quality management and systems engineering processes performed during a single project phase. This Engineering Management Framework may be tailored for the design and realisation of any complex product, given adequate planning, understanding of the challenges and knowledge of the subject matter.
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Analysis of project management techniques within software engineering in the financial industry
- Authors: Ismail, Mohamed Saliem
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Project management , Software engineering - Management , Financial institutions - Management , Financial services industry - Management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7548 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8406
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Within the last 20 years, technology has progressed remarkably. Secondary market trading in South Africa was at an age where rates were being printed on ticker paper and this was considered real time rates. Deal tickets were completed by hand and the dealing room was complete chaos. Today the advancements of technology have evolved this industry remarkably. With real time rates feeding two or even three systems on screen, trade volumes have increased exponentially. The roles of information technology (IT) and software engineering are seen as support functions within most banking industries and are considered critical elements to any project. The project manager must be able to cope with constant change in the technology environment and intense pressure from stakeholders to produce quality results on time. All means of business are transacted through an electronic platform making the reliance and integrity of software systems critical. Software engineering becomes more than just simply writing a system for some designed purpose. Improper management of systems projects will impact heavily on daily operations. The primary aim of this research study is to investigate project management and portfolio management processes within the financial industry, and to recommend and formulate enhancements to these processes. The study will be conducted on a young and developing investment bank where policy and processes are not yet clearly established. A pilot project management process will be introduced and monitored against the following measurements areas: Quality, Stability, Deliverables, Relationships and Execution.
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- Authors: Ismail, Mohamed Saliem
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Project management , Software engineering - Management , Financial institutions - Management , Financial services industry - Management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7548 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8406
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Within the last 20 years, technology has progressed remarkably. Secondary market trading in South Africa was at an age where rates were being printed on ticker paper and this was considered real time rates. Deal tickets were completed by hand and the dealing room was complete chaos. Today the advancements of technology have evolved this industry remarkably. With real time rates feeding two or even three systems on screen, trade volumes have increased exponentially. The roles of information technology (IT) and software engineering are seen as support functions within most banking industries and are considered critical elements to any project. The project manager must be able to cope with constant change in the technology environment and intense pressure from stakeholders to produce quality results on time. All means of business are transacted through an electronic platform making the reliance and integrity of software systems critical. Software engineering becomes more than just simply writing a system for some designed purpose. Improper management of systems projects will impact heavily on daily operations. The primary aim of this research study is to investigate project management and portfolio management processes within the financial industry, and to recommend and formulate enhancements to these processes. The study will be conducted on a young and developing investment bank where policy and processes are not yet clearly established. A pilot project management process will be introduced and monitored against the following measurements areas: Quality, Stability, Deliverables, Relationships and Execution.
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Change management in software implementation projects
- Authors: Phiri, Asante
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Organizational change , Computer software , Information technology - Management , Project management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7546 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8404
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Organizations sometimes invest in expensive and extensive operational software systems or packages in order to improve certain aspects of the organization. Change from one system to another is predominantly brought about by some sort of perceived added value. This added value is identified by a few individuals in an organization and must then be demonstrated and marketed to management as well as the system end-users, in order to obtain buy-in. Although software systems have become a prominent fixture in organizations, the success rates for software implementation projects remain reportedly quite poor. Researchers noted that 56% - 90% of software implementation projects are late or over budget and only 30% are successful. Potentially, the process of changing software systems is inherently fraught with resistance. This resistance towards this change and the management thereof can prove to be the deciding factor in the success or failure of the new software system. Presumably, there is a role for change management in software implementation projects. In order to understand the role of change management in software implementation projects, the current research aims to carry out an extensive literature review on change management and software implementation project challenges. Software implementation projects are often executed in a project management framework. Consequently, the literature review firstly investigates project management principles, standards and methodologies. Secondly, the literature review peers into several critical success factors that research has identified for software implementation projects. Lastly, the intricacies of change management psychology and organizational resistance are researched. The findings of the research indicate that change management plays a pivotal role in the success of software implementation projects. The role of change management in software implementation projects is to manage the individuals’ and organizational resistance such that the adoption of the new software or system is facilitated.Despite the availability of information regarding change management, the research indicates that a lot of software implementation projects fail because the required change management effort is underestimated by the organization. The current research raises questions regarding the level of change management awareness and proficiency amongst project managers and the suitability of project management standards and methodologies for software implementation projects.
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- Authors: Phiri, Asante
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Organizational change , Computer software , Information technology - Management , Project management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7546 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8404
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Organizations sometimes invest in expensive and extensive operational software systems or packages in order to improve certain aspects of the organization. Change from one system to another is predominantly brought about by some sort of perceived added value. This added value is identified by a few individuals in an organization and must then be demonstrated and marketed to management as well as the system end-users, in order to obtain buy-in. Although software systems have become a prominent fixture in organizations, the success rates for software implementation projects remain reportedly quite poor. Researchers noted that 56% - 90% of software implementation projects are late or over budget and only 30% are successful. Potentially, the process of changing software systems is inherently fraught with resistance. This resistance towards this change and the management thereof can prove to be the deciding factor in the success or failure of the new software system. Presumably, there is a role for change management in software implementation projects. In order to understand the role of change management in software implementation projects, the current research aims to carry out an extensive literature review on change management and software implementation project challenges. Software implementation projects are often executed in a project management framework. Consequently, the literature review firstly investigates project management principles, standards and methodologies. Secondly, the literature review peers into several critical success factors that research has identified for software implementation projects. Lastly, the intricacies of change management psychology and organizational resistance are researched. The findings of the research indicate that change management plays a pivotal role in the success of software implementation projects. The role of change management in software implementation projects is to manage the individuals’ and organizational resistance such that the adoption of the new software or system is facilitated.Despite the availability of information regarding change management, the research indicates that a lot of software implementation projects fail because the required change management effort is underestimated by the organization. The current research raises questions regarding the level of change management awareness and proficiency amongst project managers and the suitability of project management standards and methodologies for software implementation projects.
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The development of a design for manufacture and assembly framework to support concurrent engineering
- Authors: Sibiya, Dumisani
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Manufacturing processes - Design , Engineering design , Concurrent engineering , Industrial design , Production planning
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7544 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8402
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Manufacturing challenges originate from product design requirements that exceed available technology and manufacturing capabilities, or from assembly requirements that represent limitations to the ease at which product manufacture may occur. These challenges result in engineering designs having to be constantly modified to match technology or process capabilities. In order for manufacturing companies to attain competitiveness through their engineering design activities, adopting the design for manufacture and assembly philosophy is paramount. It is a philosophy that is capable of bridging the gap that exists in understanding manufacturing related challenges for more efficient and cost effective operations. Various design guidelines and considerations were evaluated to develop a design for manufacture and assembly framework, with the purpose of providing a common language between designers and the manufacturing engineers. Current manufacturing technologies were evaluated as a means of elaborating on the needs, challenges and opportunities in industry better. Data was collected to validate the framework by means of communication case studies between design departments, industry specialists and manufacturing workshops during site visits. The concept of the design for manufacture and assembly framework should have the potential of being applied on a global scale for companies, willing to outsource manufacturing work internationally.
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The development of a design for manufacture and assembly framework to support concurrent engineering
- Authors: Sibiya, Dumisani
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Manufacturing processes - Design , Engineering design , Concurrent engineering , Industrial design , Production planning
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7544 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8402
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Manufacturing challenges originate from product design requirements that exceed available technology and manufacturing capabilities, or from assembly requirements that represent limitations to the ease at which product manufacture may occur. These challenges result in engineering designs having to be constantly modified to match technology or process capabilities. In order for manufacturing companies to attain competitiveness through their engineering design activities, adopting the design for manufacture and assembly philosophy is paramount. It is a philosophy that is capable of bridging the gap that exists in understanding manufacturing related challenges for more efficient and cost effective operations. Various design guidelines and considerations were evaluated to develop a design for manufacture and assembly framework, with the purpose of providing a common language between designers and the manufacturing engineers. Current manufacturing technologies were evaluated as a means of elaborating on the needs, challenges and opportunities in industry better. Data was collected to validate the framework by means of communication case studies between design departments, industry specialists and manufacturing workshops during site visits. The concept of the design for manufacture and assembly framework should have the potential of being applied on a global scale for companies, willing to outsource manufacturing work internationally.
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The effect of cervical spine manipulation on elbow joint position sense in patients with acute cervical facet syndrome
- Authors: Marshall, Lauren Dominique
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Cervical syndrome - Chiropractic treatment , Spinal adjustment , Proprioception
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7555 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8413
- Description: M.Tech. (Chiropractic) , Many studies have shown the effects of treatment of the cervical spine on body parts distal to the spine itself, which are linked, anatomically, biomechanically and neurologically. However, proprioception and its role on postural control mechanisms distant to the spine, is a field that has not been well researched. A method that has been developed to evaluate proprioception is joint position sense accuracy, which to date has been well researched on various pain conditions of the cervical spine. However the effect of cervical spine conditions distant to the spine has not been well researched. The purpose of this study was to determine the short to medium term effect of cervical spine manipulative therapy (SMT) compared to ultrasound therapy delivered to acute cervical facets on position sense of the upper limb by evaluating joint position sense accuracy of the elbow. It has been well researched that chiropractic manipulative therapy does not only improve cervical spine range of motion (Purvis, 1991), but also reduces neck pain (Herzog, Scheele and Conway, 1999). This study therefore illustrates that cervical spine manipulative therapy improves not only cervical spine pain and function but may further help us understand the vertebral subluxation complex and its effects on the nervous system in terms of improving upper limb proprioception.A random sample of thirty participants, between the ages of eighteen and fifty participants presenting with acute cervical facet syndrome volunteered for this study; the participants were examined and accepted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The method of treatment administered to each participant was determined by group allocation. Group A received cervical spine manipulation delivered to the acute cervical facet joint and Group B received ultrasound therapy of the acute cervical facet joint. The acute cervical facet joints were located using Kemps test. Restrictions of the acute facet were assessed by motion palpation for hypomobile joint dysfunction.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Marshall, Lauren Dominique
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Cervical syndrome - Chiropractic treatment , Spinal adjustment , Proprioception
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7555 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8413
- Description: M.Tech. (Chiropractic) , Many studies have shown the effects of treatment of the cervical spine on body parts distal to the spine itself, which are linked, anatomically, biomechanically and neurologically. However, proprioception and its role on postural control mechanisms distant to the spine, is a field that has not been well researched. A method that has been developed to evaluate proprioception is joint position sense accuracy, which to date has been well researched on various pain conditions of the cervical spine. However the effect of cervical spine conditions distant to the spine has not been well researched. The purpose of this study was to determine the short to medium term effect of cervical spine manipulative therapy (SMT) compared to ultrasound therapy delivered to acute cervical facets on position sense of the upper limb by evaluating joint position sense accuracy of the elbow. It has been well researched that chiropractic manipulative therapy does not only improve cervical spine range of motion (Purvis, 1991), but also reduces neck pain (Herzog, Scheele and Conway, 1999). This study therefore illustrates that cervical spine manipulative therapy improves not only cervical spine pain and function but may further help us understand the vertebral subluxation complex and its effects on the nervous system in terms of improving upper limb proprioception.A random sample of thirty participants, between the ages of eighteen and fifty participants presenting with acute cervical facet syndrome volunteered for this study; the participants were examined and accepted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The method of treatment administered to each participant was determined by group allocation. Group A received cervical spine manipulation delivered to the acute cervical facet joint and Group B received ultrasound therapy of the acute cervical facet joint. The acute cervical facet joints were located using Kemps test. Restrictions of the acute facet were assessed by motion palpation for hypomobile joint dysfunction.
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The effectiveness of a technical analysis strategy versus a buy-and-hold strategy on the FTSE/JSE top 40 index shares of the JSE Ltd : the case of the Moving Average Convergence Divergence Indicator
- Authors: Du Plessis, Anton Wouter
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Investment analysis , Moving Average Convergence Divergence Indicator , JSE Securities Exchange (South Africa)
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7550 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8408
- Description: M.Comm. (Financial Management) , This study compares two main investment strategies on the JSE Ltd for 2001 to 2010 on the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index shares. The one strategy is the Fundamental Analysis strategy (Buy-and-hold) and the other is the Technical Analysis (MACD). It was found that within the limitations of this study, the Buy-and-hold investment strategy is more effective than the MACD investment strategy.
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- Authors: Du Plessis, Anton Wouter
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Investment analysis , Moving Average Convergence Divergence Indicator , JSE Securities Exchange (South Africa)
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7550 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8408
- Description: M.Comm. (Financial Management) , This study compares two main investment strategies on the JSE Ltd for 2001 to 2010 on the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index shares. The one strategy is the Fundamental Analysis strategy (Buy-and-hold) and the other is the Technical Analysis (MACD). It was found that within the limitations of this study, the Buy-and-hold investment strategy is more effective than the MACD investment strategy.
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The efficacy of MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) incorporated into ultrasound gel using phonophoresis in the treatment of an acute facet syndrome in the cervical spine
- Authors: Potgieter, Anrie
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Cervical syndrome - Chiropractic treatment , Ultrasonics in medicine , Methylsulfonylmethane , Dimethyl sulfone
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7556 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8414
- Description: M.Tech. (Chiropractic) , Health professionals, while differentiated in their philosophies and choice of practice, still endeavour to expand the choice of effective and trustworthy techniques that can be applied to the individual needs of a patient. Therapeutic ultrasound is one such treatment that is used by many health practitioners. Ultrasound is one of the complementary treatments used to treat an acute cervical facet syndrome. Thermal ultrasound has the ability to decrease pain, stiffness, muscle spasm and inflammation of the tissue surrounding an acute cervical facet (Wyatt, 2004 and Reid, 1992). The current ultrasound treatment regimens for acute cervical facet syndromes are time consuming, in that they require a series of ultrasound treatments (Wyatt, 2004). Methods that could improve ultrasound treatment regimens in the treatment of acute cervical facets, by decreasing the amount of ultrasound treatments required and by increasing the effectiveness of the treatment would be beneficial. This research aims to test, in a clinical environment, the efficacy of MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) incorporated into ultrasound gel used with ultrasound in the treatment of an acute cervical facet syndrome. Participants were recruited from the University of Johannesburg Chiropractic Day Clinic. They were eligible to participate in the study once they met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants were recruited by means of word of mouth as well as with the use of advertisements that were placed around the respective campuses of the University of Johannesburg. Thirty participants who presented with an acute cervical facet syndrome, volunteered for this comparative study. The study was double blinded, in which neither the researcher nor the participants knew which bottle contained the MSM incorporated into ultrasound gel or the standard ultrasound gel. It was only after the trials were completed that it was made know that group A received the MSM incorporated into ultrasound and group B the standard ultrasound. Group A received ultrasound treatment utilising MSM incorporated into ultrasound gel causing phonophoresis of the product’s ions, over the acute facets in the cervical spine. Group B received ultrasound treatment, using regular ultrasound gel, over the acute facets in the cervical spine.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Potgieter, Anrie
- Date: 2013-05-27
- Subjects: Cervical syndrome - Chiropractic treatment , Ultrasonics in medicine , Methylsulfonylmethane , Dimethyl sulfone
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7556 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8414
- Description: M.Tech. (Chiropractic) , Health professionals, while differentiated in their philosophies and choice of practice, still endeavour to expand the choice of effective and trustworthy techniques that can be applied to the individual needs of a patient. Therapeutic ultrasound is one such treatment that is used by many health practitioners. Ultrasound is one of the complementary treatments used to treat an acute cervical facet syndrome. Thermal ultrasound has the ability to decrease pain, stiffness, muscle spasm and inflammation of the tissue surrounding an acute cervical facet (Wyatt, 2004 and Reid, 1992). The current ultrasound treatment regimens for acute cervical facet syndromes are time consuming, in that they require a series of ultrasound treatments (Wyatt, 2004). Methods that could improve ultrasound treatment regimens in the treatment of acute cervical facets, by decreasing the amount of ultrasound treatments required and by increasing the effectiveness of the treatment would be beneficial. This research aims to test, in a clinical environment, the efficacy of MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) incorporated into ultrasound gel used with ultrasound in the treatment of an acute cervical facet syndrome. Participants were recruited from the University of Johannesburg Chiropractic Day Clinic. They were eligible to participate in the study once they met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants were recruited by means of word of mouth as well as with the use of advertisements that were placed around the respective campuses of the University of Johannesburg. Thirty participants who presented with an acute cervical facet syndrome, volunteered for this comparative study. The study was double blinded, in which neither the researcher nor the participants knew which bottle contained the MSM incorporated into ultrasound gel or the standard ultrasound gel. It was only after the trials were completed that it was made know that group A received the MSM incorporated into ultrasound and group B the standard ultrasound. Group A received ultrasound treatment utilising MSM incorporated into ultrasound gel causing phonophoresis of the product’s ions, over the acute facets in the cervical spine. Group B received ultrasound treatment, using regular ultrasound gel, over the acute facets in the cervical spine.
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Challenges facing secondary school managers in dealing with school safety and security
- Authors: Khomola, Pfanani Lacton
- Date: 2013-05-14
- Subjects: School management and organization , Schools - Safety measures , Schools - Security measures
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7533 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8390
- Description: M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management) , South African education system faces lots of challenges around school safety and security which disturb the smooth running of proper teaching and learning. Creating and maintaining safe and secure school learning environment requires support from all interested stakeholders. Every school tries to develop better and effective strategies to curb safety and security challenges which hamper educational development. Kennedy (2006:36) says education administrators have many tools available to them as they strive to establish a safer climate for learning, but no one strategy or piece of equipment is a magic solution that keeps potential trouble beyond the campus boundaries. Most educational institutions recognize that the presence of security personnel is vital to keeping its students and staff safe and its ground protected. Comprehensive schools enjoy better security personnel than ordinary and poor rural schools which actually depend on mere community member who keeps the gate open or closed. The installations of surveillance cameras with the use of metal detectors maximize school safety procedures. Majority of our schools do not have even natural access control of streets, sideways, building entrances and landscaping to clearly indicate public routes and discourage access to private areas. Better and the so called “State Art Schools” enjoy government privileges than other schools by falling under their watchful care and support. Safe schools must be a priority and never an option for school managers. Learners must learn in a safe environment without intimidation, harassment, violence, abuse and bullying. Parental involvement and support for teaching and learning programmes must be encouraged at all times. School managers, SMT members, staff in general must be consistent in the application of regulations and policies within the school. Safety policies, emergency plans, and code of conduct for learners must be enshrined and be exercised for the safety of everyone at school. A code of conduct for learners and educators serves as an important stepping-stone towards fostering a culture of teaching and learning, mutual respect, accountability, tolerance, co-operation and personal development within schools and the surrounding environments. These conduct code may not reduce the incidence of violence and injury, but together with other environmental, educative and structural interventions, they create a context in which behaviour expectations are clearly communicated, consistently enforced, and fairly applied (Stevens, Wyngaard & Van Niekerk, 2001:150). Create conducive atmosphere where everybody owns it with pride. All stakeholders and community leaders must promote safe and secure schools. Teaching and learning cannot take place in a disorganized environment; neither school principals alone can do it without partnership with parents. Community lifestyle affect school environment the same way as the school lifestyle affect community. Troublemakers and offenders must be clearly identified and close monitoring must be in place. Partnership and communication networks in well established schools in violence and crime detection are necessary, for the improvement of school safety and security. De Waal (2011:175) says the weakness at South African schools is that the level of learner discipline that is seen to be instilled is unacceptably low.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Khomola, Pfanani Lacton
- Date: 2013-05-14
- Subjects: School management and organization , Schools - Safety measures , Schools - Security measures
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7533 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8390
- Description: M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management) , South African education system faces lots of challenges around school safety and security which disturb the smooth running of proper teaching and learning. Creating and maintaining safe and secure school learning environment requires support from all interested stakeholders. Every school tries to develop better and effective strategies to curb safety and security challenges which hamper educational development. Kennedy (2006:36) says education administrators have many tools available to them as they strive to establish a safer climate for learning, but no one strategy or piece of equipment is a magic solution that keeps potential trouble beyond the campus boundaries. Most educational institutions recognize that the presence of security personnel is vital to keeping its students and staff safe and its ground protected. Comprehensive schools enjoy better security personnel than ordinary and poor rural schools which actually depend on mere community member who keeps the gate open or closed. The installations of surveillance cameras with the use of metal detectors maximize school safety procedures. Majority of our schools do not have even natural access control of streets, sideways, building entrances and landscaping to clearly indicate public routes and discourage access to private areas. Better and the so called “State Art Schools” enjoy government privileges than other schools by falling under their watchful care and support. Safe schools must be a priority and never an option for school managers. Learners must learn in a safe environment without intimidation, harassment, violence, abuse and bullying. Parental involvement and support for teaching and learning programmes must be encouraged at all times. School managers, SMT members, staff in general must be consistent in the application of regulations and policies within the school. Safety policies, emergency plans, and code of conduct for learners must be enshrined and be exercised for the safety of everyone at school. A code of conduct for learners and educators serves as an important stepping-stone towards fostering a culture of teaching and learning, mutual respect, accountability, tolerance, co-operation and personal development within schools and the surrounding environments. These conduct code may not reduce the incidence of violence and injury, but together with other environmental, educative and structural interventions, they create a context in which behaviour expectations are clearly communicated, consistently enforced, and fairly applied (Stevens, Wyngaard & Van Niekerk, 2001:150). Create conducive atmosphere where everybody owns it with pride. All stakeholders and community leaders must promote safe and secure schools. Teaching and learning cannot take place in a disorganized environment; neither school principals alone can do it without partnership with parents. Community lifestyle affect school environment the same way as the school lifestyle affect community. Troublemakers and offenders must be clearly identified and close monitoring must be in place. Partnership and communication networks in well established schools in violence and crime detection are necessary, for the improvement of school safety and security. De Waal (2011:175) says the weakness at South African schools is that the level of learner discipline that is seen to be instilled is unacceptably low.
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School managers’ perceptions of the occurrence of upward bullying in public and independent Gauteng secondary schools – implications for school management
- Olivier, Cidalia Maria dos Santos
- Authors: Olivier, Cidalia Maria dos Santos
- Date: 2013-05-14
- Subjects: Bullying in schools , School management and organization
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8391
- Description: M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management) , The purpose of the research is to obtain school managers’ perceptions of the occurrence of upward bullying in Public and Independent Gauteng Secondary Schools and what implications upward bullying will have on the management of the school. Historically bullying has always been associated with children and was mainly practised by them in the classroom and on playgrounds. Today bullying extends beyond these arenas and has habituated the staffroom as well as the school administrative offices. The educational system has undergone total transformation and restructuring in the last fourteen years. For example, our educational system moved from a multiple system to a single non-racial system that has brought about many important and challenging changes to education (Rossouw, 2008:7). In 1993, the Education Labour Relations Act 146 of 1993 was passed. This had a significant impact on educators as far as their labour rights were concerned. For the first time, educators were given certain labour rights that previously did not exist.
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- Authors: Olivier, Cidalia Maria dos Santos
- Date: 2013-05-14
- Subjects: Bullying in schools , School management and organization
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7534 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8391
- Description: M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management) , The purpose of the research is to obtain school managers’ perceptions of the occurrence of upward bullying in Public and Independent Gauteng Secondary Schools and what implications upward bullying will have on the management of the school. Historically bullying has always been associated with children and was mainly practised by them in the classroom and on playgrounds. Today bullying extends beyond these arenas and has habituated the staffroom as well as the school administrative offices. The educational system has undergone total transformation and restructuring in the last fourteen years. For example, our educational system moved from a multiple system to a single non-racial system that has brought about many important and challenging changes to education (Rossouw, 2008:7). In 1993, the Education Labour Relations Act 146 of 1993 was passed. This had a significant impact on educators as far as their labour rights were concerned. For the first time, educators were given certain labour rights that previously did not exist.
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A whole-school approach to managing bullying behaviour among learners in secondary schools in the Vhembe District in the Limpopo Province
- Authors: Lidzhegu, Muvhoni Edward
- Date: 2013-05-06
- Subjects: Bullying in schools , School management and organization
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7511 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8369
- Description: M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management) , Bullying behaviour is an increasing problem in secondary schools. As such, it should not be overlooked and ignored by the school authorities and communities. The secondary school principals, educators, SMT members, as well as parents have a responsibility toward the effort to eradicate bullying behaviour in schools. Failure to eliminate bullying in secondary schools would result in high dropout rates and poor concentration on school-work among learners. A qualitative method was used in this study because it allows an in-depth, explorative, descriptive, and contextual approach to the topic. In the particular context of this study, the qualitative method involved extensive data collection on many variables, over a period of time, as the research explored bullying behaviour in its environmental setting, from a holistic perspective. Thus, semi-structured interviews were conducted with school principals, educators, school management teams and learners. The analysis of the collected data revealed the need to adopt a whole-school approach to managing bullying behaviour in secondary schools, if this problem is to be effectively addressed. Indeed, a whole-school approach aims at using positive strategies to lessen bullying and help both the bullied and the bullies. Thus, special policies for dealing with bullying behaviour in secondary schools should be instituted and, learners should be made aware of the consequences of the non-observance of the anti-bullying policies. Findings from the research were discussed with the participants and, the researcher indicated the contribution of this study to the effort to address the problem of bullying in secondary schools.
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- Authors: Lidzhegu, Muvhoni Edward
- Date: 2013-05-06
- Subjects: Bullying in schools , School management and organization
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7511 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8369
- Description: M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management) , Bullying behaviour is an increasing problem in secondary schools. As such, it should not be overlooked and ignored by the school authorities and communities. The secondary school principals, educators, SMT members, as well as parents have a responsibility toward the effort to eradicate bullying behaviour in schools. Failure to eliminate bullying in secondary schools would result in high dropout rates and poor concentration on school-work among learners. A qualitative method was used in this study because it allows an in-depth, explorative, descriptive, and contextual approach to the topic. In the particular context of this study, the qualitative method involved extensive data collection on many variables, over a period of time, as the research explored bullying behaviour in its environmental setting, from a holistic perspective. Thus, semi-structured interviews were conducted with school principals, educators, school management teams and learners. The analysis of the collected data revealed the need to adopt a whole-school approach to managing bullying behaviour in secondary schools, if this problem is to be effectively addressed. Indeed, a whole-school approach aims at using positive strategies to lessen bullying and help both the bullied and the bullies. Thus, special policies for dealing with bullying behaviour in secondary schools should be instituted and, learners should be made aware of the consequences of the non-observance of the anti-bullying policies. Findings from the research were discussed with the participants and, the researcher indicated the contribution of this study to the effort to address the problem of bullying in secondary schools.
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