Grandparental involvement and South African adolescents' emotional and behavioural health: a summary of research findings

The challenges of reading experienced by learners exerts a negative impact on reading for pleasure, and learners' outcomes. In an attempt to address such reading challenges, Reading Clubs were launched to promote reading for pleasure among South African youth. This study examines the influence of Reading Clubs on learners' attitudes to Reading for Pleasure and the outcomes thereof. The study was informed by the Top-Down Model of Reading and the Cultural Theory of reading for pleasure. Interviews were conducted in five purposively selected schools with five Sparker coaches and five teachers. The research findings reveal a positive influence of Reading Clubs on reading for pleasure and learners' outcomes. This is reflected through improved levels of reading for pleasure. This study ultimately recommends that schools learn from best practices of Reading Clubs, and that government strive to make Reading Clubs a sustainable project.

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A first step towards service-dominant logic as a new approach to overcome challenges in business intelligence

South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences ◽

10.4102/sajems.v17i2.414 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 220-231

Author(s):

Pamela Clavier ◽

Hugo Lotriet ◽

Johan Van Loggerenberg

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

South African ◽

Business Intelligence ◽

New Approach ◽

High Expectations ◽

Dominant Logic ◽

Interpretive Case Study ◽

Research Findings ◽

Banking Institution

High expectations are set for Business Intelligence (BI), yet it fails to consistently deliver accordingly: there are numerous reports of BI challenges and failures. Existing approaches to address BI challenges are largely found to be ineffective, highlighting the need for a new approach. This paper examines how BI is perceived or understood and establishes that, firstly, BI is inherently grounded in Goods-Dominant (G-D) logic and secondly, that this can be linked to the challenges that are experienced within BI. A recommendation is made for a shift to Service-Dominant (S-D) logic as a new avenue of exploration to assist in overcoming BI’s prevailing challenges. Identifying the inherent G-D logic in BI provides the first step necessary in making this shift. Research findings are based on an interpretive case study of a South African Banking institution as well as a literature review.

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'Hidden messages' emerging from Afrocentric management perspectives

Acta Commercii ◽

10.4102/ac.v8i1.62 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

H. Van den Heuvel

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Cultural Diversity ◽

South African ◽

The Body ◽

Management Approach ◽

Local Management ◽

Valuable Contribution ◽

Corporate Values ◽

Management Discourse ◽

Research Findings

Purpose: This paper aims to examine how 'African management' discourse has emerged in South Africa. Altogether, it has stimulated debates - sometimes in controversial ways - on 'taboo issues', e.g. relating to 'cultural diversity' and 'ethnicity'. The stimulation of such debates within organisations is probably a more valuable contribution than a static, essentialised 'African identity' that it proclaims. Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper draws on a qualitative research project conducted in South Africa in 2003-2004. Its relevance lies in gaining in-depth insights into ('non-western') local management discourse. It seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge on political and cultural contexts in which South African organizations operate, and how they impact on local management perspectives, and vice versa. Findings: The research findings make clear how and under what circumstances 'African management' discourse has come about in South Africa, and how it could be interpreted. Implications: 'African management' advocates allegedly attempt to revise dominant management thinking and promote 'humane-ness' and participatory decision-making in South African organisations, in search of a contextualised management approach. Amongst others, it has produced new meanings of 'Africanness' and has opened up space for 'hidden messages', resentments and aspirations to become openly articulated. This throws another light on phenomena such as cultural diversity and ethnicity that usually tend to be 'neutralised'. This may turn out to be far healthier for blooming organisational cultures in South Africa than relentlessly hammering on prescribed 'corporate values'. Originality/Value: This paper informs the reader in detail about the emergence and evolvement of 'African management' discourse in South Africa. It is a unique attempt to develop an interpretative viewpoint on this intriguing phenomenon that offers a potentially valuable contribution in reading cultural and ethnic identities within organisations.

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The applicability of the 'Japanese management style', to the South African context: Preliminary Research

South African Journal of Business Management ◽

10.4102/sajbm.v14i4.1158 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 131-139

Author(s):

Linda Human ◽

Leonie Le Roux

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Management Style ◽

South African Context ◽

The South ◽

Japanese Management ◽

Cultural Heterogeneity ◽

Economic Progress ◽

Research Findings ◽

African Context ◽

Research Questions

This introductory study of the applicability of the 'Japanese management style' to the South African context highlights a number of important issues relating to the study of Japanese economic progress and to the applicability of 'Japanese management methods to other contexts. It also questions the often-held assumption that the so-called 'Japanese methods' are so very different from those employed in the West.This article subsequently takes a look at the core workforce in Japan in relation to some research findings with regard to certain South African companies within which quality control circles are in use or are planned for the future. In so doing, it highlights certain problems relating not only to the delimitation of the 'Japanese' style but also its applicability to a context of cultural heterogeneity. In other words, this research questions the extent to which techniques of management which have proved successful in a relatively stable, equal, homogeneous and educated culture can be applied in a culturally and educationally heterogeneous society in which one particular group dominates the remainder.

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Corporate culture: The perceptions of personnel managers in South Africa

South African Journal of Business Management ◽

10.4102/sajbm.v18i4.1023 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 235-242

Author(s):

J. Viljoen

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Corporate Culture ◽

Large Scale ◽

Strong Association ◽

Management Style ◽

Labour Relations ◽

Perceived Performance ◽

Culture Strength ◽

Research Findings ◽

Managerial Employees

In this paper some core dimensions along which corporate culture can be analysed are identified. It is argued that, for large scale studies of corporate culture, personnel managers are the most appropriate sampling base. Using a mailed questionnaire a sample of 199 South African companies was surveyed in order to isolate their cultural attributes as perceived by the personnel manager. The research findings revealed: (i) a strong association between strategic management style and perceived culture strength; (ii) greater perceived performance potential and better labour relations amongst strong culture companies, and (iii) significant differences in perceived culture strength between managerial and non-managerial employees. The implications of these findings are discussed.

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Critically examining language bias in the South African adaptation of the WAIS-III

SA Journal of Industrial Psychology ◽

10.4102/sajip.v32i4.243 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Cheryl D Foxcroft ◽

Susan Aston

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

South African ◽

Critical Examination ◽

Language Test ◽

Language Bias ◽

South Africans ◽

Language Groups ◽

Research Findings ◽

Wechsler Adult Intelligence ◽

Guidelines And Standards

In response to the growing demand for a test of cognitive ability for South African adults, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) adapted the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, third edition (WAIS-III) for Englishspeaking South Africans. The standardisation sample included both first and second language English speakers who were either educated largely in English or Afrikaans. The purpose of this article is to critically examine the adaptation process undertaken by the HSRC when standardising the WAIS-III for English-speaking South Africans by deliberating whether sufficient attention was paid to establishing if the measure was equivalent for various groups of English first and second language test-takers. In performing this critical examination, international test adaptation guidelines and standards, psychometric conventions, and national and international research findings were contemplated. The general conclusion reached was that the equivalence of the WAIS-III across diverse language groups has not been unequivocally established and there are indications that some bias may exist for English second language test-takers, especially if they are black or Afrikaans-speaking. Based on these conclusions, recommendations are made regarding the way forward.

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Interpreting Food Security Research Findings With Rural South African Communities

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v10n5p183 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 183

Author(s):

Angela McIntyre ◽

Sheryl L Hendriks

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Rural Communities ◽

South African ◽

Nutrition Transition ◽

Adult Obesity ◽

Cultural Conditions ◽

Security Research ◽

Security Challenges ◽

Research Findings ◽

Childhood Stunting

INTRODUCTION: The presence of concurrent childhood stunting and adult obesity observed in poor, rural, former homeland communities in South Africa appears to be explained by nutrition transition, but the factors shaping rural food security are still poorly understood. Localized constraints and capabilities are often overlooked by food security policies, strategies and programs. Grounding food security data in local contexts is often a missing step in the diagnosis of food insecurity.AIMS: This qualitative study aimed to engage members of poor rural communities in generating a more grounded, localized understanding of food insecurity.METHOD: Members of South Africa’s poorest rural communities were asked to validate and interpret food production, consumption and nutrition data from a three-year, multidisciplinary food security study, with the aid of graphic presentations to overcome literacy barriers.RESULTS: Interpretations of food security research findings by communities revealed unique local experiences and understandings of food insecurity.CONCLUSION: Engaging people in the joint diagnosis of their food security challenges generates information on the environmental, economic and cultural conditions that shape experiences of hunger and influence nutrition outcomes, which are not always captured by conventional food security analyses. More inclusive and participatory research could support the design of more effective food security interventions in marginalized rural communities.

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THE PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY AGENTS

Proceedings of International Structural Engineering and Construction ◽

10.14455/isec.res.2017.43 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

John Smallwood ◽

Claire Deacon

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

South African ◽

Tertiary Education ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Anecdotal Evidence ◽

Design Development ◽

Inadequate Knowledge ◽

Research Findings ◽

E Mail ◽

Self Administered Questionnaire

Clients may appoint construction health and safety agents (CHSAs) in terms of fulfilling their requirements in terms of the South African Construction Regulations. Previous research findings and anecdotal evidence indicate that CHSAs are lacking in terms of performance. However, due to the recent requirement for CHSAs to register, research findings relative to their performance are limited. The objectives of the study were to determine the performance of CHSAs, and barriers to CHSAs’ contribution to construction and construction health and safety (H&S). Registered CHSAs constituted the sample stratum, and were subjected to an e-mail delivered self-administered questionnaire survey. The salient findings include: CHSAs are generally appointed during project initiation and briefing, tender documentation and procurement, and construction documentation and management; CHSAs have contributed to and impacted on H&S a range of factors constitute a barrier to CHSAs contributing to H&S, particularly inadequate knowledge and experience; CHSAs rate themselves as good relative to most composite knowledge areas and composite skills areas; the contribution of CHSAs to H&S could be improved, and a range of interventions could contribute to an improvement in the contribution of CHSAs to H&S. Conclusions include: CHSAs may not be viewed as being able to contribute during project initiation and briefing, concept and feasibility, and design development; CHSAs have contributed to and impacted on H&S inadequate knowledge and experience due to a lack of appropriate tertiary education lead to their limited status, exclusion from decision making and management of the project, and not being consulted.

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THE CHALLENGES FACED BY AFRICAN FEMALES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. EVIDENCE FROM A SELECTED METROPOLIS OF THE EASTERN CAPE

Modern Management Review ◽

10.7862/rz.2021.mmr.28 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 107-117

Author(s):

Tshepo TLAPANA ◽

Zintle Mngeni

Keyword(s):

Construction Industry ◽

South African ◽

Quantitative Research ◽

Job Creation ◽

Research Approach ◽

Eastern Cape ◽

Positive Role ◽

Research Findings ◽

The Many ◽

Female Professionals

The South African construction industry has successfully held a positive role in the transformation of the country over the years through economic development, infrastructure, and job creation. The purpose of the study was to probe the challenges that hinder the progress of black female professionals to become successful entrepreneurs in the construction industry. The study pursued a quantitative research approach. A questionnaire-based survey was utilized to gather data from participants at the selected location of the Buffalo City Metropole, Eastern Cape. The research findings revealed that although there are still challenges faced by African females, there is still considerable growth of women-owned SMME’s and the retention of African female professionals within the construction industry has significantly improved. It was also concluded that the many Government initiatives have also played a key role in these successes, though participants have also noted that there are some areas for improvement on these programs.

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