A comparative analysis between outsourced and insourced public infrastructure projects’ performance in a Provincial Department of Public Works
- Authors: Mcwari, Zwelinzima Peter
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Infrastructure (Economics) , Project management
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/417726 , uj:35389
- Description: Abstract: Procurement and subsequent delivery of infrastructure projects by a Provincial Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (PDPWI) can be achieved through two ways, namely: outsourcing or insourcing (in-house). Outsourcing is a widely used method for transferring non-core activities of the firm to external service providers. It is used across different industries in both public and private sectors globally. Conversely, insourcing is regarded as the opposite of outsourcing. The delivery of PDPWI projects is always late, incurring extra costs and often of average quality. The purpose of this paper is to investigate reasons behind the decision to either outsource or insource public infrastructure projects and to subsequently propose a comparative analysis for outsourcing versus insourcing in Department of Public Works and Infrastructure at a Provincial level. A Grounded Theory research design will be deployed for data collection. Accordingly, relevant project-centric documents spanning a duration of five (5) years was reviewed whilst semi-structured interviews were conducted concurrently, with a purposively selected sample of interviewees. The data emerging from the deployment of both data collection techniques enabled an understanding of the attributes of projects which were either outsourced or insourced and the performance of such projects thereof. The data was analysed according to the procedures associated with the grounded theory method research design. As such, open coding, axial coding and pattern matching were carried out at several intervals to develop categories and themes. Besides highlighting the usefulness of the grounded theory methodology for such study, the study’s findings established the absence of a properly structured approach to decision making within the PDPWI as it pertained to the choice of either outsourcing or insourcing construction projects. Yet, it was furthermore observed that the nature of outsourced projects differed from insourced projects. On performance of these projects, the study found both the procurement pathways yielded the same poor results, and the study indicated that outsourced projects performed slightly better in comparison to insourced projects in terms of cost certainty. These findings culminated in the evolution of a comparative analysis which is expected to guide effective decision making within PDPWI on which projects to be outsourced or insourced. The proposed comparative analysis of performance of in-house versus outsourced can be used as a guideline in future for procurement of public infrastructure projects by decision makers in public sector. , M.Tech. (Construction Management)
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mcwari, Zwelinzima Peter
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Infrastructure (Economics) , Project management
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/417726 , uj:35389
- Description: Abstract: Procurement and subsequent delivery of infrastructure projects by a Provincial Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (PDPWI) can be achieved through two ways, namely: outsourcing or insourcing (in-house). Outsourcing is a widely used method for transferring non-core activities of the firm to external service providers. It is used across different industries in both public and private sectors globally. Conversely, insourcing is regarded as the opposite of outsourcing. The delivery of PDPWI projects is always late, incurring extra costs and often of average quality. The purpose of this paper is to investigate reasons behind the decision to either outsource or insource public infrastructure projects and to subsequently propose a comparative analysis for outsourcing versus insourcing in Department of Public Works and Infrastructure at a Provincial level. A Grounded Theory research design will be deployed for data collection. Accordingly, relevant project-centric documents spanning a duration of five (5) years was reviewed whilst semi-structured interviews were conducted concurrently, with a purposively selected sample of interviewees. The data emerging from the deployment of both data collection techniques enabled an understanding of the attributes of projects which were either outsourced or insourced and the performance of such projects thereof. The data was analysed according to the procedures associated with the grounded theory method research design. As such, open coding, axial coding and pattern matching were carried out at several intervals to develop categories and themes. Besides highlighting the usefulness of the grounded theory methodology for such study, the study’s findings established the absence of a properly structured approach to decision making within the PDPWI as it pertained to the choice of either outsourcing or insourcing construction projects. Yet, it was furthermore observed that the nature of outsourced projects differed from insourced projects. On performance of these projects, the study found both the procurement pathways yielded the same poor results, and the study indicated that outsourced projects performed slightly better in comparison to insourced projects in terms of cost certainty. These findings culminated in the evolution of a comparative analysis which is expected to guide effective decision making within PDPWI on which projects to be outsourced or insourced. The proposed comparative analysis of performance of in-house versus outsourced can be used as a guideline in future for procurement of public infrastructure projects by decision makers in public sector. , M.Tech. (Construction Management)
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Critical factors that influence project success in the infrastructural project
- Authors: Mohale, Nkwetsi Rosina
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Project management , Construction projects - Management , Infrastructure (Economics) , Construction industry - Management
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/293869 , uj:31963
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Organizations are increasingly using project management practices as their way of arranging work to achieve the objectives set within their organisation, and these enforces organisations to view success as the combination of both project management success and projects. Ever since project management has been acknowledged as an effective and competent method of managing projects, almost all kinds of organizations, such as municipalities, engineering companies, Government, Industries, construction, etc., have implemented project management as a tool to reduce project delay and improve project success within their organizations. It is well known and common belief, that a project failure is when the project did not satisfy or meet the cost, time and quality requirement of an organization. While the word “success” is not always easily measured and defined due to different meanings from different people. Therefore this research attempts to establish and understand the literature review based on project success, the main aim is to understand the meaning of project success in depth. The second objective is to determine the critical success factors that influence project success in both construction and infrastructural projects. Project management was initiated in the early 1950s by military; however, it embedded from the early 19th century. Since then project management has been known as a distinct and advanced notion of management used to drive the goals and objectives of an organization, as well as agendas at economic development. The initial motivation was based on the benefits that project management offer in co-ordinating and allocating work to different departments and professions, organizing jobs around different projects and ensuring the critical necessity for communication. Since then project management has been recognized as an effective and competent method to handle projects. However, even though project management has been recognized as a competent and efficient method to facilitate projects that do not rule out the failure of projects. According to literature reviews, it is clearly recognized that there are different kinds of projects with different demands, different characteristics and different needs upon them. This research indicates that there are many reasons why a project fails in the infrastructure projects and construction. Research data was collected in the form of questionnaires, data gathered from a literature reviews was used to formulate the basis of developing the research questionnaire which was distributed and completed by the engineers, project managers, consultants and personnel working within infrastructural project across South Africa...
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mohale, Nkwetsi Rosina
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Project management , Construction projects - Management , Infrastructure (Economics) , Construction industry - Management
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/293869 , uj:31963
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Abstract: Organizations are increasingly using project management practices as their way of arranging work to achieve the objectives set within their organisation, and these enforces organisations to view success as the combination of both project management success and projects. Ever since project management has been acknowledged as an effective and competent method of managing projects, almost all kinds of organizations, such as municipalities, engineering companies, Government, Industries, construction, etc., have implemented project management as a tool to reduce project delay and improve project success within their organizations. It is well known and common belief, that a project failure is when the project did not satisfy or meet the cost, time and quality requirement of an organization. While the word “success” is not always easily measured and defined due to different meanings from different people. Therefore this research attempts to establish and understand the literature review based on project success, the main aim is to understand the meaning of project success in depth. The second objective is to determine the critical success factors that influence project success in both construction and infrastructural projects. Project management was initiated in the early 1950s by military; however, it embedded from the early 19th century. Since then project management has been known as a distinct and advanced notion of management used to drive the goals and objectives of an organization, as well as agendas at economic development. The initial motivation was based on the benefits that project management offer in co-ordinating and allocating work to different departments and professions, organizing jobs around different projects and ensuring the critical necessity for communication. Since then project management has been recognized as an effective and competent method to handle projects. However, even though project management has been recognized as a competent and efficient method to facilitate projects that do not rule out the failure of projects. According to literature reviews, it is clearly recognized that there are different kinds of projects with different demands, different characteristics and different needs upon them. This research indicates that there are many reasons why a project fails in the infrastructure projects and construction. Research data was collected in the form of questionnaires, data gathered from a literature reviews was used to formulate the basis of developing the research questionnaire which was distributed and completed by the engineers, project managers, consultants and personnel working within infrastructural project across South Africa...
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The accounting treatment of mega infrastructure development project costs in South Africa
- Authors: Gwala, Thabane Alex
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Financial statements , Accounting firms , Infrastructure (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/272696 , uj:29040
- Description: M.Com. (International Accounting) , Abstract: Various organisations continue to undertake mega infrastructure development projects to address the infrastructure development challenges of South Africa. The cost components of these projects are complex and often result in reporting entities having to make significant management judgements on the financial reporting thereof. The study represents a technical report assessing the accounting treatment of key costing areas within these projects with a view of identifying areas of consistency and divergence in practice. The study follows a doctrinal research approach of comprehensively reviewing the available literature supplemented by interviews with senior personnel of the "big four" accounting firms. The study reveals that whilst there are consistent views among the four respondents from the "big four" accounting firms on the accounting treatment on development costs and corporate social investment costs, divergent views exist pertaining to compensation events costs, suspension of capitalisation as well as the impact of a project contracting strategy on overall accounting treatment. It is, therefore, recommended that the IASB provide further guidance on these diverged issues to ensure consistency in practice.
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- Authors: Gwala, Thabane Alex
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Financial statements , Accounting firms , Infrastructure (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/272696 , uj:29040
- Description: M.Com. (International Accounting) , Abstract: Various organisations continue to undertake mega infrastructure development projects to address the infrastructure development challenges of South Africa. The cost components of these projects are complex and often result in reporting entities having to make significant management judgements on the financial reporting thereof. The study represents a technical report assessing the accounting treatment of key costing areas within these projects with a view of identifying areas of consistency and divergence in practice. The study follows a doctrinal research approach of comprehensively reviewing the available literature supplemented by interviews with senior personnel of the "big four" accounting firms. The study reveals that whilst there are consistent views among the four respondents from the "big four" accounting firms on the accounting treatment on development costs and corporate social investment costs, divergent views exist pertaining to compensation events costs, suspension of capitalisation as well as the impact of a project contracting strategy on overall accounting treatment. It is, therefore, recommended that the IASB provide further guidance on these diverged issues to ensure consistency in practice.
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A comparative study of integrated reporting capitals and related financial reporting information
- Authors: Makgae, Jeridah
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: International financial reporting standards , International Accounting Standards Board , Financial statements , Human capital , Intellectual capital , Infrastructure (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/237184 , uj:24298
- Description:
M.Com. (International Accounting)
, Abstract: The International Integrated Reporting Framework (
Framework) was issued in December 2013 by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). The Framework lists six capitals that entities use. Entities often include those capitals that are more important or are used more frequently than others. Although the Framework was recently issued, the concept of integrated reporting is not a new concept in South Africa. The King Code of Governance (King III) was issued in 2009 and it has a requirement for entities to publish integrated reports. The purpose of this study is do a comparison between the information provided on the six capitals of integrated reporting and the related financial reporting information. A full list of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) that were used in this comparative study is listed under heading 4.2.3. The International Accounting Standard Board’s (IASB) IFRSs do not address all the capitals in detail. The accounting treatment of each capital is prescribed in relevant IFRS standards. A content analysis has been performed by comparing the information on the six capitals of integrated reporting and the relevant IFRSs identified. The results of the study indicate that the information that is presented and disclosed in the annual financial statements does not always give a true reflection of the results of the entity. This is mainly because of certain expenditures that do not meet the definition of an asset or liability, or that the recognition and measurement criteria of IFRSs will not lead to presentation on the statement of financial position. The study indicates additional information that should be disclosed in the notes to the financial statement or in the integrated report for each capital. - Full Text:
- Authors: Makgae, Jeridah
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: International financial reporting standards , International Accounting Standards Board , Financial statements , Human capital , Intellectual capital , Infrastructure (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/237184 , uj:24298
- Description:
M.Com. (International Accounting)
, Abstract: The International Integrated Reporting Framework (
Framework) was issued in December 2013 by the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC). The Framework lists six capitals that entities use. Entities often include those capitals that are more important or are used more frequently than others. Although the Framework was recently issued, the concept of integrated reporting is not a new concept in South Africa. The King Code of Governance (King III) was issued in 2009 and it has a requirement for entities to publish integrated reports. The purpose of this study is do a comparison between the information provided on the six capitals of integrated reporting and the related financial reporting information. A full list of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) that were used in this comparative study is listed under heading 4.2.3. The International Accounting Standard Board’s (IASB) IFRSs do not address all the capitals in detail. The accounting treatment of each capital is prescribed in relevant IFRS standards. A content analysis has been performed by comparing the information on the six capitals of integrated reporting and the relevant IFRSs identified. The results of the study indicate that the information that is presented and disclosed in the annual financial statements does not always give a true reflection of the results of the entity. This is mainly because of certain expenditures that do not meet the definition of an asset or liability, or that the recognition and measurement criteria of IFRSs will not lead to presentation on the statement of financial position. The study indicates additional information that should be disclosed in the notes to the financial statement or in the integrated report for each capital. - Full Text:
Critical success factors influencing project success in infrastructure projects : a comparative case study
- Authors: Makabate, Choeu Tshepisho
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction projects - Management - Case studies , Construction industry - Management - Case studies , Project management - Case studies , Infrastructure (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/213405 , uj:21149
- Description: Abstract: When projects do not meet the objectives and purposes, it’s common to review the project after completion and find out why the project failed so that the same mistakes do not get repeated in future projects. However in some cases Project Managers would tend to ignore this issue because they find new projects that they are in charge of as more interesting than the completed ones. For this issue the research therefore attempts to identify critical success factors (CSF’s) that influence project success. A proposed hypothesis was developed to help set the tone of this research. The presence of critical success factors on infrastructure projects contribute to project success. Two case studies were performed in order to find the factors that influence project success in infrastructure projects. The hypothesis was tested and it confirmed that critical success factors do indeed influence project success in infrastructure projects. Therefore the research identified critical success factors that influence project success in infrastructure projects. In summary, the critical success factors discovered in this study are political influence, project manager competence, adequate planning, adequacy of plans, realistic goals and objectives, owners involvement, ability to carry out meetings, buy in of local chieftaincy, availability of stakeholders, adequate planning, community involvement, roster strategy, interpretation of contracts, relationship between contractor and project team, labour unrest and project team competence. Further comparison and analysis resulted in the identification of the six highest critical success factors for the construction industry. In descending order of importance, these are:.. , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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- Authors: Makabate, Choeu Tshepisho
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Construction projects - Management - Case studies , Construction industry - Management - Case studies , Project management - Case studies , Infrastructure (Economics)
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/213405 , uj:21149
- Description: Abstract: When projects do not meet the objectives and purposes, it’s common to review the project after completion and find out why the project failed so that the same mistakes do not get repeated in future projects. However in some cases Project Managers would tend to ignore this issue because they find new projects that they are in charge of as more interesting than the completed ones. For this issue the research therefore attempts to identify critical success factors (CSF’s) that influence project success. A proposed hypothesis was developed to help set the tone of this research. The presence of critical success factors on infrastructure projects contribute to project success. Two case studies were performed in order to find the factors that influence project success in infrastructure projects. The hypothesis was tested and it confirmed that critical success factors do indeed influence project success in infrastructure projects. Therefore the research identified critical success factors that influence project success in infrastructure projects. In summary, the critical success factors discovered in this study are political influence, project manager competence, adequate planning, adequacy of plans, realistic goals and objectives, owners involvement, ability to carry out meetings, buy in of local chieftaincy, availability of stakeholders, adequate planning, community involvement, roster strategy, interpretation of contracts, relationship between contractor and project team, labour unrest and project team competence. Further comparison and analysis resulted in the identification of the six highest critical success factors for the construction industry. In descending order of importance, these are:.. , M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
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Infrastructure cost recovery options for developing local authorities
- Authors: Scott, Daniel
- Date: 2015-10-14
- Subjects: Municipal government , Municipal services - Costs , Infrastructure (Economics)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14343 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14801
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , As a result of the cost of new infrastructure and the effect it has on tariff structures in developing areas, the term "cost recovery" tends to have a negative connotation. The fact of the matter is that the capital cost of creating infrastructural services, as well as the cost of operating them, must be recovered. There is no easy way to cut back on existing services and programmes, to charge user fees, or to raise taxes. Yet failure to devise a rational and effective way of investing in public works, as well as appropriate cost recovery mechanisms, will surely prevent any significant improvement in the standard of living, as well as in the local and national economy ...
- Full Text:
- Authors: Scott, Daniel
- Date: 2015-10-14
- Subjects: Municipal government , Municipal services - Costs , Infrastructure (Economics)
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:14343 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14801
- Description: M.Com. (Business Management) , As a result of the cost of new infrastructure and the effect it has on tariff structures in developing areas, the term "cost recovery" tends to have a negative connotation. The fact of the matter is that the capital cost of creating infrastructural services, as well as the cost of operating them, must be recovered. There is no easy way to cut back on existing services and programmes, to charge user fees, or to raise taxes. Yet failure to devise a rational and effective way of investing in public works, as well as appropriate cost recovery mechanisms, will surely prevent any significant improvement in the standard of living, as well as in the local and national economy ...
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Re-thinking housing infrastructure development approaches : lessons from Zimbabwe
- Authors: Gumbo, Trynos
- Date: 2015-09-16
- Subjects: Housing - Zimbabwe , Infrastructure (Economics)
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5235 , ISBN 9780869707876 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14663
- Description: Globally, housing provision has always been a mammoth task for all spheres governments; whether national, provincial or local as they struggle to meet the ever soaring demand. The situation has however been grimmer in African, Asian and South American continents that lack mostly financial resources and advanced low cost technologies. The majority of the urban poor have perpetually been excluded from most land and housing projects, that religiously follow the traditional planning-servicing-building-occupation (PSBO) frameworks. Most often than not, rigidities in housing development sequences condemn and compel the urban poor to rely on the occupation-building-planning-servicing (OBPS) frameworks that give informal settlements as outcomes. This paper discusses an innovative and less costly housing development framework, the planning-occupation-building-servicing (POBS) sequence that was adopted by the Zimbabwean government in almost all the urban centres of the country in 2005, just after Operation Murambatsvina. The data were gathered through interviews with key informants and housing plots allottees. Observations and photographic surveys of the housing structures and community infrastructure services that have so far been developed incrementally were also conducted. The findings revealed that the allocating unserviced but formally planned and surveyed housing sites to the urban poor considerably improves targeting of the urban poor and makes housing more affordable. Such schemes not only contribute to housing supply by providing orderly and standard houses but also assist in eliminating or massively reducing down-raiding of aided self-help housing schemes by the middle and high income people. The paper concludes by observing the critical need for governments of developing countries to innovatively solve housing problems of the urban poor by adjusting the currently rigid housing infrastructure provision sequences and to make them affordable and flexible.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Gumbo, Trynos
- Date: 2015-09-16
- Subjects: Housing - Zimbabwe , Infrastructure (Economics)
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5235 , ISBN 9780869707876 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/14663
- Description: Globally, housing provision has always been a mammoth task for all spheres governments; whether national, provincial or local as they struggle to meet the ever soaring demand. The situation has however been grimmer in African, Asian and South American continents that lack mostly financial resources and advanced low cost technologies. The majority of the urban poor have perpetually been excluded from most land and housing projects, that religiously follow the traditional planning-servicing-building-occupation (PSBO) frameworks. Most often than not, rigidities in housing development sequences condemn and compel the urban poor to rely on the occupation-building-planning-servicing (OBPS) frameworks that give informal settlements as outcomes. This paper discusses an innovative and less costly housing development framework, the planning-occupation-building-servicing (POBS) sequence that was adopted by the Zimbabwean government in almost all the urban centres of the country in 2005, just after Operation Murambatsvina. The data were gathered through interviews with key informants and housing plots allottees. Observations and photographic surveys of the housing structures and community infrastructure services that have so far been developed incrementally were also conducted. The findings revealed that the allocating unserviced but formally planned and surveyed housing sites to the urban poor considerably improves targeting of the urban poor and makes housing more affordable. Such schemes not only contribute to housing supply by providing orderly and standard houses but also assist in eliminating or massively reducing down-raiding of aided self-help housing schemes by the middle and high income people. The paper concludes by observing the critical need for governments of developing countries to innovatively solve housing problems of the urban poor by adjusting the currently rigid housing infrastructure provision sequences and to make them affordable and flexible.
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Operationalising social capital in developing political economies – a comparative assessment and analysis
- Authors: Müller, Jozet
- Date: 2012-06-04
- Subjects: Infrastructure (Economics) , Social capital (Economics) , Political economy , Social capital (Sociology) , Economic development
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2359 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4814
- Description: D. Litt. et Phil , The study focuses on the role of social capital in socio-economic development in developing political economies. While the concept of social capital originated as a sociological construct focusing on social relations, the theoretical debate has recently developed towards a grounding in political science, political development and political economy. Despite these advancements, a universally accepted definition has not been arrived at. However, there is consensus regarding the elements of social capital, which include norms, networks, institutions, relationships, civic engagement, membership of voluntary associations, trust, reciprocity and altruism. Dimensions of social capital include the structural and the cognitive, and types include bonding, bridging and linking social capital. This study examines the role of linking social capital, specifically in facilitating the relationship between state and society, aimed at mutual benefit. Social capital is regarded as a resource, particularly in communities with limited or no access to other, more traditional forms of capital. Operationalisation of social capital is examined by means of a comparative and analytical review of existing indexes, case studies and surveys. In this regard, initiatives in both developed and developing political economies are examined. The study emphasises the multi-disciplinary nature of social capital and propagates its value in socio-economic development. Empirical data that confirm the relationship between social capital and economic growth are presented. Initiatives to contribute to the development of conceptual frameworks and to increase and improve qualitative data are assessed, in order to determine the contribution of social capital to socio-economic development. In this regard, particular emphasis is placed on the important contribution of the World Bank’s Social Capital Initiative. The literature emphasises the interdependence of politics and economy and the study highlights the need for a political economy approach to socio-economic development. In this regard, the development initiatives of various multi-lateral development agencies are examined. The focus is on the current trend to follow a political economy approach to country strategies, programmes and projects aimed at achieving socio-economic development. The study concludes that social capital is a valuable element in this regard and argues that political economy analysis tools are well placed to integrate social capital in a multi-disciplinary approach to address poverty and socio-economic development challenges.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Müller, Jozet
- Date: 2012-06-04
- Subjects: Infrastructure (Economics) , Social capital (Economics) , Political economy , Social capital (Sociology) , Economic development
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2359 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4814
- Description: D. Litt. et Phil , The study focuses on the role of social capital in socio-economic development in developing political economies. While the concept of social capital originated as a sociological construct focusing on social relations, the theoretical debate has recently developed towards a grounding in political science, political development and political economy. Despite these advancements, a universally accepted definition has not been arrived at. However, there is consensus regarding the elements of social capital, which include norms, networks, institutions, relationships, civic engagement, membership of voluntary associations, trust, reciprocity and altruism. Dimensions of social capital include the structural and the cognitive, and types include bonding, bridging and linking social capital. This study examines the role of linking social capital, specifically in facilitating the relationship between state and society, aimed at mutual benefit. Social capital is regarded as a resource, particularly in communities with limited or no access to other, more traditional forms of capital. Operationalisation of social capital is examined by means of a comparative and analytical review of existing indexes, case studies and surveys. In this regard, initiatives in both developed and developing political economies are examined. The study emphasises the multi-disciplinary nature of social capital and propagates its value in socio-economic development. Empirical data that confirm the relationship between social capital and economic growth are presented. Initiatives to contribute to the development of conceptual frameworks and to increase and improve qualitative data are assessed, in order to determine the contribution of social capital to socio-economic development. In this regard, particular emphasis is placed on the important contribution of the World Bank’s Social Capital Initiative. The literature emphasises the interdependence of politics and economy and the study highlights the need for a political economy approach to socio-economic development. In this regard, the development initiatives of various multi-lateral development agencies are examined. The focus is on the current trend to follow a political economy approach to country strategies, programmes and projects aimed at achieving socio-economic development. The study concludes that social capital is a valuable element in this regard and argues that political economy analysis tools are well placed to integrate social capital in a multi-disciplinary approach to address poverty and socio-economic development challenges.
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Risk allocation in public private partnership infrastructure projects
- Authors: Zittlau, Werner Gustav
- Date: 2011-12-06
- Subjects: Partnership , Infrastructure (Economics) , Risk
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/371507 , uj:1824 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4185
- Description: M.Comm. , The creation of infrastructure services and products has traditionally been the responsibility of the government, but this has changed with the private sector becoming more involved through public private partnerships. This change has been driven by the need for better value for money to the end user and the private sector's ability to achieve higher efficiencies. The extent to which value for money will be achieved will be largely dependent on the correct risk allocation between the parties involved. An optimum risk allocation will ensure that the risk. Pricing is kept to a minimum and thus achieve a cost effective product or service.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Zittlau, Werner Gustav
- Date: 2011-12-06
- Subjects: Partnership , Infrastructure (Economics) , Risk
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/371507 , uj:1824 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4185
- Description: M.Comm. , The creation of infrastructure services and products has traditionally been the responsibility of the government, but this has changed with the private sector becoming more involved through public private partnerships. This change has been driven by the need for better value for money to the end user and the private sector's ability to achieve higher efficiencies. The extent to which value for money will be achieved will be largely dependent on the correct risk allocation between the parties involved. An optimum risk allocation will ensure that the risk. Pricing is kept to a minimum and thus achieve a cost effective product or service.
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An empirical analysis of the adequacy of the infrastructure delivery rate to address poverty in South Africa
- Authors: Bosch, Adél
- Date: 2010-10-04T08:30:21Z
- Subjects: Infrastructure (Economics) , Poverty in South Africa , Econometrics
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6914 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3425
- Description: M.Comm. , Each year, in an attempt to alleviate poverty, government invests large parts of the budget to provide infrastructure to poor households in South Africa. This not only necessitates an understanding of the effectiveness of government’s infrastructure delivery rate to address poverty in South Africa, but also raises important questions on how the poor can be identified. In recent years, countries have moved away from traditional broad poverty measures such as gross national income (GNI) per capita and Human Development Index (HDI). Information on poverty and other household information are more often collected through household surveys. From these surveys, monetary and non-monetary poverty measures can be used to identify the poor. By making use of a monetary poverty measure such as expenditure, per capita household expenditure can be calculated. Households are divided into quintiles based on their per capita household expenditure, and the bottom 20 and 40 per cent are usually the benchmark for households to be identified as being poor. This is analysed in terms of the poor’s access to services and other household characteristics. Qualitative regression models have gained more recognition in econometrics, especially in the social sciences field. Information collected from household surveys is often qualitative, or binary in nature. Due to the non-linear nature of binary-dependent variable models, logit and probit models were appropriate for this study. The maximum likelihood method, within the binary choice framework, was employed to determine the extent to which infrastructure delivery and other household characteristics have an impact on poverty. The results provided empirical evidence that infrastructure investment can significantly reduce the likelihood that a household will be poor, given a set of characteristics.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Bosch, Adél
- Date: 2010-10-04T08:30:21Z
- Subjects: Infrastructure (Economics) , Poverty in South Africa , Econometrics
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6914 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3425
- Description: M.Comm. , Each year, in an attempt to alleviate poverty, government invests large parts of the budget to provide infrastructure to poor households in South Africa. This not only necessitates an understanding of the effectiveness of government’s infrastructure delivery rate to address poverty in South Africa, but also raises important questions on how the poor can be identified. In recent years, countries have moved away from traditional broad poverty measures such as gross national income (GNI) per capita and Human Development Index (HDI). Information on poverty and other household information are more often collected through household surveys. From these surveys, monetary and non-monetary poverty measures can be used to identify the poor. By making use of a monetary poverty measure such as expenditure, per capita household expenditure can be calculated. Households are divided into quintiles based on their per capita household expenditure, and the bottom 20 and 40 per cent are usually the benchmark for households to be identified as being poor. This is analysed in terms of the poor’s access to services and other household characteristics. Qualitative regression models have gained more recognition in econometrics, especially in the social sciences field. Information collected from household surveys is often qualitative, or binary in nature. Due to the non-linear nature of binary-dependent variable models, logit and probit models were appropriate for this study. The maximum likelihood method, within the binary choice framework, was employed to determine the extent to which infrastructure delivery and other household characteristics have an impact on poverty. The results provided empirical evidence that infrastructure investment can significantly reduce the likelihood that a household will be poor, given a set of characteristics.
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