Rethinking organizational learning using theory U: an ontological approach to strategic leadership.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This research study embarked on an in-depth inquiry into the strategic thinking of organizations. The study endeavoured on understanding the different ways in which organizations change. This understanding brought to the fore two fundamental contributors that influenced organizational learning. The way organizations think affect the way they strategize. The ever more challenging and rapidly evolving economic environment in South Africa has put pressure on organizations to look for ingenious ways to survive .The current discourses has reified organizations, regarding them as mechanistic organisms with agency of their own. It is against this backdrop that the research adopted the “Theory U” framework. This theory considered the future as it emerged to address the organizational tussles and challenges during strategic planning and organizational learning .Theory U provided an analytical framework for individuals within organizations. It can be applied as part of a strategic planning process and it forces organizations to learn by appraising both their internal and external situations from an emerged future perspective. This would result in overall competitive advantages. Strategic leaders in organizations are struggling to formulate effective strategies that match the ever-changing business environment. This has affected their ability to execute their duties effectively, which subsequently affected organizational performance. Organizations are struggling to learn and analyse their current macro-environments. The research explored the available strategic thinking methods as revealed in the foremost discourse on organizations. Organizational learning received attention, using an ontological perspective .The phenomenon is studied from a positivist pragmatic perspective, which holds that an investigator can acquire various forms of knowledge and from a theoretical perspective. The research population consisted of organizations in the South African context and the inquiry focused on their micro- and macro-contexts. The questions were asked from a strategic leadership. The research instrument views organizations as systems, organisms, brains, cultures, psychic prisons, and transformers. Most organizations already show the components and attributes of a learning organization. The research aimed to examine the feasibility of adopting and implementing the organization learning approach to achieve organizational change and transformation

A transaction cost analysis of the fruit supply chain in South Africa : a case study approach

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The agro-food sector is swiftly moving towards an internationally interconnected system with a large variety of complex relationships, due to year-round supply, product differentiation and developments in information technologies, with the aim of enhancing competitiveness. In this context, vertical linking in the agro-food business especially, vertical coordination has gained attention. A case study approach is used to analyse two fruit supply chains -the table grape and citrus fruit chain. The study uses a transaction cost approach to analyse the supply chain of the fruit industry in South Africa. Transaction cost analysis (TCA) represents one possible approach to understanding and evaluating supply chain management and has the potential to be combined in an interdisciplinary setting with the insights provided by the marketing, logistics and organisational behaviour literatures. By means of literature study, constructs are identified that help explain the choices made, with regard to governance structures and the sources of competitiveness of supply chains. The question of governance structures is addressed in transaction cost economics (TCE) where asset specificity is of major importance. The sources of competitiveness are addressed both in the literature study and from discussions undertaken with key industry representatives. The empirical application of the TCE theory helped demonstrate the extent to which the exporter has adapted to changes in the global environment. The study revealed that for both supply chains, the role-players overcompensate to minimise their risk. Hence vertical integration rather than outsourcing takes precedence. Bilateral contracting and strategic alliances should be given priority to enhance effective communication, commitment and collective decision-making. This growing recognition of the competitive advantage that can be gained through improving coordination in the supply chain is the starting point for SCM initiatives and, these are important signals that in the long run will determine the sustainability and competitiveness of the industry.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die landbou-voedsel sektor is vinnig besig om na 'n internasionale interafhanklike stelsel met 'n groat verskeidenheid van ingewikkelde verhoudings te beweeg, as gevolg van heel-jaar aanbod, produk differensiasie en ontwikkeling in tegnologie, met die doel om meer mededingend te wees. In hierdie konteks geniet vertikale skakelinge in die landbou-voedsel bedryf, en veral vertikale koordinasie, baie aandag. 'n Gevalle studie benadering is gevolg om twee vrugte waardekettings te analiseer -die tafeldruiwe en sitrus ketting. Die studie maak gebruik van 'n transaksie koste benadering om die waardeketting van die Suid-Afrikaanse vrugte bedryf te analiseer. Transaksie koste analiese (TKA) verteenwoordig een moontlike benadering om waardekettingbestuur te verstaan en te evalueer. Dit het oak die potensiaal om gekombineer te word in 'n interdissiplinere omgewing met insigte wat deur bemarking, logistiek en organisatoriese gedrags literatuur verskaf word. Konstruksies is met behulp van literatuur studies ge"identifiseer wat help om die keuses wat gemaak is met betrekking tot bestuurstrukture en die bran van mededingendheid van waardekettings. Die kwessie van bestuurstrukture word aangespreek deur transaksie koste ekonomie (TKE) waarin bate-spesifiekheid van groat belang is. Die bran van mededingendheid is aangespreek deur beide literatuur te bestudeer en deur besprekings met sleutel-figure in die bedryf. Die empiriese toepassing van die TKE teorie help om die mate waarin die uitvoerder aangepas het tot veranderinge in die globale omgewing aan te toon. Die studie bewys dat firmas in beide waardekettings oorkompenseer vir transaksie koste deur vertikale integrasie in plaas van kontrakte. Bilaterale kontrakterings en strategiese vennootskappe moet prioriteit geniet om effektiewe kommunikasie, verpligtinge en kollektiewe besluitneming te verbeter. Die groeiende erkenning wat gegee word aan mededingende voordeel wat gewen kan word deur koordinasie in die waardeketting te verbeter is die begin punt vir ketting initiatiewe en, dit is belangrike seine wat die volhoubaarheid en mededingendheid van die bedryf in die lang termyn sal bepaal

Design of an Intervention to Minimize Ingestion of Fecal Microbes by Young Children in Rural Zimbabwe.

We sought to develop a water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) intervention to minimize fecal-oral transmission among children aged 0-18 months in the Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial. We undertook 4 phases of formative research, comprising in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, behavior trials, and a combination of observations and microbiological sampling methods. The resulting WASH intervention comprises material inputs and behavior change communication to promote stool disposal, handwashing with soap, water treatment, protected exploratory play, and hygienic infant feeding. Nurture and disgust were found to be key motivators, and are used as emotional triggers. The concept of a safe play space for young children was particularly novel, and families were eager to implement this after learning about the risks of unprotected exploratory play. An iterative process of formative research was essential to create a sequenced and integrated longitudinal intervention for a SHINE household as it expects (during pregnancy) and then cares for a new child

Production, chemical characterization, and sensory profile of a novel spirit elaborated from spent coffee ground

This study describes a process for the production of a spirit from spent coffee ground (SCG), the chemical composition, and sensory profile of this distillate. The process consisted in three steps starting with the extraction of aroma compounds by hydrothermal treatment of SCG, followed by the fermentation of this extract supplemented with sucrose to ethanol, and the fermented broth distillation. Seventeen volatile compounds were identified in the distillate (including alcohols, esters, aldehydes, and acids), all of them in concentrations able to promote pleasant characteristics to the product. Based on the chemical composition, \SCG\ spirit was considered as having organoleptic quality acceptable for human consumption. Twelve descriptors defined the sensory characteristics of this product, including clarity and brilliance (visual analysis), coffee, roasted, alcohol, elegance and frankly (olfactory analysis), bitter, astringent and pungent (gustatory analysis), and finesse (olfactory and gustatory analyses). Coffee was the most representative aroma by olfactory analysis. Based on the sensory analysis, \SCG\ spirit was considered as having features of a pleasant beverage, with smell and taste of coffee

Independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene, and improved complementary feeding, on child stunting and anaemia in rural Zimbabwe: a cluster-randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Child stunting reduces survival and impairs neurodevelopment. We tested the independent and combined effects of improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and improved infant and young child feeding (IYCF) on stunting and anaemia in in Zimbabwe. METHODS: We did a cluster-randomised, community-based, 2 × 2 factorial trial in two rural districts in Zimbabwe. Clusters were defined as the catchment area of between one and four village health workers employed by the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care. Women were eligible for inclusion if they permanently lived in clusters and were confirmed pregnant. Clusters were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to standard of care (52 clusters), IYCF (20 g of a small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplement per day from age 6 to 18 months plus complementary feeding counselling; 53 clusters), WASH (construction of a ventilated improved pit latrine, provision of two handwashing stations, liquid soap, chlorine, and play space plus hygiene counselling; 53 clusters), or IYCF plus WASH (53 clusters). A constrained randomisation technique was used to achieve balance across the groups for 14 variables related to geography, demography, water access, and community-level sanitation coverage. Masking of participants and fieldworkers was not possible. The primary outcomes were infant length-for-age Z score and haemoglobin concentrations at 18 months of age among children born to mothers who were HIV negative during pregnancy. These outcomes were analysed in the intention-to-treat population. We estimated the effects of the interventions by comparing the two IYCF groups with the two non-IYCF groups and the two WASH groups with the two non-WASH groups, except for outcomes that had an important statistical interaction between the interventions. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01824940. FINDINGS: Between Nov 22, 2012, and March 27, 2015, 5280 pregnant women were enrolled from 211 clusters. 3686 children born to HIV-negative mothers were assessed at age 18 months (884 in the standard of care group from 52 clusters, 893 in the IYCF group from 53 clusters, 918 in the WASH group from 53 clusters, and 991 in the IYCF plus WASH group from 51 clusters). In the IYCF intervention groups, the mean length-for-age Z score was 0·16 (95% CI 0·08-0·23) higher and the mean haemoglobin concentration was 2·03 g/L (1·28-2·79) higher than those in the non-IYCF intervention groups. The IYCF intervention reduced the number of stunted children from 620 (35%) of 1792 to 514 (27%) of 1879, and the number of children with anaemia from 245 (13·9%) of 1759 to 193 (10·5%) of 1845. The WASH intervention had no effect on either primary outcome. Neither intervention reduced the prevalence of diarrhoea at 12 or 18 months. No trial-related serious adverse events, and only three trial-related adverse events, were reported. INTERPRETATION: Household-level elementary WASH interventions implemented in rural areas in low-income countries are unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia and might not reduce diarrhoea. Implementation of these WASH interventions in combination with IYCF interventions is unlikely to reduce stunting or anaemia more than implementation of IYCF alone. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Department for International Development, Wellcome Trust, Swiss Development Cooperation, UNICEF, and US National Institutes of Health.The SHINE trial is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1021542 and OPP113707); UK Department for International Development; Wellcome Trust, UK (093768/Z/10/Z, 108065/Z/15/Z and 203905/Z/16/Z); Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation; US National Institutes of Health (2R01HD060338-06); and UNICEF (PCA-2017-0002)

BRICS: South Africa's way ahead?

Please help populate SUNScholar with the full text of SU research output. Also - should you need this item urgently, please snd us the details and we will try to get hold of the full text as quick possible. E-mail to [email protected]. Thank you.AgriwetenskappeLandbou-Ekonomi

Optimization of fermentation processes for the production of indigenous fruit wines (Marula)

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The importance of indigenous fruit wines is not well researched and documented. There is a need to develop and exploit these valuable food resources through improved production practices, storage, preservation and utilization technologies. The maruia fruit is beneficial in many ways, it can be used for making juice, jam, beer or can be eaten as a whole fruit. The highly nutritive nature of the fruit, its distinctive tropical flavor, its wild occurrence and demand by the local and international communities for the by-products of the fruit necessitated efforts to optimize the technological processes for the production of the possible by-products. This study focuses on the fermentation technology of the maruia fruit. The effect of enzymes prior to the fermentation process and post-fermentation was evaluated. For pre-fermentation processes we focused on the ability of commercial enzymes to increase juice yield, improve the clarification and filterability. For pre- and post-fermentation applications, aroma release was considered. The results indicated a significant increase in the yield depending on the enzyme used. An increase of at least 2% was recorded and a maximum of 12% yield increase was observed. The enzymes also had a phenomenal effect on the release of bound monoterpenes and hence enhancing the flavor of the juice. The panel of judges confirmed the results from the gas chromatography analyses by noting an increase in flavor intensity in the enzyme treated juice. The possibility of selecting a yeast strain that performs best during the fermentation of maruia pulp was also looked at. This study aimed at selecting a strain that produces wine and distillate with the typical maruia flavor complex. We showed the effect of the different yeast strains, in the wines and distillates, on the principal volatile compounds. We then correlated the performance of the different strains as perceived by the panel to the various volatile compounds. The effect of fermentation temperature on the performance of the different yeast strains was also considered. Fermenting the maruia pulp at different temperatures resulted in the production of wines and distillates with different volatile profiles for the different yeast strains. The wines and distillates fermented at a low temperature of 15°C were preferred to the wines and distillates fermented at 30°C. However, not all strains performed well at 15°C, strains like NT116 performed better at 30°C. The different commercial strains produced wines and distillates with significantly different flavor profiles. These differences in the flavor profiles were reflected in the sensory evaluation where, depending on the interaction of the volatile compounds some wines and distillates were preferred to others. The effect of the different commercial enzymes and yeast strains should thereof be further evaluated and optimized on a larger scale. This would greatly help prevent variation in quality of the fermented by-products of the maruia fruit.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die belang van inheemse vrugtewyne is nie goed nagevors en gedokumenteer nie. Daar is 'n behoefte om hierdie waardevolle voedselbronne te ontwikkel en te benut, deur verbeterde produksiepraktyke, storing, preservering en benuttingstegnologieë. Die maroelavrug is veelsydig op baie wyses, deurdat dit gebruik word vir die maak van sap, konfyt, bier, of as heel vrug geëet kan word. Die vrug is hoog in voedingswaarde, het In kenmerkende tropiese geur, kom wild voor, en is in aanvraag by plaaslike en internasionale gemeenskappe vir die by-produkte van die vrug. Dit maak dit essensieel om die tegnologiese prosesse vir die produksie van hierdie moontlike by-produkte te optimiseer. Hierdie studie fokus op die fermentasie-tegnologie van die maroelavrug. Die effek van ensieme voor en na die fermentasie-proses is geëvalueer. Vir prosesse wat voor fermentasie plaasvind, het ons gefokus op die vermoë van kommersiële ensieme om sapopbrengs te verhoog, asook om verheldering en filtrering te verbeter. Vir beide voor- en na-fermentasie toepassings is die vrystelling van aroma gemonitor. Die resultate dui op 'n betekenisvolle verhoging in die sapopbrengs, afhangende van die ensiem wat gebruik is. 'n Verhoging van ten minste 2% is opgeteken, en 'n maksimum van 12% opbrengsverhoging is waargeneem. Die ensieme het ook 'n geweldige effek op die vrystelling van gebonde monoterpene gehad, en dus die verhoging in die geur van die sap. Die proepaneel het die resultate bevestig van die gaschromatografie-analises, deur 'n verhoging in die geurintensiteit in die ensiembehandelde sap te bemerk. Daar is ook gekyk na die moontlikheid om 'n gisras te selekteer wat die beste presteer tydens die fermentasie van maroela-pulp. Hierdie studie het die doelstelling gehad om In gisras te selekteer wat wyn en distillaat produseer met In tipiese maroelageurkompleks. Ons het die effek van verskillende gisrasse aangedui in die wyne en distillate, op grond van van vlugtige komponente. Ons het dan die prestasie van die verskillende rasse, soos waargeneem deur die paneel, gekorrelleer met die verskeie vlugtige komponente. Die effek van fermentasie-temperatuur op die werkverrigting van die verskillende gisrasse is ook in ag geneem. Fermentasie van die maroela-pulp by verskillende temperature het gelei tot die produksie van wyne en distillate met verskillende vlugtige profiele vir die verskillende gisrasse. Die wyne en distillate wat by In laer temperatuur van 15°C gefermenteer is, is verkies bo die wyne en distillate wat by 30°C gefermenteer is. Alle rasse het egter nie baie goed presteer by 15°C nie, soos byvoorbeeld NT116 wat beter presteer het by 30°C. Die verskillende kommersiële rasse het wyne en distillate geproduseer met betekenisvol verskillende geurprofiele. Hierdie verskille in geurprofiele is gereflekteer in die sensoriese evaluering waar, afhangende van die interaksie van die vlugtige komponente, sommige wyne en distillate bo ander verkies is. Die effek van die verskillende kommersiële ensieme en gisrasse moet verkieslik verder op groter skaal geëvalueer en geoptimiseer word. Dit sal veral help om variasie in kwaliteit van die gefermenteerde by-produkte van die maroelavrug te voorkom

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT PATHWAYS OF COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTIONS ON CHILD FEEDING AND HYGIENE BEHAVIORS IN RURAL ZIMBABWE

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT PATHWAYS OF COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTIONS ON CHILD FEEDING AND HYGIENE BEHAVIORS IN RURAL ZIMBABWE Dadirai Fundira, Ph.D Cornell University 2019 Undernutrition remains prevalent in low- and middle-income countries and is an important indirect cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. Poor dietary intake and infection have been identified as the immediate causes of undernutrition in children. Evidence for efficacious interventions to improve dietary intake has been developed but their impact depends on the context in which they are implemented. Although ingestion of fecal microbes has been linked with infection, interventions to address this in children are limited and the available interventions do not address important pathways for fecal-oral contamination in children. This dissertation comprises of three studies with an overall aim of assessing the impact of complementary feeding (CF) and water sanitation hygiene (WASH) interventions on maternal caregiving behaviors in rural Zimbabwe. A CF feeding intervention that used behavior-change communication (BCC) to promote timely and adequate complementary feeding and provided a small-quantity, lipid-nutrient supplement (SQLNS) was evaluated using in-depth, multi-pass assessment of nutrient intake. We found that the CF intervention improved macro- and -micronutrient intake and increased the prevalence of children who consumed an adequate diet. We used rigorous baby-observation methods to evaluate the impact of a comprehensive WASH intervention targeting fecal-oral contamination pathways in children less than 24 months old on key hygiene behaviors. We found that the WASH interventions reduced but did not eliminate exposure to vectors of fecal-oral microbial transmission in children. We also investigated the emic perspectives on women’s experiences with the different interventions and used ethnographic methods to identify facilitators and barriers to intervention uptake. This exploration revealed that caregiving decisions and intervention uptake are influenced by multiple factors. These factors included aspects of the caregiving environment, maternal capabilities, the intervention messages, and the person who delivered the intervention. Our results suggested that the perceived benefits of interventions on child health were the most important factor that drove women’s caregiving decisions. This dissertation used in-depth methods to evaluate child care interventions and provide comprehensive information on if, what, how and why interventions worked in the context of rural Zimbabwe. The results of this research show interventions that can be adapted and scaled up to improve caregiving behaviors around infant feeding and hygiene in rural communities