Economic and Management Sciences

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Open Access
Real-time strategy implementation in the electricity industry
(University of the Free State, 02-May) Van Buuren, Rudolph Barend; Grous, M. J.; Nortje, J. D.
Afrikaans: Hierdie studie fokus op die elektrisiteitsindustrie, met spesifieke verwysing na die wyse waarop organisasies in die industrie hul strategiese beplanning implementeer. Die elektrisiteitsindustrie is spesifiek geselekteer aangesien dit in 'n toenemende komplekse en snelveranderende omgewing opereer. Herstrukturering en deregulering is verskynsels wat tans regoor die wêreld in die elektrisiteitsindustrie plaasvind. Van 'n eens beskermde monopolistiese organisasie tot een waar mededinging tussen konkurrente toegelaat word. Tradisioneel het elektrisiteitsorganisasies gebruik gemaak van beplanningsiklusse wat wissel vanaf een jaar en langer. Hierdie studie fokus spesifiek daarop om die beginsel van intydse strategiese implementering as 'n alternatief vir beplanningsiklusse in die elektrisiteitsindustrie te ondersoek, aangesien die industrie tans in 'n komplekse en snelveranderde omgewing opereer, wat nie gunstig vir die gebruik van beplanningsiklusse is nie. Die empiriese navorsing vir hierdie studie is onder vier van die grootste elektrisiteitsmaatskappye in die Verenigde State van Amerika gedoen. Die Verenigde State van Amerika is spesifiek gekies omdat die elektrisiteitsindustrie in hierdie land van die eerstes was om 'n mededingende mark vir elektrisiteit bekend te stel. Aan die hand van hierdie studie is 'n aantal gapings tussen strategiese beplanning en strategiese implementering blootgelê. Hierdie gapings het toenemend bygedra tot die algemene opvatting dat strategiese beplanning nie as effektief in die industrie gereken word nie en dat dit bloot 'n vermorsing van tyd is. Hierdie gapings kan soos volg saamgevat word: (a) Probleme word ondervind om te reageer op geïsoleerde en onvoorspelbare gebeure in die industrie en wat die potensiaal het om die huidige mededingende posisie van die elektrisiteitsindustrie te vernietig. (b) Die herstrukturering van die industrie en die gevolglike ontbondeling van die eens vertikaal geïntegreerde aard van die elektrisiteitsindustrie het gelei tot die onstaan van konflik wat betref strategiese doelstellings tussen die korporatiewe vlak in die organisasie en die besigheidseenhede van die organisasie. (c) Dit het verder tot gevolg gehad dat die strategiese beplanningsprosesse wat in hierdie organisasies gebruik word, lomp en tydsintensief geraak het, met die gevolg dat senior bestuur nie effektief aan die proses wou deelneem nie. (d) Ten spyte van die beskikbaarheid van 'n verskeidenheid van strategiese beplanningsinstrumente, soos industrie- en mededingerontledings, is gevind dat die meeste van die strategiese beplanningsprosesse in die elektrisiteitsindustrie intern gesentreer is. (e) 'n Algemene probleem om die ontwikkelde strategie te koppel aan effektiewe metingsnorme en verwante metingstelsels , is ondervind. Gevolglik word die belangrikste aanbevelings, gebaseer op die resultate van hierdie studie, gegee: (d) Ten spyte van die beskikbaarheid van 'n verskeidenheid van strategiese beplanningsinstrumente, soos industrie- en mededingerontledings, is gevind dat die meeste van die strategiese beplanningsprosesse in die elektrisiteitsindustrie intern gesentreer is. (e) 'n Algemene probleem om die ontwikkelde strategie te koppel aan effektiewe metingsnorme en verwante metingstelsels , is ondervind. (a) Top bestuur behoort 'n goeie basis te lê vir die implementering van 'n strategie. Dit moet gedoen word deur 'n openlike verbintenis en vrywillige betrokkendheid by die strategiese beplanning en implementering, ten einde die strategiese vaardighede van die organisasie uit te bou en strategiese outonomie regdeur die organisasie te bewerkstellig. (b) Intydse (real-time) strategiese beplanningsprosesse behoort geïnisieer te word, insluitende intensiewe en volgehoue situasie-analise en implementeringsinitiatiewe om strategiese kwessies teen markspoed op te los. (c) Effektiewe strategiese ondersteuningstelsels en -prosesse behoort geïmplementeer te word. Dit sluit inligtingsondersteuning in en verseker effektiewe integrasie van die strategie regdeur die organisasie. (d) Effektiewe strategiese gerigtheid regdeur die organisasie is noodsaaklik. Dit sluit die koppeling van effektiewe prestasiebestuursprosesse aan die strategie van die organisasie in, asook om die betrokkenheid van soveel werknemers as moontlik, op verkeie vlakke met betrekking tot strategiese beplanning en implementering te bewerkstellig. Verdere, meer spesifieke aanbevelings vir die implementering van intydse strategiese beplanningsisteme sluit die volgende riglyne is: (a) Topbestuur behoort betrokke te raak by die strategiese beplanning en implementeringsprosesse van die organisasie, as voorvereiste vir strategiese sukses. (b) Alle vlakke binne die organisasie behoort aangemoedig te word om op 'n outonome manier betrokke te raak by strategiese beplanning en implementering. Intydse strategiese beplanningsprosesse behoort as effektiewe inligtingstelsels ontwikkel te word. (d) Strategiese doelwitte en strategieë behoort op 'n deurlopende basis hersien te word. (e) Die gebruik van strategiese beplanningsiklusse behoort gestaak te word in die lig van 'n intydse strategiese implementeringsproses. (f) Werkprestasie ooreenkomste behoort by wyse van konsensus tussen werknemers en bestuurders onderhandel te word, asook horisontaal tussen verskillende departemente. (g) Die gebruik van omslagtige strategiese beplanningsdokumente behoort gestaak te word. (h) Strategiese beheer behoort aan die hand van 'n gebalanseerde meetkaart (balanced scorecard) gedoen te word.
Open Access
A management model for a pharmaceutical contract research organization
(University of the Free State, 04-May) Jacobs, Yvonne Leonie; Lazenby, A. A.
English: Competitive success for a Contract Research Organization (CRO) entails unlimited process improvement to sustain excellence. Chapter One describes the generic business environment CROs operated in which customers dictate the pace of competition through asking for higher standards of quality, speedy delivery, reliability, and lower prices, as markets are becoming increasingly saturated. Opportunities for market growth and maintaining market share, are testing experiences for all CROs. This imposes the tenets of theories and models on CROs so as to understand the critical factors that have a statistically significant effect on their bottom-line figures. CROs need to take note of causal factors drivin g time and costs, even at the height of their success. Therefore, Chapters Two and Three present informative writings on the tenets of best-practices and activity-based management, because best-in-class principles must be reviewed to contemplate which risks to take; which new ideas to implement; which critical factors will drive success, and which will challenge the myths distinctive to the contract research environment. Informative writings, documented as background information, were used to evaluate the results presented in Chapter Five. During the construction of a model for a CRO in the final Chapter, an attempt is made to explain phenomena experienced in everyday life and to discern aspects necessary to sustain competitive success in contract research. For the purpose of this research a model is defined as a set of statements that make explanatory or causal claims about reality, statements that aim to represent everyday phenomena as accurately as possible, and simplify our understanding of the CRO business environment. This research is aimed at developing a management model to explain the particular phenomena applicable to a pharmaceutical CRO and can be classified as an empirical study, analyzing existing primary and numerical data, gathered from a case study. Although management models are well described in literature, this research adds value to an aspect still to be researched, i.e. a management model comprising the most applicable best-practices for a pharmaceutical CRO. Because throughput time is of utmost importance in clinical drug research programs and because time consequently generates costs, an activity-based methodology is considered the best-in-class information tool to gather the necessary data for the calculation of time and cost factors for a CRO. The results presented in Chapter Five, analyzed with a statistical linear regression model using univariate and multivariate analyses to discern which variables have a statistically relevant effect on time and cost factors, were used to formulate the management model in Chapter Six. The productivity model presented shows that if the productivity of the operational divisions imitates the output of the most productive division, the profit can almost be doubled, or conversely, the same profit can be maintained but, with a reduction in the number of full time employees. This holds win-win benefits for the company and the customer, especially if cost can be used as leverage in a competitive market. Pricing is a complex instrument because of the two-sided conflict and competitive nature of the buyer -seller relationship where the one’s gains are the other’s loss. The researcher evaluated time, costs and pricing to make pricing a win-win element through which improved throughput efficacy can provide greater customer value and higher profits to the shareholder. Secrecy agreements are signed between CROs and sponsoring companies and therefore project information is the intellectual property of the sponsoring company. This limiting factor inevitably made a case study approach for this research project a necessity. Research information should preferably have been included from different CROs worldwide, and a case study approach may be regarded as not meeting minimal design requirements for comparison. However, a single, well-designed case study can provide a major challenge to informative writings and theory. It can provide new insight into traditional concepts and figments of the imagination, and identify statistically significant cost drivers to sustain the knowledge base to make recommendations on the optimization of resource utilization. As CROs enter foreign markets, global harmonization of clinical trial standards serve to provide uniformity in processes in trial execution. Guidelines reach beyond the sponsoring country to regulate quality and ensure uniformity of trials globally. Thus, the results obtained from FARMOVS-PAREXEL case studies can be extrapolated to other CROs and the model formulated, as a result of global uniformity enforced by regulations universally applicable to CROs. The project was important because in the quest for developing new drugs, CROs compete inter alia as providers of choice on timelines and price. The interpretation of the results emphasized that factors traditionally perceived as cost drivers, may not have statistically significant effect on time or cost factors. The synergy between techniques applied from the theoretical fields of accounting and project management, i.e. to quantify and optimize resource ut ilization, provided the information to formulate a unique management model for a CRO. The lack of outcome based research results, from a management perspective, on resource consumption during the execution of bioavailability studies, emphasizes the importance of this research project. The research results indisputably prove that concepts and traditions need to be tested with a statistical linear regression and productivity model as the core logic of a management model for a CRO. The results conclusively indicate that a management model with a customer focus for a pharmaceutical CRO is a necessity to align financial performance measures, which are pivotal in the alliance with the customer and shareholder.
Open Access
Mean variance optimisation, stochastic simulation modelling and passive formula strategies for equity investments
(University of the Free State, 04-Nov) Pawley, Mark Gary; Van Zyl, Helena; Greeff, Petri
The research is a quantitative study that formulates an approach to future portfolio asset allocations within the South African domestic equity market, and the diversification of assets across global markets, specifically the U.S.A. The research takes the view that investors are rational, have a long term investment horizon and seek investment wealth maximisation by applying a sustainable investment strategy towards the ongoing management of the portfolio. Investors experience a significant negative divergence in investment outcomes relative to the potentially achievable result. This negative divergence is a result of the lack of a strategic approach to, and an understanding of asset allocations, and the lack of a sustainable approach to the management of a portfolio. Repetitive sub-optimal investment performance, below the levels of inflation, is an investment disincentive with negative micro and macro implications. The purpose of the study is therefore to address the issue sub-optimal investment performance through the effective application of a strategy that includes the integration of the mean-variance model through the use of a mean-variance optimiser, using resampled data inputs, the mean reversion of markets, passive investment management, appropriate asset class selection and the ongoing management of a portfolio, using both calendar and contingent rebalancing techniques, and passive formula strategies. The challenge is accordingly to develop a reliable asset allocation model that accommodates past performance, and which is stable enough to produce optimised forward-looking investment portfolios, which are able to address the issue of optimal asset allocation and selection, within a global context, and which produce optimised investment outcomes, taking cognisance of the fact that the future is unknowable and dynamic. The research methodology makes a positivist assumption that something exists and can be numerically tested. In this regard various portfolios are constructed, using passive investment instruments, in accordance with mean-variance model principles, using resampled data inputs to minimise the instability of the mean-variance optimiser. This resampling process is fundamental to the research, and incorporates the use of a stochastic simulator. A unique aspect of the research was solving the issue of multiple market integration particularly when the domestic markets are comprised of multiple asset classes. Finally, the resultant resampled efficient portfolios are compared to control portfolios in order to ascertain whether the resampling process indeed offers a return premium. Due to the dynamic nature of equity markets contingent and calendar rebalancing strategies are applied to the asset allocation in order to maintain an optimal portfolio. This dynamism may necessitate the adjustment of asset allocations. The test for asset allocation optimality takes the form of measuring portfolio outcome correlations to the actual market outcome. Where the portfolio is sub-optimal the asset allocations are redetermined, otherwise the portfolio is merely rebalanced to the original asset allocations. Regarding the management of the portfolio a value averaged passive formula strategy is applied. This process acknowledges that markets may behave stochastically over the short term, therefore a predetermined value line is derived that the portfolio is to achieve. This value line is based on a long term equity premium plus inflation. Should the portfolio breach the value line on the upside a portion of the investment is liquidated, conversely when the portfolio fails to reach the value line the portfolio is elevated to the value line by means of increasing the investment. The results of the research manifest unambiguous results in favour of resampled portfolios. In this regard, therefore, data resampling does seem to produce stable portfolio results that are effective at capturing a higher proportion of future returns than a simple market portfolio. Furthermore, the rebalancing process, although not absolutely perfect, does provide a level of adjustment to the asset allocation to ensure optimality. Finally, management of the portfolio through value averaging unambiguously provides an internal rate of return in excess of a portfolio that is allowed to stochastically rise and fall. In summary, the integration of the identified processes clearly provides a performance premium in excess of alternative approaches, and within a framework that is sustainable from period to period.
Open Access
Socio-economic implications for teachers retrenched in Qwaqwa 1996-1999
(University of the Free State, 05-Mar) Phakisi, Lehlomela Stanley; Ruhiiga, T. M.; Crause, E.
The purpose of this research was to investigate the socio - economic effects of teacher retrenchments in Qwaqwa - Free State. Te administration of the survey method generated information that was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The findings indicate that retrenchments severely affected the income and social status of teachers in the study area.
Open Access
Strategic marketing planning for radio stations in Lesotho
(University of the Free State, 07-Nov) Maliehe, Makhakhe; Van der Merwe, W. J. C.
This research study advocates that radio stations in Lesotho should make full use of the benefits offered by marketing both as a philosophy and a business function. The research study also recommends that the radio stations in Lesotho use the strategic marketing planning steps and approach that have been prescribed throughout this project, that is, the development of a mission statement, corporate objectives, situation analysis, competitor analysis, and marketing objectives.
Open Access
The impact of foreign direct investment on the livelihoods of workers in the manufacturing sector of Lesotho
(University of the Free State, 08-Nov) Kamara, Ishmail Bassie; Marais, J. G. L.
Abstract not available
Open Access
Farmer strategies towards climate variability and change in Zimbabwe and Zambia
(University of the Free State, 10-Apr) Mubaya, Chipo Plaxedes; Pelser, A.; Khundhlande, G.
Afrikaans: Daar bestaan algemene wetenskaplike konsensus dat die konsentrasies kweekhuisgasse in die atmosfeer aan die toeneem is as gevolg van menslike aktiwiteite, met die gevolglike globale klimaatsverandering. Klimaatsverandering oefen betekenisvolle druk uit op die landbousektor en die ekonomiese ontwikkeling van Afrika. Ten spyte van ’n toenemende aantal gevallestudies waarby verskillende lande betrek word, bly kennisgapings voortbestaan op die vlak van impakanalise. Verder, alhoewel aanpassing by klimaatsveranderlikheid en - verandering en die hantering daarvan sleutelkwessies in huidige globale besprekings en beleidsinisiatiewe betreffende klimaat geraak het, kom dit voor asof literatuur oor aanpassing in Zimbabwe en Zambië steeds beperk is. Hierdie studie het die volgende oogmerke in hierdie verband aangespreek: • Om boere se persepsies rakende dreigemente van klimaatveranderlikheid en klimaatsverandering te ondersoek, asook hoe dit van land tot land mag verskil; • Om die impak van klimaatsveranderlikheid en -verandering op boerdery-huishoudings in die twee lande te identifiseer en te analiseer; en • Om hantering- en aanpassingstrategieë te identifiseer om klimaatsveranderlikheid en -verandering wat deur boere toegepas word te identifiseer, asook faktore te ondersoek wat die keuse van aanpassing/hanteringstrategieë in die distrikte wat bestudeer is, beïnvloed. Kwalitatiewe sowel as kwantitatiewe metodes is gebruik om data vir hierdie studie in te samel. Die spesifieke metode wat in die Kwantitatiewe benadering gebruik is, is die gebruik van opnames. Kwalitatiewe metodes wat gebruik is, sluit Deelnemende Landelike Skatting (Participatory Rural Appraisal – PRA) in, spesifiek hulpbronkartering, historiese tendenslyne, seisoenale en daaglikse aktiwiteitskalenders en matriksoptekening en rangskikking. FGB’s en deeglike gevallestudies is ook gebruik. Gevolgtrekkings wat uit die bevindings van die studie gemaak is, word hieronder gelys: • Terwyl boere veranderings in plaaslike klimaatstoestande in ooreenstemming met klimaatsverandering rapporteer, bestaan daar ’n probleem in die bepaling van die bydrae van klimaatsverandering en ander faktore tot waargenome negatiewe soorte impak op die landbou- en sosio-ekonomiese stelsel. • Terwyl boere voor veelvuldige stressors te staan kom, bly klimaats-veranderlikheid en -verandering die mees kritieke stressors, en vererger dit die bestaansonsekerheid van daardie boere met hoër vlakke van kwesbaarheid as gevolg van hierdie stressors. • Daar bestaan variasies in die manifestering van die direkte en strukturele impak van klimaatsveranderlikheid en -verandering as gevolg van verskille in die tipes boerderysisteme en algemene ekonomiese en politieke kontekste. • Afgesien van die oorweldigende negatiewe effek daarvan, kan klimaatsveranderlikheid onder sekere omstandighede ook ’n positiewe uitwerking hê en gelokaliseerde voordele inhou in die konteks van strukturele veranderings in gemeenskappe, byvoorbeeld sosiale organisasie en ekonomiese aktiwiteite. • Betekenisvolle reaksies op klimaatsveranderlikheid en -verandering behels die organisering van landbou- en verwante praktyke, eerder as om landbou-inisiatiewe na nie-landbougerigte inisiatiewe oor te skakel. • Terwyl boere se keuse van hantering- en aanpassingstrategieë met betrekking tot klimaatsveranderlikheid en -verandering, asook die verwante uitkomste intrinsiek mag wees, neig hierdie keuse om oorweldigend gevorm te word deur diverse faktore soos demografie, toegang tot inligting en bates, en kwesbaarheidsvlakke. Voortspruitend uit bogenoemde gevolgtrekkings beveel die studie aan dat daar ’n behoefte bestaan aan: • Die uitbouing van die kapasiteit van boere en instansies om klimaatsverandering te identifiseer en te assesseer met behulp van programme om boere en ander relevante rolspelers op te voed oor klimaatsverandering en klimaats-veranderlikheid en die potensiële impak daarvan op boere se voortbestaan. • ’n Oorgang vanaf ontwerpbeleid wat kwessies rakende klimaatsverandering teiken as ’n kenmerkende entiteit na beleid wat kwessies rondom klimaatsverandering aanspreek as ’n integrale komponent van die talle stressors waarvoor boere te staan kom. • Die ontwerp van toepaslike beleid wat boerderysisteme beveilig teen klimaatsveranderlikheid en -verandering deur wisselings in hierdie boerderysisteme en ander relevante faktore in berekening te bring. • ’n Oorgang vanaf die konseptualisering van die impak van klimaatsverandering in die beleidsraamwerk as synde inherent negatief, na navorsing en beleidmaking met ’n onbevange lens wat die impak van klimaatsverandering en klimaats-veranderlikheid ontleed ten einde alternatiewe bestaansmoontlikhede vir boere te verhoog. • Ondersteuning vir toepaslike landbou-innovering en die ontwikkeling van nuwe ontluikende bestaansaktiwiteite namate boere op klimaatsveranderlikheid en klimaatsverandering reageer. • Die integrasie van sektore deur intervensies wat meteorologie, uitbreiding op landbougebied, akademiese navorsing en ander ontwikkelingsaktiwiteite met behulp van burgerlike samelewingsaktiwiteite teiken.
Open Access
The impact of the South African business enviroment on the availability of debt finance to new small and medium enterprises
(University of the Free State, 10-Jul) Fatoki, Olawale Olufunso; Van Aardt Smit, A.
South Africa suffers from high unemployment with an official estimate of approximately 24.5% of the economically active population unemployed (Statistics South Africa, 2009). In addition, the country experiences high levels of poverty and income inequality. SMEs are expected to be an important vehicle to address the challenges of job creation, sustainable economic growth, equitable distribution of income and the overall stimulation of economic development. According to Maas & Herrington (2006) the contribution of the SME sector cannot be sustained without the creation of new SMEs. New SMEs are seen as a significant component of the solution to South Africa's development issues. Maas & Herrington (2006) also point out that the creation rate of new SMEs in South Africa, as measured by the Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial activity is one of the lowest in the world. In addition, the failure rate of new SMEs is one of the highest in the world. Non-availability of finance is one of the primary causes of failure for new SMEs in South Africa. The two major external sources of finance for new SMEs are equity and debt. External equity is generally unavailable for new SMEs in both developed and developing countries. New SMEs in developed countries, unlike developing countries such as South Africa, are able to access debt finance from commercial banks and trade creditors. The primary objective of this study was to determine how to improve the availability of debt from commercial banks and trade creditors to new SMEs. The argument of this study was that there are factors in the business environment that cause debt not to be available to new SMEs. Understanding the causes of non-availability of debt is important to determining how to improve the availability of debt to new SMEs. For this purpose an initial 52-item questionnaire was developed after a thorough review of the literature on the business environment and debt finance and administered to 100 respondents from commercial banks and 100 respondents that were trade creditors in a pilot study. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in the reduction of 52-item questionnaire to a 43-item questionnaire and nine underlying factors for commercial banks and 39-item questionnaire and nine underlying factors for trade creditors. The nine factors included four internal factors and five external factors. The internal factors were labelled as managerial competencies, collateral, networking and business information. The external factors were labelled the macro-economy, the legal environment, ethics, crime and corruption. Another objective of the study was to investigate empirically if commercial banks and trade creditors perceive new SMEs as beneficial to their business. Empirical research was conducted to investigate the impact of the nine factors on non availability of debt to new SMEs. The instrument used was the self-administered questionnaire. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, frequencies, factor analysis, T-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation. The Cronbach's alpha was used as a measure of reliability. The research findings were: • There is a significant positive relationship between lack of managerial competency and non-availability of debt from commercial banks and trade creditors to new SMEs. • There is a significant positive relationship between lack of business information and non-availability of debt from commercial banks and trade creditors. • There is a significant positive relationship between lack of collateral and non-availability of debt from commercial banks and an insignificant relationship for trade creditors. • There is a significant positive relationship between lack of networking and non-availability of debt from commercial banks and trade creditors. • There is a significant positive relationship between bad macro-economic environment non-availability of debt from commercial banks and trade creditors. • There is a significant positive relationship between the inefficiency of the legal environment and non-availability of debt from trade creditors and an insignificant relationship for commercial banks. • There is a significant positive relationship between ethical perception of new SMEs and non-availability of debt from trade creditors and an insignificant relationship for commercial banks. • There is a significant positive relationship between crime and non-availability of debt from commercial banks and trade creditors. • There is no significant relationship between corruption and non-availability of debt from commercial banks and trade creditors. • Commercial banks and trade creditors perceive new SMEs as beneficial to their business. The findings suggested that there is a significant relationship between the business environment and the availability of debt. Eight out of the nine variables in the business environment have significant relationships with the availability of either bank credit or trade credit. The findings also indicated that are some similarities and differences with respect to why debt is not available to new SMEs from commercial banks and trade creditors. In addition, the findings suggested that internal factors are more important than external factors with respect to why debt is not available from both commercial banks and trade creditors. The study suggested some recommendations to improve the availability of debt finance to new SMEs. The recommendations included the need to improve the investment readiness of new SMEs. To access debt, new SMEs must have collateral and adequate owners' equity. Training and communication can also help new SME owners to get investment ready. In addition, owners of new SMEs should network by attending seminars and trade fairs. The legal system has to be made more efficient in practice to reduce unethical behaviour, crime and corruption.
Open Access
The role of treatment buddies in the public-sector antiretroviral programme in the Free State Province
(University of the Free State, 10-May) Hlophe, Hlengiwe Isabel; Booysen, F. Le. R.; Schneider, H.
Recent advances in antiretroviral treatments have simplified dosing regimens for people living with HIV. Yet, typical regimens still remain far more complex than treatments for other health conditions and adherence continue to concern health care providers. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy still dominates debates as one of the challenges facing HIV positive patients and the health service delivery. Thus, support for people on antiretroviral therapy becomes fundamental. It sis therefore argued that treatment buddies can be critical element in enhancing adherence and in retaining patients in care Against this background, research was undertaken to assess the role of treatment buddies in the South African public sector antiretroviral treatment programme as implemented in the Free State province. To achieve this aim certain objectives and hypothesis were identified and based on these objectives, five key outcomes for the study were identified. This study used two sources of data: (i) data collected from a longitudinal study conducted among patients enrolled in the public sector antiretroviral treatment programme (patient survey) and (ii) data from once-off individual interviews conducted with treatment buddies of patients interviewed as part of the patient survey (treatment buddy survey). Patients included in the analysis represent the sub-sample of patient respondents in the survey observed at least once in each of the four phases of the treatment career (n=160). Following the completion of the sixth and final round of the patient interviews, telephonic interviews were conducted with treatment buddies (n=55) using a semi-structured interview schedule to supplement information on treatment buddies collected in the patient survey as well as to provide insight into some findings from the patient survey data. Analyses for the purposes of this study focused on an investigation of treatment support and related outcomes over the treatment career. Various bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed separately for point estimates and change outcomes for each of the five main outcomes. Differences and transitions in key explanatory variables were regressed on point estimates of the main outcomes, while point estimates and lagged differences or transitions in key explanatory variables were regressed on differences and transitions in main outcomes respectively to avoid problems of endogeneity and to focus on causal dynamics of cause-and -effect. The study reveals that throughout the study, access to a treatment buddy declined over the treatment duration. As expected, health related quality of life consistently impacted on access to and transitions in access to a treatment buddy. Patients who had access to a treatment buddy had improved health-related quality of life. The treatment career phase featured as a strong predictor of access to a treatment buddy. Access to treatment buddy declined as months on treatment increased. The study reveals that similar to access to a treatment buddy, access to alternative support mechanisms declined as treatment duration increased. However, a significant decline over the treatment career phase was only observed in access to informal, individualised support such as emotional and physical caregivers. Access to more formal support and to group-based support did not exhibit a similar significant declining trend over the treatment career. The findings revealed that access to a treatment buddy was associated with perfect adherence knowledge. Moreover, the frequency of treatment buddy visits declined over the treatment career. Access to other forms of support increased the frequency of treatment buddy visits. Marital status was strongly associated with access to treatment buddy and other key outcomes. Clinical adherence varied significantly across the treatment career, increasing as treatment duration increased. The transition results indicate that patients who had been on treatment for six to twelve months and patients who had been on treatment for 18 to 30 months were less likely to transition from clinical adherence to non-adherence. This statement denotes that patients who have been on treatment for a longer period are more likely to maintain clinical adherence. Overall, the research indicates that treatment buddies represent an important form of informal adherence and psycho-social support in the early phase of the ARV treatment career, particularly among married ART clients. Access to treatment buddies declines later in the treatment career as clients‟ health-related quality of life improves. Policy makers and programme managers should develop suitable adherence support strategies for single clients as well as suitable longer-term adherence support strategies for clients facing challenges with medication adherence later in the treatment career.
Open Access
Self-help housing in South Africa: paradigms, policy and practice
(University of the Free State, 11-May) Ntema, Lejone John; Marais, J. G. L.
Afrikaans: Hierdie proefskrif getiteld Self-help housing in South Africa: paradigms, policy and practice (Selfhelpbehuising in Suid-Afrika: paradigmas, beleid en praktyk) is onderneem as die eerste diepgaande evaluering van selfhelpbehuisingsbeleid in Suid-Afrika. Selfhelpbehuisingsbeleid en –praktyk in sowel Suid-Afrika as wêreldwyd word geëvalueer aan die hand van Turner se konsep inwonerbeheer. Ter aanvang word die oorsprong en ontwikkeling van laeinkomstebehuisingsbeleide in ontwikkelende lande ontleed, met spesifieke verwysing na selfhelpbehuisingsbeleid. Daar word aangetoon dat die bespreking van die invloed van Turner se teorie en die rol van die Wêreldbank sentraal staan in die ontleding van die oorsprong en ontwikkeling van selfhelpbehuisingsbeleid in ontwikkelende lande. Turner se teorie het ’n deurslaggewende rol gespeel in die aanvaarding van selfhelpbehuising as ’n alternatiewe wyse van behuisingsvoorsiening in die 1960’s, terwyl die Wêreldbank vroeg in die 1970’s die vereiste befondsing vir die implementering daarvan deur middel van erf-endiensskemas deur die regerings van ontwikkelende lande voorsien het. Ongeag die feit dat selfhelp behuising gewoonlik met neo-liberale politieke tendense vereenselwig word, dui die proefskrif aan dat selfhelp in sowel kapitalistiese as sosialistiese lande beoefen word. Teen die agtergrond van die internasionale teorie oor selfhelpbehuising, volg ’n evaluering van die ontwikkeling en toepassing van verskillende lae-inkomste behuisingsbeleide in die postapartheidera in Suid-Afrika, met spesifieke verwysing na selfhelpbehuising. Die SuidAfrikaanse selfhelpbeleid staan amptelik as die People’s Housing Process (PHP) bekend en word geïmplementeer by wyse van selfhelpgroepe genaamd behuisingondersteuningsentra. Daar is bevind dat alhoewel Turner se idees en beginsels van selfhelpbehuising in PHP-beleid veranker is, voldoen hierdie beleid in die praktyk grotendeels nóg aan Turner se idees veral dié ten opsigte van bewonerbeheer nóg aan sekere beginsels soos in die beleid gestipuleer. Aldus domineer ’n tegnokratiese eerder as ’n mens-gesentreerde benadering (soos in 241 beleidsdokumente beoog) die PHP-programme in Suid-Afrika. Die invloedspeil wat die plaaslike bevolking ten opsigte van projekontwerp, projekimplementering en behuisingsontwerp uitoefen, bly laag, terwyl die behuisingsresultate nie veel verskil van die konvensionele projeksubsidiebenadering nie. Die outeur kom dus tot die slotsom dat selfhelpbehuising in Suid-Afrika in werklikheid deur die staat gedomineer word. Ondanks staatsbeheer van die behuisingsproses is sowel die beskikbare Suid-Afrikaanse literatuur oor selfhelpbehuising en die empiriese bevindinge dit eens dat die huise in die PHP-projekte in die algemeen baie groter is as dié wat deur middel van die konvensionele kontrakteurgedrewe meganisme voorsien word. Die vergelyking van die laissezfaire selfhelpprojek en die ondersteunde selfhelpprojek wat ’n kontrakteurgedrewe benadering gebruik, bevestig dat beter behuisingsresultate verkry is in die geval van die laissezfaire selfhelp voorbeeld (groter huise, meer aanbou-aktiwiteite). Teen hierdie agtergrond doen die proefskrif aan die hand dat regeringsamptenare fasiliteerders eerder as dominante rolspelers moet word in die toepassing van selfhelpbehuising, verbruikersopvoedingsprogramme moet beklemtoon en aangewend word as ’n middel om gemeenskapsdeelname en –bemagtiging te verhoog, die klem op die persoonlike arbeidsinset (sweat equity) in die selfhelpmeganisme moet heroorweeg word die selfhelpmeganisme moet inherent ’n sekere mate van informaliteit aanvaar, die regering moet verantwoordbaarheid en toesig verseker sonder om staatsgefinansierde selfhelpbehuisingsprojekte noodwendig te beheer, en die klem ten opsigte van selfhelp moet geplaas word op die aanvaarding van behuising as ’n proses eerder as ’n eenmalige aktiwiteit.
Open Access
Customer's perceptions of business units within an agricultural business in South Africa
(University of the Free State, 11-Nov) Alsemgeest, Liezel; Smit, A. v. A.
Afrikaans: Die voordele van die bestuur van kliënteverhoudings bring kritieke faktore soos kliëntetevredenheid en loyaliteit na vore. Klantetevredenheid is ŉ goednagevorste bestuursaspek waarna al as “God, King and beyond” verwys is. Maatskappye se oorlewing word deur klantetevredenheid en/of positiewe klantepersepsie bepaal omdat die bestaan en groei van maatskappye van klante se herhaalde en toenemende aankope op grond van positiewe gevoelens jeens die maatskappy afhang. Verder kan klantetevredenheid die goeie reputasie van ŉ maatskappy uitbou en tot positiewe persoonlike reklame lei wat weer nuwe klante kan lok. Alhoewel die landbousakesektor ŉ belangrike middel tot landbouontwikkeling in Suid- Afrika is, is navorsing oor klantetevredenheid by landbouverwanteklante skaars. Landbouondernemings (voorheen bekend as koöperasies) is daarop geskoei dat hulle deur samewerking tussen verskeie boere beter dienste en produkte teen verlaagde pryse kan bekom wat waarde tot die boer op sy plaas kan toevoeg (boergesentreerd). Koöperasies was ŉ lewensvatbare ondernemingsvorm tot en met 1996 toe die Bemarkingsbeheerraad en gesubsidieerde rentekoerse afgeskaf is. Die meeste landboukoöperasies is in beleggersgeoriënteerde firmas (BOF’s) omskep met die hoofoogmerke winsgewendheid en die handhawing van waardeerbare aandeelpryse (maatskappygesentreerd). Landbouondernemings is kompleks omdat die klante van ŉ landbouonderneming ook in die meeste gevalle die aandeelhouers van die maatskappy is. Landboumaatskappye dien ook ‘n nismark (boere) en die verhouding tussen die onderneming en die klante verskil van diè van ander industrieë. Tradisionele klantetevredenheidsnavorsing fokus op die gebruik van die SERVQUALmetode, wat in der waarheid slegs dienskwaliteit toets. Hierdie studie stel dit ten doel om die meetinstrument te vereenvoudig en ook ander klantetevredenheidsaandrywers by te voeg, naamlik tevredenheid rakende prys, produk, personeel, diens en bestuur. ŉ Landbouonderneming bestaan uit verskeie sake-eenhede wat as kleiner ondernemings bestuur word en almal deel van die groter landbou “sambreel”-maatskappy uitmaak. Die hoofoogmerke van hierdie studie is dus om die verhouding tussen die klantetevredenheidsaandrywers (prys, produk, diens, personeel en bestuur) van die onderskeie sake-eenhede te bepaal en dit met die winsgewendheid van hierdie eenhede in verband te bring; en om die impak van hierdie veranderlikes op klantetevredenheid ten opsigte van die maatskappy te bepaal. Die sekondêre empiriese doelwitte van die studie behels om te bepaal watter van die klantetevredenheidsaandrywers die grootste impak op klantetevredenheid ten opsigte van die algehele maatskappy het; watter van die sake-eenhede die grootste impak op algehele tevredenheid het; of die gebruiksfrekwensie van die onderskeie sake-eenhede die algehele tevredenheid met die landbouonderneming beïnvloed; en, laastens, of klante se persepsie rakende die prestasie van die sake-eenhede ŉ invloed op winsgewendheid het. Die studie was kwantitatief van aard en het gebruik gemaak van vraelyste wat per gewone pos na die algehele populasie (bestaande uit die lede van ŉ groot landbouonderneming in Sentraal Suid-Afrika wat meer as R100 000 bydra tot die omset van die landbouonderneming) gestuur is. Altesaam 963 vraelyste is uitgestuur en 345 bruikbare vraelyste is teruggestuur. Die responskoers was dus 35,8%. Die vernaamste resultate toon ŉ statisties beduidende verband tussen tevredenheid ten opsigte van kleinhandelswinkels, versekering en meganisasie (werkswinkels) en algehele klantetevredenheid – wat daarop dui dat om algehele klantetevredenheid te verhoog, tevredenheid ten opsigte van hierdie drie sake-eenhede eerste aandag moet geniet. Produk, diens en tevredenheid met bestuur het as klantetevredenheidsaandrywers al drie ŉ statisties beduidende invloed op algehele klantetevredenheid. Verder, toe die onderskeie aandrywers inherent aan die onderskeie sake-eenhede teen algehele klantetevredenheid getoets is, het die resultate getoon dat daar twee beduidende aandrywers inherent aan ŉ sake-eenheid is, naamlik kleinhandelswinkelproduk en graanbemarkingsprys. Hierbenewens toon statisties beduidende resultate dat die gebruiksfrekwensie van ŉ sake-eenheid die mate van klantetevredenheid weerspieël (behalwe in die geval van kleinhandelswinkels). Elke sake-eenheid se gemiddelde bydrae tot netto wins is oor ŉ tydperk van vyf jaar bereken en met sy gemiddelde prestasie vergelyk. Die grafiek toon ŉ definitiewe korrelasie tussen wins en klantetevredenheid. Kleinhandelswinkels as ŉ sake-eenheid het interessante resultate opgelewer wat aandui dat kleinhandelswinkelpryse, kleinhandelsproduk, kleinhandelswinkelpersoneel en kleinhandelswinkeldiens die grootste impak op al die algehele klantetevredenheidsaandrywers het. Hiervolgens beskou klante kleinhandelswinkels as die “venster” van die landbouonderneming. Respondente is ook gevra om aan te dui wat hulle as die hoofdoelwitte van die landbouonderneming beskou teenoor wat hulle voel die doelwitte behoort te wees. Van groot belang was die beduidende resultate waarvolgens bepaal is dat respondente die doelwitte as synde maatskappygesentreerd waargeneem het, maar gevoel het dat die doelwitte boer-gesentreerd behoort te wees. Daar word spesifiek aanbeveel dat kleinhandelswinkels verbeter word en dat die beskikbaarheid en kwaliteit van kleinhandelswinkels verhoog word om klantetevredenheid te maksimeer.
Open Access
Challenges faced by urban Zimbabwean women entrepreneurs
(University of the Free State, 11-Nov) Nani, Gwendoline Vusumuzi; Van Aardt Smit, A; Cilliers, J. O.
The primary objective of this study was to investigate the challenges that urban Zimbabwean women entrepreneurs face. The study was motivated by the theoretical findings that women have always been discriminated against politically, economically, socio‐culturally, legally, educationally and at work. Scholars of gender studies assert that despite the fact that over the last decades women had attained educational levels comparable to those of men, women still remained in relatively low paying jobs (Wirth, 2001:49; Carter & Silva, 2010:19, 20‐1). Due to frustrations and challenges faced in the workplace, some women in both developed and developing countries had left formal employment to start their own businesses. According to Coulter (2000:114), even in business where women had opted to be, they continued to face challenges. A review of literature further indicated that the historical background of women in developed countries differed from that of women in developing countries because of differences in environmental factors (Adler & Israeli quoted by Woldie & Ardesua, 2004:79). However, the challenges that women faced were similar except that in developed countries more gains had been registered in improving women’s lives compared to developing countries. Theoretical findings about Zimbabwe showed that historically, women were excluded from actively participating in politics and in decision making. Economically, women were denied ownership of resources such as land and were thus dependent on men who were regarded as bread winners. Socio‐culturally, activities were arranged according to gender; thus, there were activities strictly done by men and others reserved for women. Legally, women were regarded as minors and for that reason women could not enter into any contractual obligations in their own right. In regards to education, girls were encouraged to take up subjects that were not strategically linked to the mainstream economy, while boys were channeled towards subjects that would enable them to occupy meaningful and strategic positions in the workplace. However, it was worth noting that the Government of Zimbabwe, just like governments in other countries had instituted legal amendments to redress discrimination on the basis of sex and positive developments had been achieved. These developments had enabled women to start their own businesses. According to Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Zimbabwe, 2010), in Zimbabwe, there are 20 665 registered urban women entrepreneurs. In the light of the statement by Coulter (2000:114) that in business women continued to face challenges, it was fundamental that the challenges faced by urban Zimbabwean women entrepreneurs be identified, hence the need for this study. Identification of these challenges would enable the government of Zimbabwe and other stakeholders to devise specific policies and strategies to minimise the impact of these challenges on women owned businesses. This would enable women entrepreneurs to operate viable and sustainable businesses. An empirical study was therefore conducted to investigate what the challenges women entrepreneurs faced were. This study was a combination of quantitative research design and descriptive research in which the simple random sampling technique was used to draw the sample. The sample comprised 580 registered women entrepreneurs drawn from the Small and Medium Enterprises sector in the four major cities of Zimbabwe, namely, Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo. The survey method was adopted as the data gathering method where a self constructed and self administered questionnaire was used as the data gathering instrument. A pilot study was conducted before the questionnaires were distributed for the main study. Reliability testing of the questionnaire showed a Cronbach’s Alpha value of 0.802 for all Likert questions based on the background of women of Zimbabwe and business challenges. These results indicated that the questionnaire was reliable as a data collecting instrument. Data collected was transformed for statistical analysis through the use of Excel software. After data processing, the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. Statistical techniques used in this study included frequencies, percentages, cross tabulations and Pearson chi‐square tests, descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Relating to respondents’ demographic profile, empirical results showed that 50.4 percent of the respondents in this study are married compared to 24.5 percent single and 25.1 percent separated, divorced or widowed. Results further indicated that 83.8 percent of the respondents have children and 73.2 percent have dependent children. The average number of children is 2.26 and the average number of dependent children is 1.50. The average age of respondents in this study was 38.0 years. Results further indicated that respondents in this study are highly qualified, with 51.5 percent having tertiary education. The dominant religion in this study was Christianity. Most of the respondents owned businesses in the services sector compared to ‘other’ businesses (67.2 percent and 32.8 percent respectively). Results indicated that 54.7 percent of the respondents had been in business for 5 years and below. Results also showed that 37.2 percent of the respondents had relevant start‐up experience. In terms of start‐up capital, women entrepreneurs in this study used internal more than external sources of finance (79.2 percent and 20.8 percent respectively). Findings also indicated that women entrepreneurs were predominantly sole proprietors compared to those in partnership. The following empirical findings were indicated regarding women’s background. Firstly, women can now actively participate in politics and decision making processes in spite of the fact that women have more confidence in male than female political leaders. Secondly, economically, women can own property in their own right and the majority of women are no longer financially dependent on men. Thirdly, socio‐culturally, women are more confident than they were historically and can now challenge men on religious issues. Fourthly, women can now engage in activities that were previously done by men only, such as being formally employed. Men can also perform duties that were previously done by women only. Fifthly, legally, men and women are equal before the law. Sixthly, after 18 years of age, women can make any legal decisions without consulting male members of the family. Seventhly, some men do not accept women as their equals. Eighthly, some men still abuse their wives because they have paid lobola (bride price) for them. Ninthly, despite their legal rights, married women predominantly still have to consult their husbands before making any business decisions. Tenthly, regarding education, girls are now given equal educational opportunities by their parents and at school girls are free to study subjects and embark on courses of their choices. However, there are still some cultures and religions that expect girls to leave school young to marry. Finally, at work, both in the private and public sectors, there are equal job opportunities for both men and women. There are also fair promotional opportunities for both men and women in the public and private sectors. Men and women doing the same jobs are remunerated at the same levels and there is equal taxation for both men and women. There are no jobs exclusively reserved for women both in the government and private sectors. However, there are more educated men than women in the job market. According to empirical results, women started their businesses due to opportunity (pull) and necessity (push) factors. Findings also showed that some women have left formal employment to start their own businesses due to work related factors such as the “glass ceiling” that blocked their access to top executive ranks; gender role stereo typing, negative societal influences and pay differentials, lack of acceptance by men, sexual harassment, balancing home and family responsibilities, and stress. The following empirical results were revealed about the market environment: First, customers no longer look down upon women owned businesses. Second, male workers now respect women who have employed them. Third, suppliers now offer both men and women entrepreneurs the same credit terms. Fourth, bank officials in Zimbabwe give women the same treatment as men when applying for loans. Fifth, women entrepreneurs can easily access established private business networks. Sixth, male auditors have developed a positive attitude towards women running businesses. Finally, some men entrepreneurs have accepted women entrepreneurs as equal business partners. The study also revealed some challenges that women entrepreneurs still have to contend with in the market environment. Women still have a problem of lack of collateral. Another challenge that women entrepreneurs face is that of becoming members of formal business organisations. Women also find it difficult to access government networks. According to empirical findings on the macro environment, women now have equal chances of getting business tenders as men. On the socio‐cultural front women indicated that their religions allowed them to run their own businesses. There are now support services to enable women to operate their own businesses. Respondents also indicated that they registered their businesses without legal problems and that women can now own property in their own names. Women entrepreneurs also confirmed that amended laws have brought equality between men and women entrepreneurs. However, empirical results also indicated that at economic level, women still find it difficult to enter male dominated sectors like construction. Socio‐culturally, most women entrepreneurs indicated that they still face the challenges of balancing home and business responsibilities. Despite the availability of support services, the HIV/AIDS pandemic has also exacerbated their workload. Married women still have to request their husbands to co‐sign before they can get any loans. Conclusively, empirical findings indicate that most of the cases of discrimination highlighted in the problem statement in Chapter 1 Section 1.4, and in the historical background of Zimbabwean business women, have been reduced and in some cases eliminated.
Open Access
Human and social capital formation in South Africa's arid areas
(University of the Free State, 12-Feb) Ingle, Mark Knightley; Visser, G. E.
Afrikaans: Wêreldwyd is daar onlangs 'n oplewing in akademiese belangstelling in semi-ariede streke en woestyne, en Suid-Afrika is geen uitsondering nie. Die grootste gedeelte van Suid-Afrika se droeë binnelandse streek bestaan uit die Karoo, wat 400 000 vierkante kilometre beslaan. Die Karoo is gedeel tussen vier provinsiale administrasies, en is dus nooit bestuur as 'n enkele streeksentiteit 111 sy eie reg nie. Die sentrale regering se Nasionale Ruimtelelike Ontwikkelingsperspektief het dit bestempel as 'n streek met min ontwikkelingspotensiaal. Inter provinsiale samewerking is redelik raar, en dit het 'n regstreekse impak op die Karoo se kapasiteit om himself te bemark, byvoorbeeld gelyk aan Australië se Outback. Tot die middel-1990s is die Karoo gesien as 'n verlate, vervelige land wat vir niks anders as skaapboerdery kan dien nie. In die 1990s het verskeie belangrike tendense begin plaasvind, wat die Karoo begin transformeer het in die publieke denke. Hierdie tendense was gegrond op die ontsluiting van Suid-Afrika vir internasionale market en invloed, na die aftakeling van apartheid; die internasionale herbesinning oor die nut en waarde van woestyne, veral in die konteks van toerisme; die uitbreiding van mobiele telefoonnetwerke, saam met e-pos en die internet; 'n nuwe internasionale benadering tot die ontwikkeling van landelike areas, met die aanvulling van landbou deur verskeie ander ekonomiese aktiwiteite; en 'n opswaai in die eiendomsmark wat landelike behuising baie meer aantreklik gemaak het. Teen hierdie agtergrond, veral aan die begin van die nuwe eeu, het baie meer navorsers begin besef dat 'n nuwe sosiale wese ontstaan het. 'n Nuwe kategorie mens het ontwikkel in pas met die kennis-gebaseerde ekonomie wat moontlik gemaak is deur die vinnige uitbreidings in inligtingstegnologie. 'n Konstante tema is die begrip van' kreatiwiteit', en die belangrikheid van die kreatiewe bydraes van hierdie nuwe kategorie mense word al hoe meer besef. Die sosiale struktuur in Suid-Afrika is diep geskud deur die gesamentlike impak van hierdie veranderinge. Veral die blanke gemeenskap is hierdeur geaffekteer. Terwyl menige blankes geemigreer het, het 'n aansienlike getalook besluit om na klein dorpies in Suid-Afrika te verhuis, óf as nuwe inkomelinge, óf as beleggers wat tweede huise aangeskaf het. Die sosio-ekonomiese samestelling van baie klein dorpies in die Karoo is fundamenteel verander as gevolg van hierdie nuwe intrekkers van die metropolitaanse gebiede. Hierdie statistiese onbenullige maar ekonomiese belangrike groep het hulle netwerke en professionele vaardighede gebruik om 'n renaissance in die Karoo te bewerkstellig. Die tesis ontleed verskeie aspekte van hierdie verskynsel deur Richard Florida se invloedryke konsep van die 'kreatiewe klas'. Dit beskryf die oplewing van sekere Karoo dorpe deur die invloei van nuwe 'sosiale en menslike kapitaal', en die verskeie newe-effekte van hierdie instroming. Die inkomelinge het ook verskeie sterk eienskappe van die dorpe en die plaaslike gemeenskappe ge-identifiseer, wat hulle aan die werk gesit het, amper soos sade wat vir reën gelê en wag het. Daarom het 'n verskeidenheid kreatiewe produkte in die Karoo die lig begin sien, veral in die toerisme waarde-ketting. Baiemaal het hierdie kreatiewe beleggers hulle eie bemarkingsnetwerke en ander 'lewensstyl media' gebruik, om 'n diep verandering in mense se persepsies oor die Karoo teweeg te bring. Die positiewe effek van hierdie oplewing in die plaaslike ekonomie van klein dorpe sal landurig en transformerend wees.
Open Access
The privatisation of public housing in South Africa: incremental upgrading processes in Manguang
(University of the Free State, 12-Jun) Sefika, Moeketsi Simon; Marais, J. G. L.
Afrikaans: Hierdie verhandeling argumenteer dat behuisingstudie hoofsaaklik op politiekekonomiese paradigmas fokus en die rol wat deur ander sosiale teorieë gespeel word, ignoreer. Aan die een kant doen die konvensionele ekonomiese teorie, wat op neoliberale beginsels gegrond is, aan die hand dat privatisering nodig is om die markte beter te laat werk. In die behuisingsveld word privatisering hoofsaaklik beskou as ŉ manier om te verseker dat ŉ sekondêre behuisingsmark aan die gang kom. Aan die ander kant argumenteer die neomarxistiese sienings dat privatisering tot ŉ verskeidenheid negatiewe invloede lei, soos uiteindelike dakloosheid en die onbekostigbaarheid van huislenings. Die grootste probleem met hierdie twee politieke en ekonomiese sienings is dat hulle blind is vir ander sosiale teorieë en tot ŉ groot mate die historiese konteks van behuising, veral in Suid-Afrika, ignoreer. Die debatte in hierdie studie wys daarop dat die roeteafhanklikheidsteorie (met ŉ historiese metodologie as sub-benadering) in behuisingsbeleidsdiskoers ŉ bykomende insig in privatisering bied, veral in die Suid- Afrikaanse konteks. In teenstelling met die algemene beskouing is dit moontlik dat behuisingsprosesse in Suid-Afrika in hulle eie trajek vasgevang is en nie soortgelyk is aan prosesse in die oorspronklike koloniale mag nie, soos byvoorbeeld Brittanje. Hierdie studie identifiseer ŉ beleid- en navorsingsgaping in privatisering. Dit behels die eerste poging om die privatisering van behuising in Suid-Afrika deur middel van empiriese getuienis te beoordeel sedert die Afslag-voordeelskema twee dekades gelede bekendgestel is. Die internasionale literatuur dui aan dat daar in sowel ontwikkelde as ontwikkelende lande ŉ poging was om huurhuisvoorraad te privatiseer. Hierdie beweging hou verband met die beleidsontwikkelings na die Tweede Wêreldoorlog wat oorweldigend ten gunste van ‘n markekonomie was. Neoliberale en neomarxistiese denkers het verskeie menings vir en teen die proses op die tafel geplaas. Omdat Suid-Afrika gedurende apartheid sterk ekonomiese en politieke bande met Brittanje gehad het, het die Suid-Afrikaanse regering ook die amper 500 000 behuisingseenhede in staatsbesit geprivatiseer. Navorsers in Suid-Afrika het ook vooruitskattings, wat óf neoliberaal óf neomarxisties is, gemaak toe hulle die moontlike toekomstige impak van behuisingsprivatisering beoordeel het; dit ten spyte van Turner en Tipple se werk oor die sosiale konteks van behuising. Hierdie verhandeling toets die oorspronklike argumente van die politiek-ekonomiekontinuum deur nader in te gaan op die empiriese gegewens wat uit die voorstad Rocklands, Bloemfontein, verkry is. In hierdie omgewing verbeter huurders die staatsgesubsidieerde kernhuise deur wat Tipple “transformasies” noem, wat meer van ŉ reaksie op sosiale behoeftes as ekonomiese imperatiewe is. Die empiriese analise kyk na die uitkomste van behuisingsprivatisering wat met die fisiese gevolge op behuising ná die transformasies verband hou, die prosesse in die transformasies wat selfversorgendheid en vindingrykheid beklemtoon en die vermoë van huurders om by die mark te leen en hulle verbeterde bates op die mark te verhandel.Die belangrikste bevindings uit die empiriese getuienis ondersteun ŉ belangrike teoretiese aanname, naamlik dat behuisingsdebatte verder as die binêre politiekekonomiese debat behoort te kyk. Die bevindings in die studie weerlê die politiekekonomiese aannames wat in die neoliberale en neomarxistiese teorieë aan die hand gedoen word. Die studie se bevindings ondersteun egter Tipple se betoë oor die deurslaggewende rol van die sosiale en historiese konteks van behuising. Wat dit betref, is die belangrikste bevindings in die studie soortgelyk aan TIpple se betoë, naamlik dat privatisering lei tot transformasies wat behuisingstres teenwerk, dat transformasies ekonomiese vermenigvuldigers in die lokaliteit daarstel, dat transformasies buite die grondslag van vaste eiendomsreg om voorkom en dat inkomste nie die belangrikste veranderlike in behuisingsuitbreidings is nie. Die studie gaan verder en wys op die historiese konteks van behuising waarvolgens privatisering ŉ manier is om ŉ voet in die deur van stedelike Suid-Afrika te kry. So ŉ voet in die deur in stedelike Suid-Afrika is belangrik in die lig van die historiese uitsluiting van swart mense uit stedelike Suid-Afrika. Die sosiale konteks van swart behuising in Suid-Afrika word gekenmerk deur ŉ lang strewe na stedelike burgerskap en behuisingsregte. Hierdie eienskappe lei tot ŉ unieke behuisingsomgewing wat nie in ontwikkelde lande voorkom nie.
Open Access
A framework for facilitating the transition from school to university in South Africa: a capabilities approach
(University of the Free State, 12-Nov) Wilson-Strydom, Merridy; Hay, H. R.
Access to university in South Africa has been, and continues to be, a highly contested area that is plagued with many layers of complexity rooted in the social, political and educational past and present. Situated within an overarching commitment to fair and just higher education, in this thesis I have attempted to understand the complex field of access to university. I have done this by focusing on the transition from school to university, through the lens of the capabilities approach as developed by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum. The capabilities approach provides a framework for seeking to understand what young people entering universities are able to be and to do and what limits their being and doing. As such, the capabilities approach requires us to move beyond measurable access statistics to a more nuanced understanding of the agency and well-being of students admitted to university. Four research questions guided the study. 1. How do first-year students at the UFS experience the transition to university in their first year of study? 2. How do learners in Grades 10, 11 and 12 from local UFS feeder high schools experience the process of preparation for and access to university? 3. How can these experiences of the interface between school and university be theorised using a capabilities-based social justice framework? 4. Based on the evidence from the research, what interventions could support efforts towards a more socially just transition for these students? Working within a pragmatic paradigm, the study employed a mixed methods research design. My starting assumption was that in order to thoroughly understand the transition to university, it is necessary to study both the final years of schooling and the first-year at university. As such, the study focused on the University of the Free State (UFS) and a sample of 20 feeder schools. A total of 2816 learners in Grades 10, 11 and 12 completed the quantitative South African High School Survey of Learner Engagement (SAHSSLE) (adapted from the version used in the United States) in September 2009. The SAHSSLE provides a wealth of data regarding educational practices at school as well as learners’ experiences and attitudes towards their education. A smaller sample of 33 learners also completed qualitative reflections on their school experience, plans for universities and their ‘university knowledge’. At the university level, I collected qualitative data from 128 first-year students in 2009 using focus group methodology. In 2010 an additional sample of 142 first-year students were asked to provide a written description of their first month at university and to draw a picture of how they experienced the transition. The thesis covers much theoretical ground related to higher education and social justice as well as in the specific study area of access. In the access domain I make use of Conley’s multidimensional model of university readiness together with research on effective educational practices that underpins the student engagement literature and instruments. Drawing on the theory and literature, I propose an ideal theoretical capabilities list for the transition to university. Following a detailed presentation of the empirical results structured in two main sections, namely: transition to university experiences and readiness for university; I then make use of the capabilities framework to theorise the transition to university. Taking the well-being of students as the starting point, the capabilities framework for the transition to university asks what the outcome of a successful transition should be. Rather than defining success merely as measurable performance (such as changing enrolment demographics, credits passed in the first-year or progression to the second year of study for example) which does not take student well-being into account; the capabilities framework presented argues that educational resilience should be regarded as the outcome of a successful transition to university. In this context, resilience is defined as follows: • Being able to navigate the transition from school to university within individual life contexts; • Being able to negotiate risk, to persevere academically and to be responsive to educational opportunities and adaptive constraints; and • Having aspirations and hopes for a successful university career. A pragmatic capabilities list and framework for the transition to university is proposed and defended, together with specific recommendations for how this framework could be applied to facilitate the transition to university. The seven capabilities for the transition to university are as follows: 1. Practical reason 2. Knowledge and imagination 3. Learning disposition 4. Social relations and social networks 5. Respect, dignity and recognition 6. Emotional health and reflexivity 7. Language competence and confidence. These seven capabilities encompass the lessons learned from the literature review of university access and the first-year at university, the capabilities literature, and the empirical data within an overarching commitment to social justice and the promotion of the well-being of students. The thesis ends by considering what the UFS could do differently to facilitate the transition as well as what the UFS could do in partnership with schools.
Open Access
Logistical cities in peripheral areas
(University of the Free State, 13-Apr) Pretorius, Marius Pieter; Marais, J. G. L.; Joynt, H.
Afrikaans: Hierdie proefskrif is die eerste Suid-Afrikaanse studie om die konsep van logistieke stede in randgebiede binne die konteks van plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling te verken. Ten spyte daarvan dat die term logistieke stad vryelik gebruik word ter beskrywing van stede soos Dubai, Sjanghai en Zaragoza, waar logistieke aktiwiteite 'n belangrike deel van die ekonomiese grondslag vorm, is die akademiese literatuur oor die onderwerp baie beperk. Die konsep van 'n logistieke stad is vanaf omtrent 2006 en verder as akademiese konsep in Australië ontwikkel. In Suid-Afrika is besluitnemers geneig om die blote bestaan van 'n lughawe - veral die moontlike ontwikkeling daarvan in 'n lugvragspil - as 'n potensiële plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkelingsinisiatiefte beskou. Die studie het voorts aangetoon dat doeltreffende logistieke aktiwiteite 'n belangrike determinant van 'n land se mededingendheid is en dat Suid-Afrika van sy mededingendheid kan verloor vanweë sowel hoë logistieke koste as lae logistieke prestasievlakke. Die studie het ook gewys dat daar in Suid-Afrika in die algemeen 'n gebrek is aan noukeurige logistieke en lugvraginligting en -data, veralop die streeks- en plaaslike vlakke, wat effektiewe en geïntegreerde beplanning verder bemoeilik.
Open Access
Civic culture and local economic development in a small town
(University of the Free State, 13-Feb) Van Rooyen, Deidré; Atkinson, Doreen
Afrikaans: Alhoewel daar reeds verskeie voorbeelde van suksesvolle plaaslike ekonomiese ontwikkeling (PEO) programme en inisiatiewe is, wat armoede en ongelykhede aanspreek in Suid-Afrika, is daar steeds ‘n aantal uitdagings wat nog oorkom moet word. Eerstens, is daar variasies in die definisie van PEO. Alhoewel die kern idee van PEO plaaslike vennootskappe vir liggings beplanning-gebasseer is op ekonomiese groei. Gevolglik, die analise in hierdie tesis gebruik die “P-E-V” model, ‘n kombinasie van die elemente “Plaaslik”, “Ekonomie” en “Vennootskap”. Hierdie model kan moontlik ‘n oplossing bied vir PEO beleid en toepassing om van al hierdie elemente gebruik te maak. Tweedens, PEO strategiee behoort verder te gaan as blootweg die opstel van PEO dokumente. Munisipaliteite moet nouliks skakel met gemeenskappe en die privaat sektor en so voorkeur gee aan ontwikkeling van toepaslike strategiee wat plaaslike potensiaal sal ontsluit. Alhoewel, in Suid-Afrika is vennootskappe nie altyd sentraal in PEO beplanning nie. Verder moet die sensitiewe faktore van samewerking – vertroue en sosiale kapitaal – wat ge-ag word as noodsaaklik vir effektiewe samewerking tussen staat en privaat sektor, opgebou word. Gevolglik moet PEO toepassers baie meer aandag skenk aan sosiale verhoudings en netwerke, wat op hul beurt fundamenteel is in die vorming van plaaslike gemeenskappe. Derdens begin akademies navorsing nou eers om sosiale hulpbronne in te sluit in ekonomiese ontwikkeling se toepassing. Verder het nog net ‘n klein groepie skrywers die konsep van burgelike kultuur in ag geneem by hul analisering van PEO. Plaaslike burgerlike kultuur verwys hoe plaaslike problem gedefinieer word, hoe oplossings gevind word, hoe plaaslike ekonomiese probleme opgelos word, wie is betrokke en hoe besluite geneem word. Internasionale burgerlike kultuur is in konteks gebruik om burgerlike kultuur te klassifiseer in Suid-Afrikaanse terme. Indien ‘n verstandhouding van die plaaslike kultuur van ‘n streek erken word, kan beplanning en ontwikkeling van hierdie streek vereenvoudig word. Beaufort Wes word gebruik as voorbeeld van ‘n tipiese Karoo-dorp, ten einde te verduidelik hoe die tipe burgerlike kultuur wat ‘n gemeenskap het, ‘n invloed op plaaslike ekonomiese groei. Vierdens is daar ‘n gebrek aan navorsing verwant aan die stigting, groei en ontwikkeling van ‘n myndorp. Alhoewel verskeie internasionale myn maatskappye reeds die Karoo rondom Beaufort Wes ge-identifiseer het vir Uraan ontgunning noem beplannings dokumente van die Wes-Kaap Provinsiale Groei en Ontwikkeling Strategiee (PGOS) en ook in die ge-integreerde ontwikkelings planne (GOP) van die Sentrale Karoo Distriks Munisipaliteit en Beaufort Wes Plaaslike Munisipaliteit, geensins die moontlike ekonomiese “wipwaentjie” wat voorlê nie. Die volhoubaarheid van myndorpe (nie-hernubare hulpbron) is nie so belangrik as die ekonomiese ontwikkeling van die pro-aktiewe beplanning (in vernootskappe) van hierdie dorpe nie. Vyfdens help besigheidsvertroue om die sentimente van besigheids-eienaars of bestuurders te verduidelik, teenoor huidige en toekomstige besigheids omstandighede. Verskeie maniere om besigheidsvertroue te meet, word vergelyk. Besigheidsvertroue word meestal gemeet op nasionale vlak. ‘n Metodologie vir besigheidsvertroue gemeet op plaaslike vlak is voorsien. Hierdie benadering is geloods in die dorp van Beaufort Wes in die Karoo-gebied van Suid- Afrika. Daar bestaan planne vir ‘n nuwe uraanmyn naby Beaufort Wes, en die navorser spekuleer op die impak daarvan op die brêer plaaslike besigheidsvertroue. Die uitslae van die 2007 en 2009 studie in terme van die opinies van besigheidsvertroue in Beaufort Wes word vergelyk. Daar is weinig vergelykbare studies in terme van die bogenoemde faktore. Op grond daarvan stel die navorser voor dat hierdie metodologie en modelle ook getoets word op ander dorpe. Dit sal dan beslis of die resultate in ander Karoo dorpe verskil en ook van die res van Suid-Afrika.
Open Access
Returns on initial public offerings (IPOs) on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE): success and failure patterns
(University of the Free State, 13-Jul) Neneh, Brownhilder Ngek; Smit, Van Aardt A.
Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) offer a fresh source of capital that is vital to the growth of the company and provides the company and existing shareholders a liquid market for their shares. An IPO renders investors an opportunity to share in the rewards of the growth of the company. However, empirical evidence indicates that IPOs have a high level of initial underpricing and poor long run performance. The high rate of initial underpricing is detrimental to both the company and existing shareholders since they are not able to attract the much needed capital to either finance their investment projects or to harvest as a means to get out of the business and ideally reap the value (cash flow) from their investment. Also, the long run underperformance of IPO shares hurts the investors, since they do not get an opportunity to earn superior long run returns from their investments. The high rate of initial underpricing and long run underperformance have been accompanied by high failure rates and low success rates of IPOs all around the world. This has resulted in IPO companies earning very poor long run returns, and has led to a loss of confidence from investors and cast a pall on the IPO market. Investors typically have very little information about the companies going public and their behavior in early trading is conditioned by basic information. Because of uncertainty about the value of the company, asymmetric information exists between informed and uninformed investors. This as a result has placed investors in a challenging position, where they find it difficult to get sufficient information that can enable them make informed decisions. Consequently, most uninformed investors end up with a bulk of the least desirable shares, yielding poor long run returns (Asma, 2010:9). Thus, in order for investors to maximise their returns, there is a need to critically improve the IPO selection process. In improving the IPO selection process, several factors and characteristics have been identified to be key determinants for predicting IPO returns, and IPO success and failure, although with contradicting results. Therefore, to encourage stock market investment on the JSE, there is need to critically find out which IPO characteristics can be used to predict IPO returns on the JSE and differentiate between successful and failed IPO companies. The primary objective of this study was to find out which IPO characteristics can be used to predict IPO returns and explain the differences in the success and failure patterns of IPO companies on the JSE. The argument of this study was that there are some IPO characteristics which have been identified to be key determinants for predicting IPO returns, and IPO success and failure. A total of 313 IPO companies listed on the JSE from 1996-2007 were used in this study. Secondary data was obtained from McGregor-BFA database. The statistical analysis used included descriptive statistics, frequencies, cross-tabulation, chi-square, ANOVA, t-test, principal component factor analysis (PCA), correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
Open Access
Universities in regional development: knowledge transfer in a less favoured region
(University of the Free State, 13-Jun) Fongwa, Neba Samuel; Marais, J. G. L.; Atkinson, D.; Cloete, N.
Afrikaans: Hierdie proefskrif is 'n verkennende studie wat daarop gemik is om die teoretiese en empiriese begrip van kennisoordrag van 'n universiteit na die streek waarin dit geleë is, te verbeter. Hierdie studie bou voort op die toenemende klem op die rol van universiteite as 'ontwikkelingswerktuie". Deur die Landbou Fakulteit aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat, Suid-Afrika as gevallestudie te gebruik, het hierdie studie ten doel gehad 'n begrip van die faktore wat kennisoordrag tussen belanghebbendes en akademici in 'n minder begunstigde streek beïnvloed. Sleutelindikatore is in die literatuur geïdentifiseer en met die oog op ondersoek ontwikkel deur middel van die konsep van die leerstreek en op grond van ander empiriese studies. n Kwalitatiewe benadering - aan die hand van semigestruktureerde onderhoude en 'n gedetailleerde oorsig van enkele deurslaggewende beleidsdokumente - is gevolg ten einde data van akademici in die Landbou Fakulteit en van relevante belanghebbendes te bekom. Kwantitatiewe data ten einde die triangulasie van data te fasiliteer en sydigheid te verminder, is verkry by wyse van institusionele data, databasisse aangaande boere en 'n akademiese opname. Die bevindinge van die studie het aan die lig gebring dat die proses van kennisoordrag vanaf die UV deur 'n kombinasie van aanvraag- en voorsieningsfaktore beïnvloed is. Van die voorsieningsfaktore wat voorsiening beïnvloed, sluit in die aard en die geskiedenis van die UV en van die Landbou Fakulteit, toereikende insentiewestrukture, die vlak van beleidsgerigtheid en die verankerdheid van kennisuitsette vanaf die fakulteit. Aanvraagfaktore was onder andere die absorpsievermoë van die streek, die teenwoordigheid van gekoordineerde aanvraagstelsels en die aard van die netwerke tussen belanghebbendes. Die argument wat in hierdie proefskrif voorgehou word, is dat - as gevolg van die institusionele inperking (lock-in) wat in die streek voorkom en wat tot koersafhanklikheid (path dependencys in die landboupraktyk aanleiding gegee het - kennis vanaf die fakulteit nie daarin kon slaag om die potensiaal ten opsigte van streeksontwikkeling te laat realiser nie. Alhoewel daar aanduidings is van netwerke tussen boere en akademici, blyk hierdie netwerkvorme 'verwronge' te wees en tot dusver sterk verankerd te wees in historiese en rassekontoere. Ook is daar weinig aanduidings van 'n behoorlik geïnstitusionaliseerde begrip van betrokkenheid by opkomende boere, met die gevolg dat kennisoordrag steeds koersafhanklik (path dependent) is. Die bevindinge het implikasies vir die UV, vir die fakulteit en vir die streek. Alhoewel die UV volgens eie definisie oor sowel 'n nasionale as 'n internasionale agenda beskik, sal die universiteit sy streeksrol pertinent moet definieer en dan strukture vir aktiewe betrokkenheid moet vestig - nie net in die algemeen nie, maar veral in die landbousektor. Op fakulteitsvlak sal betrokkenheid geherkonseptualiseer moet word, met betrokkenheid wat moet verskuif van On filantropiese etos na Onetos wat deel is van die kernfunksie van onderrig en leer. Op streeksvlak is daar 'n behoefte aan die vestiging van nuwe forums vir die wisselwerking tussen die UV en die verskillende belanghebbendes. Belangriker egter is dat sodanige inisiatiewe op vertroue, sosiale kapitaal en netwerke gegrond moet wees met die oog op kollektiewe voordele.
Open Access
Universities in regional development: knowledge transfer in a less favoured region
(University of the Free State, 13-Jun) Fongwa, Neba Samuel; Marais, J. G. L.; Atkinson, D.; Cloete, N.
Afrikaans: Hierdie proefskrif is ʼn verkennende studie wat daarop gemik is om die teoretiese en empiriese begrip van kennisoordrag van ʼn universiteit na die streek waarin dit geleë is, te verbeter. Hierdie studie bou voort op die toenemende klem op die rol van universiteite as ‘ontwikkelingswerktuie’. Deur die Landbou Fakulteit aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat, Suid-Afrika as gevallestudie te gebruik, het hierdie studie ten doel gehad ʼn begrip van die faktore wat kennisoordrag tussen belanghebbendes en akademici in ʼn minder begunstigde streek beïnvloed. Sleutelindikatore is in die literatuur geïdentifiseer en met die oog op ondersoek ontwikkel deur middel van die konsep van die leerstreek en op grond van ander empiriese studies. ʼn Kwalitatiewe benadering ‒ aan die hand van semigestruktureerde onderhoude en ʼn gedetailleerde oorsig van enkele deurslaggewende beleidsdokumente ‒ is gevolg ten einde data van akademici in die Landbou Fakulteit en van relevante belanghebbendes te bekom. Kwantitatiewe data ten einde die triangulasie van data te fasiliteer en sydigheid te verminder, is verkry by wyse van institusionele data, databasisse aangaande boere en ʼn akademiese opname. Die bevindinge van die studie het aan die lig gebring dat die proses van kennisoordrag vanaf die UV deur ʼn kombinasie van aanvraag- en voorsieningsfaktore beïnvloed is. Van die voorsieningsfaktore wat voorsiening beïnvloed, sluit in die aard en die geskiedenis van die UV en van die Landbou Fakulteit, toereikende insentiewestrukture, die vlak van beleidsgerigtheid en die verankerdheid van kennisuitsette vanaf die fakulteit. Aanvraagfaktore was onder andere die absorpsievermoë van die streek, die teenwoordigheid van gekoördineerde aanvraagstelsels en die aard van die netwerke tussen belanghebbendes. Die argument wat in hierdie proefskrif voorgehou word, is dat ‒ as gevolg van die institusionele inperking (lock-in) wat in die streek voorkom en wat tot koersafhanklikheid (path dependency) in die landboupraktyk aanleiding gegee het ‒ kennis vanaf die fakulteit nie daarin kon slaag om die potensiaal ten opsigte van streeksontwikkeling te laat realiser nie. Alhoewel daar aanduidings is van netwerke tussen boere en akademici, blyk hierdie netwerkvorme ‘verwronge’ te wees en tot dusver sterk verankerd te wees in historiese en rassekontoere. Ook is daar weinig aanduidings van ʼn behoorlik geïnstitusionaliseerde begrip van betrokkenheid by opkomende boere, met die gevolg dat kennisoordrag steeds koersafhanklik (path dependent) is. Die bevindinge het implikasies vir die UV, vir die fakulteit en vir die streek. Alhoewel die UV volgens eie definisie oor sowel ʼn nasionale as ʼn internasionale agenda beskik, sal die universiteit sy streeksrol pertinent moet definieer en dan strukture vir aktiewe betrokkenheid moet vestig ‒ nie net in die algemeen nie, maar veral in die landbousektor. Op fakulteitsvlak sal betrokkenheid geherkonseptualiseer moet word, met betrokkenheid wat moet verskuif van ʼn filantropiese etos na ʼn etos wat deel is van die kernfunksie van onderrig en leer. Op streeksvlak is daar ʼn behoefte aan die vestiging van nuwe forums vir die wisselwerking tussen die UV en die verskillende belanghebbendes. Belangriker egter is dat sodanige inisiatiewe op vertroue, sosiale kapitaal en netwerke gegrond moet wees met die oog op kollektiewe voordele.