scholarly journals A Qualitative Exploration Into The Role Of Organisational Or Institutional Reputation And Integrity In The Theory And Practice Of Public Administration In South Africa: A Drive Towards Creating A Credible, Sustainable And Democratic Public Administration

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
Peter Lebosa Bogopane
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Qualitative Exploration

This manuscript deals with and reports on the qualitative exploration of and analysis into the most pertinent, yet severely ignored concept of “institutional/organisational reputation and integrity” in public administration and management. The study was inspired and motivated by the fact that even though theme plays a significant role in influencing trust and support in our public and private entities alike, very little has been written about the concept. The article commences by providing a general theoretical background to and definition of this theme. It also presents a brief overview on the roles of and the importance this largely neglected concept has in enhancing, consolidating, and improving the position of governance and service delivery of both our public and private entities. More significantly, the author identifies four (4) phases/facets/dimensions that are associated with institutional/organisational reputation and integrity, namely: Performative reputation; Moral reputation; Procedural reputation; and Technical reputation, and uses them as the hallmarks for this qualitative exploratory analysis. Methodologically, the study employs a qualitative phenomenological and empirical research paradigm and design, to understand the functionality and performance of institutional/organisational reputation and integrity within the context of South African public and private entities. Qualitative data collection and gathering methods such as (Participant observation; In-depth interviewing; Document study; and Case study) and qualitative data analysis and interpretation techniques such as (Qualitative Content analysis; and qualitative Case analysis) are used to collect and gather data and to analyse and interpret data respectively. The population of the study is described as comprising of all public and private entities serving the people and doing business in South Africa. A judgmental and/or purposive sampling technique is employed as a way of selecting study participants. Findings will be arrived at, and on their basis, recommendations will be clearly provided and articulated.

scholarly journals KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF SMALL AND MEDIUMSIZED ENTERPRISES: LESSONS FROM TANZANIAN BAKERIES

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-93
Author(s):  
Kafigi Jeje ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
The Right

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises around the globe have for years been struggling to realize competitiveness. Literature proposes knowledge management as one of the drivers of their performance. However, most of these SMEs still face challenges in ascertaining the right knowledge management strategies that would influence their performance and competitiveness. The study seeks to find the contribution of knowledge management strategies on SME performance. It intends to draw lessons from the operations and practices of small and mediumsized bakeries in Tanzania. It has adopted a mixed research methods, and a multi-stage sampling technique and ultimately received responses from 161 questionnaires, and 20 in depth interviews from bakery owners/managers throughout Tanzania. By employing a moderator analysis which is preceded by principal component analysis, and the qualitative content analysis (manifest analysis), the study is able to establish that both the owner/manager’s education, and business experience, moderate the relationship between knowledge management strategies and SME performance. This study’s argument lies in the fact that the knowledge management practices need to be enhanced in order to drive SME competitiveness. The study also argues that the initiatives to enhance these practices need the support of all relevant players in SME development, including the policy development practitioners from both public and private sectors.

Delivering equitable distance library services to off-campus users at the University of the Free State in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lianda Coetzer ◽  
Patrick Mapulanga
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Academic Library ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Free State ◽  
Library Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Satisfaction ◽  
Online Library ◽  
The University

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the perceived satisfaction of Advanced Certificate in Teaching students and facilitators regarding online library services offered by the University of the Free State (UFS) in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative approach with open-ended questions that generated some qualitative data. Data has been presented using descriptive statistics in the form of tables, graphs and charts and thematic content analysis for some qualitative data. Findings All learners in this study were adults between 45 and 55 years of age. Of the respondents, 13% lacked online experience, while about 85% had never used online library services and 35% indicated that Google was their primary source of information. The majority of respondents indicated information literacy as a core function of the academic library. High data cost in South Africa came out as one of the major issues affecting distance learners as well as login and password frustrations. The study confirmed computer anxiety, physical discomfort, information overflow and prompt response as some of the perceived challenges and levels of satisfaction respectively of Advanced Certificate in Teaching students and facilitators regarding online library services offered by the University of the Free State (UFS) in South Africa. Practical implications The study revealed that a distance learning library policy is of the essence because it helps to put in place rules and regulations that guide the delivery of distance library services. Originality/value The offering of online and distance library services is a fairly new concept to the UFS library. This study bridges the gap between theory and practice regarding the perceived satisfaction of distance users on online library services and how to improve the current practice.

scholarly journals Corporate reputation through strategic communication of corporate social responsibility

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oyindamola Abiola Ajayi ◽  
Tsietsi Mmutle
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Corporate Reputation ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Csr Communication ◽  
Corporate Social

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how the communication of corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributes towards a favourable corporate reputation. It explores the communication strategies and channels organisations deemed reputable by stakeholders use to achieve an effective CSR communication.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this, a qualitative content analysis using the directed approach was conducted on the textual CSR communication materials of ten reputable organisations in South Africa based on the 2018 South Africa Reptrak survey.FindingsResult showed that seven out of ten organisations use both self-serving and society-serving motive in their CSR communication, while the other 3 use only the society serving motive. The informing strategy was also more evident in the CSR communication materials than the interactive strategy. In terms of the communication channels, the study found that organisations mainly utilise controlled channels for CSR communication.Originality/valueThe literature reviewed and the findings of this study reveal a gap between the theory and practice of CSR communication. This drives the need for organisations to research and tailor CSR communication based on stakeholders' unique characteristics and preferences. The paper also contributes to improving the knowledge on the role different CSR communication strategies and channels play in CSR communication.

scholarly journals Long-term Digital Preservation in E-government — a Case of Slovenia

Organizacija ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitja Dečman
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Digital Preservation ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The World ◽  
Information And Communication

Long-term Digital Preservation in E-government — a Case of SloveniaThe use of information and communication technology and its widespread presence cause a vast amount of data to be created in the public and private sectors every day. The widespread presence of e-government sites, services and communication in the developed world add even more data. This digital data does not only represent the accountability and reliability of the processes, steps and decisions taken by organisations, but also a source of information for future generations. This paper discusses the issue of long-term digital preservation with a special focus on long-term digital preservation in public administration. It analyses problematic issues, current development trends in this area, and principles and solutions that can be found around the world. The paper focuses on Slovenia as one of the EU countries that has most effectively developed its e-government during the last decade. It analyses the situation in Slovenia through legal, organisational and other changes that have appeared over the last few years, and considers this as a model for possible long-term digital preservation. To describe the situation for digital preservation in Slovenian public administration, the results of empirical research made in 2007 are used. The paper uses theoretical background from the field of digital preservation and empirical results to show the important link between e-business, e-government, e-governance and digital preservation. It demonstrates that since Slovenian public administration has strictly specified business processes, the task of implementing digital preservation is much easier. The same concepts can be transferred to the private sector in Slovenia or anywhere else in the world.

scholarly journals Qualitative Research without money: Experiences with a home-grown Qualitative Content Analysis tool

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy Bytheway
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Great Difficulty ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Research Students

Experience with young research students in South Africa, most of whom have few or no resources and are not supported by research infrastructure by their universities, shows that they have great difficulty in learning the techniques of qualitative research.  Beginning as a simple idea, the development of an ad-hoc package intended to assist with the coding and categorisation of qualitative data led to a useful suite of facilities that contributed to at least four projects, one of which had the texts of 52 interviews to work with.  It proved possible to import, structure and organise the research data in a way that then permitted useful export of charts, tables and text into papers and theses.  With appropriate skills, researchers also found it possible to apply their own SQL queries to data that was now well structured and fully normalised (in terms of database design).  Comparison with two commercial packages shows that many of the proclaimed features of the commercial packages were replicated, and in at least one instance they seem to have been exceeded.

Hepatitis B and C Patients’ Information Seeking at a Selected Tertiary Health Institution in South Africa

Mousaion ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
IREWOLE DORCAS IBINAIYE ◽  
Prof. Glenrose Vileli Jiyane
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Comprehensive Model ◽  
Health Institution ◽  
Development Platform ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour

Much has been reported about information-seeking behaviour in health contexts, specifically related to chronic diseases, however, little is known about the methods and purpose of information seeking regarding hepatitis B and C patients, given the epidemic nature of the disease. This article aims to examine information-seeking behaviour of hepatitis B and C patients using a comprehensive model of information seeking at a tertiary health institution in South Africa. A qualitative research design was used for this article. Nine patients were recruited for an interview at the Ngwelezane district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal using a convenient sampling technique at a 95 per cent confidence interval rate to collect qualitative data. The qualitative data were descriptively analysed using the “ggplot2” package of R-software and a bivariate correlational chart, generated using grid and lattice packages incorporated in the R-development platform. The majority of the participants preferred seeking information directly from health professionals about their health challenges, whereas others preferred watching television programmes on health, and reading up on hepatitis-related information regarding getting better treatment, staying safe, getting informed and increasing their chances of survival. The comprehensive model of information seeking was applied to hepatitis B and C participants’ information seeking by investigating the frequency of their information seeking, their methods of information seeking, and their purpose of information seeking. This study provides insight into the preferred methods of information seeking by the participants to enable them to make informed decisions and to achieve better outcomes.

scholarly journals Participatory Democracy in Theory and Practice: A Case Study of Local Government in South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Ntsikelelo Breakfast ◽  
Itumeleng Mekoa ◽  
Nondumiso Maphazi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
The Political ◽  
Local Government Level ◽  
Political Spectrum ◽  
Scholarly Contribution ◽  
Government Level

The idea of democracy is a curious oneand puzzling. There is reason for this;everyone talks about democracy no matter whether their views are on the left, centreor right of the political spectrum. Various politicians, regimes, whether in Africa, Europe or America claim to be democratic;yet what each says and does is usuallydifferent. Democracy as a practice is supposed to bestow rules, laws and decisions that are justifiable on democraticgrounds. Democracy also has evolved through social struggles. This article examines the practice of democracy withinthe context of local government in South Africa, and is an attempt to explore the concept of democracy without escaping other historical aspects of the idea and practice. From a methodological standpoint, this article is based on a literature assessment. Lastly and most importantly, this paper has made a scholarly contribution to the scholarship of Political Science and Public Administration with regard to the nexus between democracy and public participation at local government level in South Africa.

The theoretical background for the effective development of beef raising

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1738-1749
Author(s):  
N.L. Titov ◽  
M.M. Nizamutdinov ◽  
G.S. Klychova
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Cattle Breeding ◽  
Cattle Industry ◽  
Effective Development ◽  
Cattle Husbandry

Subject. This article explores the theoretical basis of the economic efficiency of production and classifies the performance figures of beef cattle husbandry. Objectives. The article aims to define a system of indicators of beef cattle husbandry economic efficiency. Methods. For the study, we used a comparative analysis. Conclusions and Relevance. To assess the economic efficiency of agriculture production, it is necessary to use a set of indicators by beef cattle breeding sub-sector. The system of economic performance indicators of production needs to be transformed into a summarizing indicator. The results of the study can be applied in the theory and practice of determining the economic efficiency of the beef cattle industry.

Heteronormativity and Developing Masculinities at a Primary School in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luckmore Chimanzi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Social Bonds ◽  
Male Identity ◽  
Social Unit ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Diary Research

This article explores the development of heteronormativity and the construction of masculinities at a township primary school in South Africa. In this study, boys and girls chastise homosexuality yet maintain their male-to-male and female-to-female social bonds. Homosocial or male-to-male social bonds have a bearing on the construction of male identity. It is argued that homosocial relationships serve as a means through which certain boys negotiate and exhibit their masculinity in a process of identity formation in which heterosexuality is a key component. Qualitative data from focus groups and diary research with Grade 7 students (male and female) in a primary school are used. Boys engage in a number of games and acquire resources for themselves; hence, as a social unit, they portray themselves as heteronormative. Their solidarity plays a role in maintaining their power in relationships even though privately some of them expressed preference for more flexible constructions of masculinity.

UN-BLURRING THE MYTHS AND REALITIES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-120
Author(s):  
T N Sithole ◽  
Kgothatso B Shai
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Great Awareness ◽  
Policy Theory ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
The Status ◽  
Customary Practices

Awareness of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW 1979) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC 1989) is relatively high within academic and political circles in South Africa and elsewhere around the world. In South Africa, this can be ascribed mainly to the powerful women’s lobby movements represented in government and academic sectors. Women and children’s issues have been especially highlighted in South Africa over the last few years. In this process, the aforementioned two international human rights instruments have proved very useful. There is a gender desk in each national department. The Office on the Status of Women and the Office on Child Rights have been established within the Office of the President, indicating the importance attached to these institutions. These offices are responsible for co-ordinating governmental efforts towards the promotion and protection of women and children’s rights respectively, including the two relevant treaties. Furthermore, there is also a great awareness amongst non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in respect of CEDAW and CRC. This can be ascribed mainly to the fact that there is a very strong women’s NGO lobby and NGOs are actively committed to the promotion of children’s rights. Women are increasingly vocal and active within the politics of South Africa, but the weight of customary practices remains heavy. The foregoing is evident of the widening gap between policy theory and practice in the fraternity of vulnerable groups – children and women in particular.

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