An evaluation of the Contractor Development Model of Working for Water

The Working for Water programme of the South African Department of Environmental Affairs has as its major objective the eradication of invasive alien plant species. However, it also has a social development component, which aims at the promotion of small business and entrepreneurship development. This paper explores the socio-economic rationale of one component, the Contractor Development Model. It does so via an examination of the programme’s assumptions, and the development of its impact theory. The study revealed a shortcoming in monitoring data for the programme, and a relative lack of assessment of the effectiveness of its activities. It is suggested that the selection criteria for contractors be re-examined, and that consideration be given to two additional elements that may strengthen the effectiveness of the training: mentoring and networking

An exploratory study of factors influencing the participation in training and development of engineers in small businesses

The provision of workforce training and development (T&D) has the potential to provide benefits to both employers and employees. However, employees in small businesses receive less access to T&D than employees in large businesses. Prior research into reasons for the relatively low levels of employee participation in formal T&D in small businesses has typically involved surveys of owner-manager opinions regarding ‘barriers’ to T&D. This study explored factors influencing employee participation in T&D from the perspective of employees. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 15 employees in small engineering businesses. Consistent with the main aim of exploratory research, the study produced (four) generalisations that are grounded in the interview data. These generalisations help establish the groundwork for future studies

Die voorkoms van puberteit en daaropvolgende estrusperiodes by vleisrasverse

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Access to training and development in small and medium-sized enterprises: Employee\u27s perspectives

This paper provides an overview of a proposed study that aims to identify the perceived factors that prevent employees from initiating requests and participating in formal external employer-funded training and development opportunities within small and medium enterprises. While training and development has the potential to improve an employee\u27s remuneration and increase their employability, the level of training and development in small and medium enterprises is well below that of larger organisations. Although the small business owners retain the final decision regarding employee access to training and development, the outcome is also dependent upon employees\u27 decisions to intiate requests to participate in the available training and development opportunities. There is scant research into employees\u27 perceptions of the factors influencing the participation in employer-funded training and development opportunities. This paper intends to address this gap in knowledge by conducting 20 semi-structured interviews with employees in five Australian small and medium enterprises. It is anticipated that the collection data will provide information on the factors that prevent employees from requesting and participating in training and development opportunities

Making Software Humane: The Effects of Affective and Anthropomorphism on the Adoption of an M-Health Application

Conference ProceedingsWith the proliferation of mobile devices, provision of M-health care services has become feasible even in the remotest villages of Africa. Research however shows that many M-health initiatives have not been adopted and used effectively especially in rural communities. Some of the factors contributing to this range from a lack of knowledge with regard the use of technology, literacy challenges, possible fear of technology, to a lack of information regarding these interventions. In this paper, we demonstrate that an initiative designed to recognize usability as its core function plays a critical role in the use and adoption of M-health interventions in rural communities. Two versions of an M-health intervention were developed and two interface design principles that may have an impact on users’ emotions applied, namely affective design and anthropomorphism. Using the Sethakeng rural community in the Northern Cape (South Africa) as the case study, we were able to determine the extent to which both anthropomorphism and affective design influence the adoption of an M-Health application. Further, the research revealed that because of its ability to include human-like qualities to non-living objects, anthropomorphism is a more effective method for designing M-Health applications targeting rural communities

Using research informed approaches to Strategic HRM teaching

This paper outlines research that was guided by the broad question: What teaching and learning (T&L) strategies should be employed in SHRM? This question was answered using data gathered in three focus groups involving T&L specialists, business strategy and HRM academics, and HRM practitioners. Through a process of successive focusing, potential T&L strategies were initially identified and then tested and refined in the focus groups. Drawing on literature and input from the participants, we contend that SHRM can be effectively taught through a combination of primarily problem-based and case-based approaches. We also argue that process worksheets are an effective method of providing problem solving support to students when they carry out complex learning tasks based on authentic SHRM problems

La compleja historia natural de las fases tempranas del pez marino y ocasional estuárico Solea turbynei (Soleidae) en una región templada de Sudáfrica

The early life history stages and ecology of Solea turbynei, a marine estuarine-opportunist species, is described from nursery areas in Algoa Bay, South Africa. Early life history stages were collected over multiple years from known nursery habitats using plankton, fyke and larval seine nets. The larvae are described using morphometric measurements, meristic counts and pigmentation based on 29 individuals. Solea turbynei is differentiated from other Soleidae by the small size at flexion (3-4 mm), low myomere count and presence of two characteristic blotches of pigment on the dorsal fin. This species has a unique early life history strategy in that the larvae progressively span nearshore, surf zone and estuarine habitats with ontogeny. Abundance of preflexion stages peaks in summer in nearshore waters, indicative of peak spawning period but preflexion larvae are present throughout the year, indicating protracted spawning by adults. At flexion stage, larvae utilize surf zones where metamorphosis and settlement takes place. Early juveniles migrate into the sandy lower reaches of estuaries, after which fish take up residency to adulthood. Warm water is important for larval growth and survival in the nearshore, while turbidity shows a positive relationship with recruitment into estuarine nurseries.En este estudio describimos la ecología y fases de desarrollo temprano de Solea turbynei, una especie marina y ocasionalmente estuárica, en áreas de cría en Algoa Bay, Sudáfrica. Se recogieron larvas durante años en áreas conocidas de cría usando redes de plancton, trampas mareales y redes de cerco. Las larvas se describen a partir de medidas morfométricas, número de miómeros y pigmentación de 29 individuos. Solea turbynei se diferencia de otros Soleidae por su pequeño tamaño en la fase deflexión (3-4 mm), su bajo número de miómeros y la presencia de dos manchas características en la aleta dorsal. Esta especie presenta una estrategia vital única en la cual las larvas alcanzan progresivamente la zona costera, la zona de rompiente y los hábitats estuarinos a lo largo de su desarrollo. La abundancia de las fases de pre-flexión en aguas costeras alcanza su pico en verano, indicando un periodo de máxima reproducción, pero estas larvas en pre-flexión se encuentran durante todo el año, lo cual es indicativo de un alargado periodo de reproducción. En la fase de flexión las larvas realizan la metamorfosis y el asentamiento en las zonas de rompiente. Los primeros estados juveniles migran hacia las zonas bajas de fondos arenosos de los estuarios, para después convertirse en adultos. Una temperatura cálida del agua es importante para el crecimiento y la supervivencia de las larvas en la zona costera, mientras que la turbidez muestra una relación positiva con el reclutamiento en las zonas de cría de los estuarios

Effect of boron on directionality of pollen tube growth in Petunia and Agapanthus

The effect of boron on pollen tube growth was tested using Petunia Juss. styles and the semivivo technique, while Agapanthus L’Hérit. pollen was used for in vitro germination experiments. Petunia pollen tubes protruded only from the cut ends of styles incubated in media containing boron. When styles were incised between the cut end and the pollen tube front and either the cut end or the incision was exposed to a boron-containing medium while the other wounded area was exposed to a boron-free medium, the direction of pollen tube growth was changed. Pollen tubes protruded only from those wounds exposed to a boron-containing medium. When a boron gradient was created on agar strips and Agapanthus pollen was germinated in vitro alternatively on either the end containing a low or a high boron concentration, pollen tubes consistantly grew towards the higher boron concentrations. This is the first demonstration of a possible chemotropic response of pollen tubes to boron