Work experience and evidence of entrepreneurial orientation of South Africa professionals

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation Johannesburg, 2018This research explores how work experience influences entrepreneurial behaviour in professionals. The study is mainly focused on engineering and commerce professionals who are employed in various sectors in South Africa. The research is inspired by the observable low total early-stage entrepreneurial activity and employee entrepreneurial activity rates in South Africa, despite empirical research showing that entrepreneurship increases economic growth and company performance in both financial and non-financial terms. This research conceptualises entrepreneurial behaviour in terms of an entrepreneurial orientation which is a combination of three sub-dimensions: innovativeness, proactiveness and a risk-taking propensity. An index is used to measure the individual’s entrepreneurial orientation. Work experience is characterised by a specialist career path (depth of experience), a generalist career path (breadth of experience), and job design. The specialist path refers to accumulated work experience within a domain where individuals become experts. The generalist path relates to accrued work experience across different fields where individuals become generalists. Job design is the structure and configuration of jobs in the workplace. The research is exploratory. The data was collected using a survey questionnaire. Eighteen professional disciplines across thirteen industries were sampled. The study achieved 202 valid responses, 61% being male and 39% female. All racial groups in South Africa were sampled. The findings reveal that the entrepreneurial orientation index is highest and lowest in the 18-24 and 55-64 age groups respectively. The male and female indices were comparable, with females showing a slightly higher index than males. Legal practitioners had the highest entrepreneurial orientation index compared to other professions. General managers showed the lowest index compared to other professional functions. Concerning hypotheses, the results find a negative correlation between the depth of experience in industry and individual entrepreneurial orientation. There was also a negative correlation iii between the depth of experience in a function and individual entrepreneurial orientation. There was no statistically significant relationship between broad experience in industry or function and individual entrepreneurial orientation. Concerning work experience, the variance of individual entrepreneurial orientation is largely explained by job design. The job functions that offer strategic and structural autonomy and those which allow employees to engage in a variety of tasks using a variety of skills are positively correlated to individual entrepreneurial orientation. The research has theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, it reveals that work experience has an influence on the individual’s entrepreneurial orientation. The individual’s entrepreneurial orientation is studied in a developing country context using the measures that are derived from the original EO scale. This provides further academic insights in individual EO research. Practically, the research provides insight on the aspects of work experience that foster an entrepreneurial posture on the organisation’s human resource.GR201

Designing a low cost passively Q-switched solid state laser transmitter

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty Of Science in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science by research only in the School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. July 11, 2017.A discrete Q-switched laser that gives a side-lobed single pulse as a laser output was implemented; followed by studying energy extraction e ciencies and pulse characterisation. The aim was to help design a passively Q-switched laser that gives a smooth single pulse of optimum energy as a laser output. The smoothness feature in a single pulse is important in some applications such as range nding. The concepts are demonstrated both experimentally and numerically; the latter using Fox-Li approach to modeling resonator modes with the Fresnel's integral for the system under study. In the rst two chapters, fundamentals of how a laser works and the spatial mode development are studied. In chapter 1, the principles of a laser are discussed: absorption, spontaneous and stimulated emission. Also, di erent types of pumping sources and resonator con gurations that can be used are discussed. In chapter 2, the focus is on developing spatial modes of a laser. The fundamental and high order modes are discussed together with their propagation laws. Then a numerical method is used to nd the eigenmodes of an arbitrary resonator con guration. This numerical method is used to simulate propagation of a fundamental mode and the simulation results are compared to analytical propagation laws. Then, this numerical method is used to simulate a laser resonator. The eigenmode of the lowest loss in the resonator was found. In chapters 3 and 4, experimental work is done on a Q-switched laser where the focus is on the overall laser performance. In chapter 3, Q-switched laser output energies are studied for di erent combinations of Q-switch transmission values and output coupler re ectivities. In addition, the in uence of spatial modes on a Q-switched pulse shape and pulse width are studied, taking into account beam divergence. In chapter 4, conclusions and future work are presented. In future work, the knowledge of spatial mode in uence on pulse shape, pulse width and beam divergence from chapter 3 is exploited. Then particular resonator con guration that gives optimised output results (Q-switched laser output energy, beam divergence, pulse shape and pulse width) is chosen. On that particular resonator, di erent Q-switch transmission values are studied, but now looking only at beam divergence and pulse width. Also, some suggestions on further improving laser performance are given.LG201

University of KwaZulu-Natal’s students’ perceptions and perspectives on bilingual instruction at the institution.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Theories regarding the role of language in education state that if a student is taught in a language they do not understand adequately, they will find it difficult or impossible to understand the meaning of academic content. The democratic government suggests that the current nationally official languages of tuition continue to be some of the main barriers to epistemological access for black South African students in public institutions of higher education. In an effort to reform this, they have recommended that these institutions include at least one major provincial indigenous South African language in their institutional language policies and make concentrated efforts to further develop that language as an official language of academia. There have been both celebratory and disapproving reactions to these recommendations from different stakeholders, including tertiary students. The University of KwaZulu-Natal is one of the very few institutions who have heeded the call by including isiZulu in their language policy. In order to explore this university’s Black African students’ perspectives and perceptions of bilingual instruction at their institution, this study held individual open-ended interviews with fourteen purposefully selected students at the Edgewood and Pietermaritzburg campuses. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the interview transcriptions. All the participants’ perspectives on bilingual instruction appeared to be intertwined with their perceptions of language use and esteem in wider social and economic contexts. The students from Edgewood had been undertaking an Honours degree that was officially making use of bilingual instruction. Their perspectives were only positive, and they spoke comprehensively about the pedagogical benefits they had perceived in their experiences. The Pietermaritzburg students had no experience with bilingual instruction at the institution. While some of them disapproved this inclusion of isiZulu, some expressed support, but they stated that this inclusion should be limited to the lower phases of study as a remedial means to improve students’ proficiency in English

The influence of ideology on black African students’ perceptions of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s bilingual policy

The authors’ chosen theoretical framework posits that how black students perceive bilingual instruction in higher education is largely influenced by the various ideological perspectives they have been socialised into in different contexts where African languages are used but also continue to be diminished for different objectives. Through individual interviews, the study explored which ideological frameworks participants drew on when discussing their general perspectives, as well as perceived benefits and challenges of bilingual instruction at UKZN. They were also asked what their recommendations for the policy’s implementation process were. The students who had experienced bilingual instruction explained how they started understanding the content of their studies as well as the meaning of previously difficult English concepts better. Students who had not experienced bilingual instruction mainly discussed that they think the use of isiZulu could facilitate better understanding only for students who struggle to understand English. However, they warned that an extended use of isiZulu would hinder upward socioeconomic mobility for graduates who struggle to communicate in English. In light of the study’s findings and the conflicting ideologies shared in South Africa, the authors recommend that when planning their respective implementation processes for bi/multilingual instruction for higher education, national and institutional policymakers should consider students’ various ways of perceiving different languages’ levels of use and esteem and how this could influence their different objectives

Association between high body mass index and adverse birth outcomes by HIV and ART status in Cape Town, South Africa

Background: Tested independently, studies report that obesity and HIV infection and/or ART use in pregnancy are associated with adverse birth outcomes. However, there is limited data on the combined impact of these maternal factors on adverse birth outcomes. Given the high prevalence of obesity and HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), understanding these associations is important. This study examined the association of the double burden of high maternal body mass index and HIV infection/ART use in pregnancy with adverse birth outcomes. Methods: Part A of this mini-dissertation presents the study protocol which outlines the rationale, aim and objectives of the study; the research methodology, analysis plan and ethical considerations. Part B is the literature review of studies conducted in SSA which investigated the relationship between BMI and HIV infection and adverse birth outcomes of interest. Part C is the journal-formatted manuscript which presents the results and discussion of the study findings in relation to other scholars. The referencing style used for the whole thesis is Vancouver as required by the journal chosen for the formatting of the manuscript. We used data collected from a large observational Prematurity Study that enrolled HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women seeking antenatal care at Gugulethu MOU in Cape Town between April 2015 and October 2016. A subset of HIV-infected women who booked early (≤24weeks) was prospectively followed through delivery and was used to study gestational weight gain (GWG) and adverse birth outcomes. Data was obtained from review of medical records and study questionnaires. Logistic regression was used to compare birth outcomes by BMI status: preterm delivery (PTD), low/high birthweight (LBW/HBW) and small/large gestational age (SGA/LGA) between HIV-uninfected and -infected women; and between HIV-infected women who initiated ART before pregnancy and those who initiated ART during pregnancy. Using the subset of HIV-infected women who booked early (≤24weeks), we compared the adverse birth outcomes between low, adequate and high GWG. Results: Of the 2779 participants included in the analysis, 20% had normal BMI, 29% were overweight, 51% were obese and 39% were HIV-infected. Overall, there was no association between obese BMI and PTD (aOR 1.06, 95% CI 0.75-1.49). Instead, obese BMI was negatively associated with LBW (aOR 0.53; CI: 0.39-0.72) and SGA infants (aOR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41-0.75) compared to normal BMI women. Stratifying by HIV infection showed similar results for LBW (aOR 0.54; CI: 0.35-0.83) and SGA (aOR 0.60, 95% CI 0.38-0.94) in obese HIV-infected women compared to corresponding women with normal BMI. However, comparison of obese HIV-uninfected and obese HIV-infected women showed a higher incidence of LBW and SGA infants in obese HIV-infected women (12% vs 8%). The association of obese BMI and LBW and SGA in HIV-infected women did not differ by timing of ART initiation. In terms of HBW and LGA, overall, obese BMI was positively associated with HBW (aOR 2.00; CI: 1.13-3.57) and LGA infants (aOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.40-2.80) compared to normal BMI women. Stratifying by HIV infection also showed a positive association between obese BMI and HBW (aOR 2.54; CI: 1.17-5.53) and LGA (aOR 2.30; CI: 1.46-3.62) in HIV-uninfected women. Although a similar positive association was also obtained in obese HIV-infected women, the strength of this association was weaker for both HBW (aOR 1.41; CI: 0.59-3.34) and LGA (aOR 1.58; CI: 0.91-2.72). When the analysis was restricted to HIV-infected women by timing of ART initiation we found that obese women who initiated ART during pregnancy had 3-fold likelihood of having LGA infants (aOR 3.26; CI: 1.32-8.09) and those who initiated ART before pregnancy had a reversed effect (aOR 0.87; CI: 0.43-1.78) compared to respective normal BMI women. However, restricting the analysis to obese HIV-infected women only revealed a counter effect of the two conditions where the frequencies of both LGA and SGA are high. Abnormal gestational weight gain had no association with PTD, LBW, HBW and SGA. However, we showed that GWG lower than the IOM recommended values reduced the likelihood of having LGA infants (aOR 0.29; CI: 0.12-0.70) compared to adequate GWG. Conclusions: Obese HIV-infected women appear to be cushioned by their BMI against LBW and SGA when compared to normal BMI. However, comparison of these outcomes amongst women who are either obese or HIV-infected reveal a higher burden of both SGA and LGA infants in obese HIV-infected women, regardless of ART initiation status

Transactional Sex and the Pursuit of Modernity

This paper explores meanings and understandings of sexual exchange for material gain in an urban township of Durban, South Africa. The analysis argues against the tendency to assume too readily that all forms of sexual exchange are oriented towards subsistence, and not consumption. This paper also argues that sexual exchange is the means used by women in this study to pursue images and ideals largely created by the media and globalisation. It is revealed that transactional sex is perceived as ‘normal’ leading many women to accept men’s multiple partners and to put themselves as risk of contracting HIV/AIDS (despite having knowledge of the pandemic). Finally, the paper highlights women’s power and agency whereby women are asserting themselves in order to exploit sexual relationships in the interests of new ‘needs’ – the commodities of modernity

Exploration of traditional and cultural practices contributing to teenage pregnancy from the young males perspectives at the Free State School of Nursing

Traditional and cultural practices forms part of humankind upbringing in most part of the countries. These practices has a great impact on the lives of teenagers’ especially young males regarding sexual practices that may lead to teenage pregnancies.  This qualitative explorative study is aimed at exploring the traditional and cultural practices contributing to teenage pregnancy from young males perspectives at the Free State School of Nursing. A purposive sampling was employed for this study. The results revealed that traditional and cultural practices such as circumcision misinterpretations at the initiation schools, misconceptions about sexual abstinence and methods of contraceptive can be misleading to young males resulting in teenage pregnancies. Furthermore the study revealed a great need for the Department of Health to strengthen policies regarding sexual education that should be impacted to the initiates at the initiation schools.   Keywords: Circumcision, Initiation schools, Teenage pregnancy, Young male

Heavenly conversation in cosmic language

Bibliography: leaves 76-82.This study focuses on the centrality of the Logos theme in the prologue of the Fourth Gospel. The study demonstrates that the author of John's Gospel is keen to present to his audience the uniqueness of the Word which became 'umuntu' or 'flesh'. Apparently, the author of the Gospel is in interlocution with various strands in his audience who have a different understanding of the Logos. Second, we discern a movement that ascends from verse 12 which is seen as the proof of the prologue. In his ascension, the Logos dwells, embraces, and befriends those who accept him. The dialectic between those who reject him and those who accept him calls for a sociolinguistic approach in order to highlight what the discourse of the author is all about. The methodology that is employed in this study is that of sociolinguistics, and with the emphasis being on antilanguage. John consciously uses a dialogical method in order to distinguish between those who speak the language of the rejection of Jesus, and those whose language is different from the opponents of Jesus

Antenatal and postpartum depression: effects on infant and young child health and feeding practices

Globally, anxiety and depression is the third leading cause of disease burden for women 14 to 44 years of age. The World Health Organisation reports that 15 to 57% of women in developing countries experience symptoms of depression. Maternal mental illness has a negative impact on infant and young child (IYC) growth, development and care, having serious health implications in terms of physical, cognitive and emotional well-being during crucial stages of the life span, such as the first 1000 days and early childhood. Various studies conducted in both developed and developing countries, have shown that maternal depression is associated with negative health outcomes such as: low birth weight, developmental delay, incomplete immunisation schedules, acute or chronic diarrhoea, somatic symptoms, disrupted sleep patterns and child abuse, as well as psychiatric and neurobehavioural disorders. In addition, maternal depression impairs IYC care practices related to breastfeeding, health care, safety and development. It also contributes to inadequate nutrition during pregnancy as well as that of offspring during infancy and childhood, resulting in suboptimal brain development and inadequate growth. Infants with depressed mothers are not only vulnerable to becoming underweight, but also being stunted.Keywords: antenatal depression, feeding practices, infant height, infant weight, maternal depression, postpartum depressio

The care, treatment, rehabilitation and legal outcomes of referrals to a tertiary psychiatric hospital according to the Mental Health Care Act No. 17 of 2002

BACKGROUND : The Mental Health Care Act No. 17 of 2002 (MHCA) was introduced to combat poor care received by mentally ill persons. OBJECTIVE : The objective of this study was to evaluate diagnostic and treatment accuracy as well as compliance with procedural matters related to the MHCA, using a sample in the northern region of Gauteng Province, South Africa. METHOD : Files of 200 patients admitted to Weskoppies Hospital between June and December 2009 were evaluated for admission procedures, and care, treatment and rehabilitation (CTR). RESULTS : From referring hospitals, 174 (87%) persons had appropriate signs and symptoms documented in the referral note or MHCA forms. All of these were appropriately diagnosed. Although about one-third of the patients’ treatment was not documented, more than 50% (n=163) received the correct treatment. In two-thirds of patients, correction of detected abnormalities was not documented. Approximately 50% of the admissions had documents that did not adhere to MHCA provisions. At Weskoppies Hospital, CTR was considered appropriate for 92% of the patients. The legal status of the majority of patients was involuntary at discharge point. The majority of persons stayed for <3 months but for longer than what medical aid schemes allow in the private sector. CONCLUSIONS : The study highlighted both improvements and gaps in CTR given to mentally ill persons in the northern Gauteng region, which might apply to the rest of the country. Medicolegal requirements stipulated by the MHCA are still a challenge a decade post enactment, but there may be a move in the right direction.http://www.sajp.org.za/index.php/sajphb201