scholarly journals The challenges behind producing a bottle of wine: Supply chain risks

Author(s):  
Rodney T. Naudé ◽  
Johanna A. Badenhorst-Weiss

Background: One-third of wine producers in South Africa are experiencing negative net farming revenues. The wine industry is close to the heart of South Africans and South Africa is known for its production of quality wine in the world. However, the wine-producing sector faces many difficulties that threaten its survival. Besides the possible impact of the land reform drive of the government, the industry is experiencing financial and operational pressures, which have been exacerbated by drought and high temperatures affecting the crops. These factors affect not only the wine producers but also the complete wine supply chain.Objectives: This article provides insight into the supply chain risks of producing wine. The study was conducted among wine producers in the Stellenbosch region of the Western Cape province of South Africa.Method: An exploratory, qualitative, case-study approach was adopted in this study. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 10 participants at five wine producers’ sites selected on a non-probability convenience sample basis. Thematic analysis was used to process the data.Results: The most critical supply chain risks factors identified through this study centre around the sourcing of dry goods, agricultural activities, wine-making activities and financial risks. It also came to light that the wine farmers do not formally analyse their risks.Conclusion: Wine producers can put in a greater effort to improve the relationship with suppliers of dry goods and they will more efficiently mitigate some risks if they actively analyse and manage their risks on an ongoing basis.

Author(s):  
Carelson ◽  
Ncube ◽  
Fanadzo

The South African agricultural sector has experienced various transformation processes over the past 25 years, from a predominantly white commercial sector to a black focused sector with an emphasis on smallholder farming. The government is committed to supporting the smallholder farming sector through interventions that include land reform and access to water, amongst others. Despite these efforts, smallholder farmers remain vulnerable, especially during drought periods. Smallholder farmers are not homogeneous; instead, they are diverse, and their farming needs also differ according to their livelihood needs. Due to the diversity of smallholder farmers, it is difficult for the government to effectively respond to their needs. The 2015–2018 drought is a case in point. This paper assesses the challenges of defining and classifying smallholder farmers in South Africa. The complex Western Cape classification system is presented as a case study. The study concludes that there is a need for a simpler method of grouping the smallholder farmers based on their livelihoods to develop relevant support systems.


Author(s):  
Ratan S. Randhawa ◽  
Joht S. Chandan ◽  
Tom Thomas ◽  
Surinder Singh

AbstractBackgroundIn 2014, in the United Kingdom, the government made a commitment to spend £3.6 million on the introduction of Skype video calling consultations in general practice, however the efficacy of such technology has not yet been explored fully.AimThe study aimed to explore the views and attitudes of General Practitioners (GPs) towards video consultation in primary care; specifically, in three broad areas∙The benefits of video consultations to patients and healthcare professionals.∙Potential problems with video consultation and its implementation.∙The cost-effectiveness of video consultation in this setting.MethodA convenience sample of the views of 12 general practitioners across two primary care centres in North London were identified using topic guide based semi-structured interviews. A thematic framework approach was used to analyse the data collected to isolate main and sub-themes.FindingsThree main themes were identified1.Technology – GPs expressed concerns about the ability of patients to use technology, the availability of technology and the quality of technology available.2.Utility – encompassing GP’s ideas about the usefulness of video consultations to patients, practitioners and the doctor–patient relationship. GPs presented mixed views on the extent to which video consultation would be useful.3.Practicality – covering the views of GPs on implementation and effects on workload. GPs unanimously felt that it was not a practical substitute for face-to-face consultation. There were mixed feelings about it being used as an alternative to telephone consultation.ConclusionGPs did see potential benefits to using video consultations but also expressed concerns that need to be addressed if they are to have full confidence in the system. The views of those who are going to use video consultation as a means of increasing patient access are paramount if such tools are to be a core part of primary care.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tillmann Böhme ◽  
Alberto Escribano ◽  
Emma Elizabeth Heffernan ◽  
Scott Beazley

Purpose The construction industry is a significant driver of economic activity in many countries. However, there has been a lack of growth in productivity within the Australian construction sector over recent years. The purpose of this paper is to gain an in-depth understanding of the causes for declining productivity within the Australian mid-rise residential construction network. Design/methodology/approach Two in-depth case studies have been conducted with a builder and developer, both significant entities of the Australian mid-rise residential construction network. Case study data collection comprised a five-stage process including semi-structured interviews and archival information review. Findings Drivers for declining construction productivity were identified under the categories of: industry-, firm- and project-level productivity. The drivers include: incomplete documentation, design changes, inefficient project management, supply chain fragmentation, among others. Originality/value The contribution of this study is the identification and categorisation of major issues impacting sector productivity along the mid-rise residential construction supply chain. The research identified that the substructure and superstructure are the construction phases during which most productivity losses occur. Mitigations are discussed in terms of systemic sector productivity increases at an industry, firm and project levels.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin A Haegele ◽  
Amanda Yessick ◽  
T Nicole Kirk

The purpose of this study was to explore the physical activity experiences of youth with visual impairments living in Alaska. This study utilized a descriptive-qualitative methodology using an exploratory case study design. A convenience sample of four (one female, three males; aged 12–18 years) Alaskan youths with visual impairments participated in this study. Data included semi-structured interviews, reflective interview notes, and observational notes. Data were transcribed verbatim, and thematic development was undertaken inductively using a three-step analytic process. Based on the analysis, two interrelated themes emerged from the data: (a) “I don’t really participate in sports other than at camp”: preferences for unstructured activities and (b) “my sister’s willing to do anything”: familial impact on physical activity. Results of this study can help inform future efforts to promote physical activity engagement among youth with visual impairments, particularly those living in geographic areas similar to Alaska.


2020 ◽  
pp. 136346152093376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanja Kilian ◽  
Leslie Swartz ◽  
Xanthe Hunt ◽  
Ereshia Benjamin ◽  
Bonginkosi Chiliza

In South Africa, clinicians working in public psychiatric hospitals are mainly fluent in English and Afrikaans, while the majority of patients are not proficient in these languages. Due to a lack of professional interpreting services, informal, ad hoc interpreters are commonly employed in public psychiatric hospitals. We collected data on language practices in public psychiatric care in South Africa, and provide a detailed account of what happens when bilingual health care workers and cleaners haphazardly take on the additional role of interpreter. Data were collected during 2010 at a public psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa. Thirteen interpreter-mediated psychiatric consultations were video-recorded, and 18 audio-recorded semi-structured interviews were conducted with the interpreters and clinicians who participated in the interpreter-mediated psychiatric consultations. Patients were proficient in isiXhosa (one of the 11 official languages of South Africa), the clinicians (all registrars) were first language English or Afrikaans speakers, while the health care workers (nurses and social workers) and cleaners were fluent in both the patients’ and clinician’s language. Our findings suggest that interpreters took on the following four roles during the interpreter-mediated psychiatric consultations: regulating turn-taking, cultural broker, gatekeeper and advocate. Our findings suggest that, despite interpreters and clinicians having the patient’s best interests at heart, it is the patient’s voice that becomes lost while the clinician and interpreter negotiate the roles played by each party.


Author(s):  
Goonasagree Naidoo ◽  
S. Singh ◽  
Niall Levine

The usage of the internet has grown over recent years in South Africa but at a very slow rate. This is the result of several challenges facing the growth of the Internet in South Africa. These challenges are mostly related to the lack of infrastructure for the Internet, high cost of computer technology and service provider challenges. The paper provides an overview of the Internet usage and its impact on E-Government in South Africa. It examines regulatory issues pertaining to the Internet. It also examines Internet growth in the business and government sectors. In the government sector, the Cape Online Strategy, is an initiative by the provincial government of the Western Cape in SA, is an example of a global trend towards greater levels of interactivity between government and citizens. This initiative is an excellent example of how Web-based solutions can be used to deliver certain services to citizens. Another excellent example is an E-justice initiative undertaken by the Department of Justice. The initiative aims at promoting a more efficient system of Justice in SA. The paper also provides an overview of the challenges to Internet adoption in South Africa.


Author(s):  
David R.I. Pooe ◽  
Chengedzai Mafini ◽  
Donna Tsakani Makhubele

This study explored procurement challenges faced by municipalities in South Africa. A qualitative approach was adopted in which semi-structured interviews were employed to elicit information regarding procurement related challenges encountered by municipalities in South Africa. The respondents consisted of ten individuals who were employed as supply chain managers in different municipalities located in Gauteng Province. The findings of the study show that despite the existent policies and support strategies, municipalities in South Africa still find it difficult to achieve their procurement objectives due to four major inundations; namely, the lack of training, the lack of capacity, the lack of transparency and the failure to comply with existing public procurement policies. The study recommends strategies for addressing the identified performance shortfalls in the area of municipal procurement.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mufaro Magidi ◽  
Rinie Schenk ◽  
Charlene Erasmus

The culture of gang violence has become deeply entrenched in South Africa. The present study explored the experiences of non-gang school-going adolescents regarding gangs and gangsterism in Hanover Park in the Western Cape. A qualitative exploratory approach was used. Data collection instruments were focus group discussions supported by qualitative semi-structured interviews involving 18 adolescents between the ages of 16 and 18 from two secondary schools in Hanover Park, Cape Town. The data were thematically analysed. The results have shown that the presence of gangs affects the learners’ school attendance, restricts their mobility, increases bullying at school and seriously disrupts family and community life.


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