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Organisational agility a leverage to firm’s performance : an integrative review
(Center for Strategic Studies in Business and Finance SSBFNET, 2024) Bangura, Samuel; Lourens, Melanie Elisabeth
This study examines the relationship between organisational agility and performance to determine how agility can improve performance. It will also emphasise organisational agility as a key driver of company performance. In keeping with the previous statement, an integrative review was undertaken using Scopus, EBSCO, and ABI Inform. We also used free web searches to find resources on Science Direct, SABINET, Bing, and Google Scholar for this investigation. This study shows that aligning procedures with agility adoption can boost company performance. Well-planned and implemented agility initiatives improve company processes and efforts. Thus, organisational management can use agility to adapt to the changing business environment when correctly planned and performed. The report offers practical advice on how companies might adopt agility.
Infrastructure delivery management challenges in KwaZulu-Natal : a review of the operations and maintenance module
(Seybold Publications, 2024-10-22) Hadebe, Weziwe; Armoed, Zakheeya; Mewomo, Modupe
Globally, governments have prioritized infrastructural policy and infrastructure development as the key to economic development. Efforts to accelerate effective infrastructural delivery in South Africa gave rise to the development of a government-wide tool called the Infrastructural Delivery Management System (IDMS). This was developed as a standardized approach for the planning, budgeting, procurement, operations, maintenance, decision-making and general management of South Africa’s infrastructural development across all tiers of government. The study explores the effectiveness of implementing the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) module of the IDMS in the province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Focusing on the KZN province, the study utilizes a mixed method research approach. Articles were sourced from databases which included Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Governmental platforms. Peer-reviewed studies in the English language that were published between 2010 to 2024 were identified. Key search terms were infrastructure delivery management system, challenges, operations, maintenance, and efficiency that informed the literature review of the study. The study drew a sample of 133 participants responsible for infrastructural delivery using purposive sampling. Data was analyzed using thematic and content analysis. Findings suggest within the ecosystem of infrastructural development in the KZN province, the necessary IDMS capacity and capabilities do exist. However, the impact of different institutional roles, responsibilities and concurrent functions; in coordinating and implementing the IDMS, has influenced a growing backlog in public infrastructural delivery in KZN. This can be attributed to the failures in coordination resulting in the efficiencies of the O&M module. Through the resurrection of district maintenance workshops and decisive leadership in response to poor operational and maintenance plans, the application of IDMS may prove to be successful in alleviating infrastructure backlogs across all tiers of governance.
Intervention effect of food literacy on household food waste in the KwaDukuza municipality
(2024-09) Miti, Nosipho; Naicker, Ashika; Grobbelaar, Hendrina Helena
Background: Approximately one-third of the food produced for human consumption is lost annually across the global food supply chain. In South Africa, it is estimated that around 10.3 million tonnes of food are wasted each year. Despite food waste occurring at various stages of food production, individual households have been identified as the primary producers of food waste at the consumption stage, driven by consumer behaviour and practice. While food waste is a global concern, South Africa's household food waste mimics that of developed countries. Although household food waste studies in South Africa have gained momentum, nearly all studies focus on household food waste consumer practices. No intervention study has been conducted to change consumer behaviour towards household food waste in South Africa. Likewise, the cost of household food waste, nutritional losses, and the environmental impact of household food waste have yet to be explored through an intervention. Interventions that target a change in human behaviour towards reducing household food waste can make a meaningful impact on food and nutrition security, and the environment. Aim: This study aimed to determine the intervention effect of food literacy on household food waste in the KwaDukuza municipality. Methods: In this randomised control trial (RCT), middle and high Living Standards Measure (LSM) households from five areas in the KwaDukuza municipality used in a formative study to determine household food waste behaviour and practices were eligible to participate in the study. All households at baseline received three colour-coded bins [used to separate food waste by food categories], binliners, food labels and freezer bags to contain cooked food waste. The first objective was to calculate household food waste through a weighed food waste audit at baseline and endline. A weighed food audit was conducted at each household (n=180). Objective two of this study included calculating the cost, associated nutrient losses and environmental impact of household food waste using the results of the food waste audit at baseline and endline. The cost of household food wasted was analysed using the mean price of foods from retail stores in the study area to determine the cost (Rand value) of household food waste at baseline and end line. The nutrient losses were calculated using the South African Medical Research Council Food Finder 3 web-based software at baseline and endline. The environmental impact was calculated using the My Emission Footprint calculator for food wasted at baseline and endline. The third objective of this study was to determine the intervention effect on household food waste. Households were randomly assigned into three intervention groups, intervention 1 (n=60), intervention 2 (n=60), and the control group (n=60). Households who were part of Intervention 1 received the food literacy toolkit and food literacy lessons on how to reduce household food waste; households in intervention 2 received the food literacy toolkits only and were reliant on self-efficacy to use the toolkit and households that were part of the control group did not receive any intervention. Results: Findings from the food waste audit showed that at baseline, the total mean of household food waste produced by all households (n=180) in this study was 1.53 kg (1531.29 g) per week, decreasing to 0.31 kg (307.47 g) per household/ week at the endline. A significant reduction of household food waste was recorded post-intervention (average waste per household = 307.47 g) When household food waste was separated into categories of the type of food wasted, the fresh produce pre-intervention (average waste per household = 917.73 g) was significantly more than the fresh produce postintervention (average waste = 173.43g). Meat produce wasted pre- (average waste per household = 109.56g) also surpassed the meat produce wasted post- (average waste per household = 43.26g). The cooked food wasted pre- (average waste per household = 387.07 g) was significantly greater than the cooked food post- (average waste per household = 76.39 g)-. The cost of food waste for the whole group pre- (average waste per household = R145.57) was significantly more than the cost of food waste for the whole group post- (average waste per household = R39.75). In terms of the environmental impact, the pre- (average waste per household = 7664.13 gCO2e) exceeded the environmental impact post- (average waste per household = 6407.67 gCO2e). A high nutrient loss from household food waste was recorded at baseline, and there was a significant reduction of macro-and micronutrient nutrient loss at the endline for the whole group (n=180). In intervention 1, intervention 2 and the control group, most nutrient losses such as energy, total protein, total lipids, total carbohydrates, and total dietary fibre were greater during the pre-intervention phase compared to the post-intervention phase. In this RCT, a significant reduction of household food waste was observed for the whole group (n=180) and across intervention groups. Following the 6-week intervention duration, between intervention arms, there was no discernible difference in household food waste, economic loss, nutritional loss and environmental impact. However, for every intervention group, there was a substantial decrease in all measured outcomes from baseline to endline. The main reason for this result could be attributed to the fact that households probably perceived that they were being monitored through the food waste audit at baseline and endline, implying that sensitisation of communities to their actual household food waste can be an impactful intervention strategy to conscientise consumers to reduce their household food waste. Conclusion: This study shows a clear linkage between household food waste, nutrition, economic and environmental impact. The disposal of food waste from households has a substantial and wide-ranging effect on the food chain, leading to various economic, environmental, and social challenges. The social ramifications of food waste are enormous, given the striking difference between the significant amounts wasted in affluent households and the prevalent hunger and food insecurity in many communities. In order to create a food system that is more environmentally friendly and able to withstand challenges, it is crucial to focus on and decrease the amount of food wasted in households. This requires a combined initiative of educating consumers, implementing effective waste management practices, and enacting legislation that encourages responsible consumption.
The development of a novel universal coating for urological implants
(2024-09) Shongwe, Mduduzi Hurmprey; Kudanga, Tukayi
Urology employs various implants, such as urinary catheters, ureteral stents, and ureteral access sheaths (UASs), to manage diseases associated with the urinary tract system. These implants serve different purposes. For example, urinary catheters are primarily used to drain urine from the bladder, ureteral stents are used to keep the ureteral cavity open for urine passage, and UASs are used in expanding the ureteral cavity to facilitate the introduction of other devices. However, these implants pose challenges due to their invasive nature and inadequate biocompatibility, which can lead to uroepithelial tissue damage (caused by friction) and an increase in the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Urinary tract infections, in turn, can cause blockages that limit the effectiveness of these implants. Therefore, several strategies are currently employed to address these challenges, mainly the use of lubricious hydrophilic polymeric coatings and antimicrobial agents. While some success has been achieved, uroepithelial tissue damage and UTIs remain significant concerns. Furthermore, most of these strategies are tailored to specific urological fabricating materials, limiting their scope. In light of these challenges, this study developed a universal coating technology using polydopamine (PDA) as a versatile primer and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a hydrophilic polymeric top layer loaded with iodine (I2) as an antibacterial agent to improve properties of urological implants. Urological implant fabricating biopolymers including polyurethane (PU) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were modified with a PDA/PVP coating technology and loaded with various concentrations of I2 (0.1%, 0.5% and 1% w/v). The ability of the coating technology to reduce the friction coefficient of urological biomaterials was evaluated by assessing its ability to introduce lubricity. Other biological effects that characterize the biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity of the coated samples were assessed using relevant standard ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and EUCAST (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing) In vitro methods. The biocompatibility of the coating technology was assessed by determining their cytotoxicity with the XTT cytotoxicity assay using L292 cells while the brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA) was carried out as a preliminary animal model study. Their genotoxicity was assessed with the Ames mutachromo assay carried out with Salmonella typhimurium T100 to detect base shift mutation. The antimicrobial activity of the coated technology was determined using the IS0 22196 assay with Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), the EUCAST disk diffusion and broth microdilution assays with E. coli (ATCC 25922), Proteus mirabilis and the urinary catheter bridge microbial migration assay with E. coli (ATCC 43888). The novel coating technology was adaptable to urological implant fabricating biomaterials with different surface polarities including PDMS and PU. The polydopamine/polyvinyl pyrrolidonecoated biomaterials were observed to have improved lubricity (slipperiness rate of 5 s per 10 mm biomaterial-agar interaction) and the ability to absorb and trap fluids (0.088 ± 0.009 mg/cm2). The concentration of iodine solution (0.1%, 0.5% and 1% w/v) loaded in the coatings significantly influenced their biocompatibility and antimicrobial efficacy. The biocompatibility observations made in the BSLA were mostly in line with the XTT cytotoxicity assay. When an iodine concentration of 0.1% and 0.5% w/v was incorporated, the PDA/PVP-coated biomaterials were not toxic towards L292 cells and not lethal towards brine shrimp larvae after a 24 h exposure period. However, potential lethality towards brine shrimp larvae was only observed in the biomaterial loaded with 0.5% w/v after an exposure period of 48 h. The coated biomaterials without iodine were not toxic while those that were loaded with a concentration of 1% w/v iodine were toxic according to both the XTT assay and BSLA. All the PDA/PVP-coated biomaterial loaded with iodine (0.1%, 0.5% and 1% w/v) did not demonstrate base shift mutations in Ames muta-chrome assay. The ISO 22196 method demonstrated that the PDA/PVP-coated biomaterials loaded with at least 0.1% (w/v) iodine reduced E. coli (ATCC 43888) by at least 2 growth logs. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the PU-PDA/PVP (0.1% I2) surfaces was determined to be 40 mm2/ml for E. coli (ATCC 2592) 0.5 McFarland standard. The broth microdilution showed that the MIC of extracts of the PU-PDA/PVP (0.5% I2) to be 3 cm2/ml and of PU-PDA/PVP (1% I2) to be 1.5 cm2/ml for E. coli (25922). However, only the extract of PU-PDA/PVP (1% I2) was effective against P. mirabilis at 3 cm2/ml. In the disk diffusion assay, the PU-PDA/PVP (0.1% I2) was only effective against E. coli (ATCC 25922) with a 1 mm zone of inhibition. The PU-PDA/PVP (0.5% I2) was effective against both E. coli (ATCC 25922) and P. mirabilis with 12.13 ± 1.53 mm and 8.5 ± 0.5 mm zones of inhibition, respectively. PU-PDA/PVP (1% I2) showed the highest zone of inhibition (16.25 ± 1.77 mm) against E. coli (ATCC 25922) and 13 ± 1 mm against P. mirabilis. In the catheter bridge microbial migration assay, E. coli (ATCC 43888) growth across the bridge was observed after 24 h for PDMS and PDMS-PDA/PVP without iodine incorporation, after 48 h for PDMS-PDA/PVP (0.1% I2) and PDMS-PDA/PVP (0.5% I2), and after 72 h for PDMS-PDA/PVP (1% I2). In addition, there was a positive correlation (P<0.05) between the concentration of iodine loaded in the PDA/PVP coated biomaterials and antimicrobial activity (disk diffusion assay) while a negative correlation with biocompatibility (XTT cytotoxicity assay) was observed. Overall, the research demonstrated that a PDA/PVP-coating technology is adaptable for urological biomaterials including PU and PDMS, introduces lubricity on the surface of the biomaterials, and when it is loaded with 0.5% w/v I2, the coating can inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause UTI without causing toxicity in model eukaryotic cells. Therefore, the PDA/PVP (0.5% w/v I2) coating is a promising strategy for improving us.
Development, validation and implementation of a sustainable, nutrition-sensitive agriculture toolkit to address food and nutrition insecurity in Lesotho
(2024-09) Mothepu, Lisebo; Napier, Carin E.; Naicker, Ashika; Duffy, Kevin Jan
Background: Global food prices continue to increase because of natural and humaninduced disasterssuch as climate change and war. As a result, poverty remainsrelatively high
globally, especially in lower-middle-income countries such as Lesotho. Poverty in Lesotho is
rated at 49.7% with a staggering 24% of the population experiencing extreme poverty, and it
is mostly prevalent in rural areas. Out of the population of over 2 million, approximately
half of the populace survives below the poverty-line, and 58, 000 people continue to
experience food insecurity. Lesotho ranks at 121st out of 125 countries with sufficient data to
calculate 2023 GHI scores. Thehigherthe rank theworse the hungerindex. The Global Hunger Index
recorded Lesotho’s hunger score at 32.4. This is categorised as alarming on the scale
ranging from low to extremely alarming. Lesotho has been grappling with chronic food
insecurity, with 61% of the population affected living in rural areas and 39% affected living in
urban areas due to climate challenges such as heavy rains. In summary, severe food
insecurity, decrease agriculture production, poverty, poor nutritional status, and HIV/AIDS
decrease the quality of life in Lesotho.
Aim: The main aim of the research study was to develop, validate, and implement, a
sustainable nutrition-sensitive agriculture toolkit with two programs: sustainable agriculture
and sustainable nutrition-sensitive agriculture. The toolkit was developed for rural
small-scale female family farmers to provide for household consumption and local
small-scale commerce. The study further aimed to introduce and educate female
farmers in agri-business and agro- processing through the use of Greenhouse tunnels
underpinned by sustainable agriculture, sustainable local community food systems,
and sustainable nutrition-sensitive agriculture to address food and nutrition insecurity
and attempt to decrease hunger at the community, household, and individual levels. Methodology: The sample size was n=126 females participants residing in rural
households in the district of Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho. The sample population age ranged
from 20 to over 60 years. In this randomised control trial (RCT), a combination of
quantitative and qualitative methods were used. The quantitative data was used to
determine the interaction between socio-economic conditions, nutritional variety,
nutritional competence, food consumption patterns, food security status, and agricultural
practices. The qualitative data collection used was an observational research method under
naturalistic and controlled observation. This approach involved manipulating and
controlling the experimental and intervention research variables to determine cause and
effect relationships. The control group participants were from Maqoala n=63, and the
intervention group participants were from Mpharane n=63.
The toolkit was developed using relevant literature for addressing poverty, hunger, food
insecurity and nutrition insecurity. In addition, the toolkit was also developed using the
results obtained from the study through the administered questionnaires: sociodemographic, household hunger scale and household food insecurity access scale, nutrition
knowledge and anthropometry measurements for nutritional assessment, food
frequency, 24-hour food recall, agricultural and knowledge practices, preparation, and
preservation practices. The toolkit comprised of two programs: sustainable agriculture
and sustainable nutrition-sensitive agriculture. The toolkit was validated through the
Delphi method. The intervention was run for two years, to target three planting and
harvesting seasons in both the control and experimental villages. Both the experimental and control group were allocated Greenhouse
tunnels with irrigation systems, temperature control systems, storage facilities and food
preparation facilities. The inputs given to each group included the allocation of inputs was
seedsthat were certified by the government of Lesotho:round cabbage,spinach (Swiss chard),
green beans (snap beans), red beetroot, carrots (Nantes), red bell pepper, tomato (stupice),
butternut squash, potato (Vivaldi), and brown onion. The experimental group was given the
researcher’s training manual together with the participants training manual. The
experimental group was further trained using the manual. The control group, Maqoala, was
given the training manuals, without any training.
Results: Results indicated that all female participants (n=126) headed the households and
were caregivers who resided with other people in the households. The majority of the
households (61.9%) had one room, 16.7% had two rooms, and 11.9 % had three rooms with no
electricity or running water in the houses. Notably, all participants were unemployed, and
experienced anxiety over running out of food before having money to buy more. Almost 44%
of the participants often had a shortage of money to buy food, and 45.2% of the participants
sometimes had a shortage. The average monthly spending on food for 25.4% of the
households was R201 to R300, whilst 36.5% of the households on average spent a between
R301 to R400 on food each month. All the participants reported having a change in food intake
due to decreased accessibility.
Moreover, all the participants indicated that they consumed less food than required and had
to cut the size of the food served to children because there was not enough food available.
An estimate 89.7% of the participants skipped meals because there was not enough food to
eat. The nutrient analysis from the 24-hour food recall indicated dietary inadequacy in energy,
protein, calcium, and vitamins A, B6, B12, C, and E. When assessing the dietary diversity, the
participants consumed more cereals and starchy foods, as reflected by the high carbohydrate
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). The Body Mass Index (BMI) of 4.7% of the participants from
Maqoala was in the underweight BMI range compared to 3.1% of participants from
Mpharane. The outcomes could also be influenced by a lack of nutrition knowledge as the
average knowledge was 52.0%, ranging from 38 to 69% in both Mpharane and Maqoala.The results highlighted high levels of hunger, food insecurity and nutrition insecurity among
the participants. The results supported the development, validation, and implementation of
the toolkit through the Delphi method. Firstly, the toolkit focused on sustainable agriculture,
planting vegetables, selling vegetables to generate money to buy seeds for the subsequent
planting phases, and consumption and preservation of vegetables for households in the
control and experimental groups.
The intervention results indicated that Mpharane (experiment group) participants in phase 1,
harvested 468 cabbage heads, sold 278 heads, and preserved 189 heads for household
consumption. In phase 2, the number of cabbages increased to 612 heads; the participants
sold 422 heads and preserved 189 heads for household consumption. In phase 3, 675 cabbage
heads were harvested, 485 heads were sold, and 189 were preserved for household
consumption. Mpharane had an increase of 144 heads of cabbage from phase 1, 468 heads
of cabbage, to phase 2, 612 heads of cabbage, and in phase 3 (675 heads of cabbage), the
increase was very low, with 63 heads of cabbage between phase 2 to phase 3.
Maqoala (control group) participants did not sell any of the fresh produce they harvested.
Instead, they shared the harvested fresh produce with each other. In phase 1, 567 cabbage
heads were harvested, and 567 heads were shared among the n=63 participants for
household consumption. In phase 2, the number of cabbage heads harvested increased to
627 heads and all 627 heads were shared among the participantsfor household consumption.
In phase 3, 414 cabbage heads were harvested, and 414 heads were shared among the n=63
participants for household consumption. Maqoala produced a total of 1608 heads of cabbage
between phases 1, 2 and 3, and Mpharane produced a total of 1755 heads of cabbage
between phases 1, 2 and 3, 147 heads of cabbage more than Maqoala.
The participants from experimental group harvested 519 bundles of spinach in Phase 1. In
Phase 2, 834 bundles were harvested, 329 bundles in Phase 1, 644 bundles in Phase 2 were
sold, and 189 bundles were preserved for household consumption. The participants harvested
1238 bundles of spinach in phase 3, and 1048 bundles were sold, whilst 189 were preserved
for household consumption. The participants in Maqoala harvested 857 bundles of spinach
and used all 857 bundles for household consumption. The experimental group had a vast increase in the bundles of spinach produced in phase 3, with 1238 bundles of spinach
compared to phase 1, with 468 bundles, whilst phase 2, produced 612 bundles. The total of
the bundles of spinach produced by the experimental group was 2591 bundles between
phases 1, 2, and 3, whilst the control group produced 2196 bundles of spinach between
phases 1, 2, and 3. The experimental group produced 396 bundles more than the control
group. The toolkit introduced and educated the experimental group on agriculture
practices, nutrition, and developing market products. At the baseline immediately after the
lesson, the participants were assessed and scored 54% in lesson 1, 66% in lesson 2 and 80%
in lesson 3. At the endline, the participants were not taught again but were expected to
remember the previous lessons and practices they had done during the intervention. There
was a decrease in the participants'scores atthe endline. The participantsscored 43% in lesson
1, 32% in lesson 2 and 65% in lesson 3.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that poverty contributes to hunger, food and nutrition
insecurity, and triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition and overnutrition, and
micronutrient deficiency in Lesotho. Food and nutrition insecurity can be addressed by
integrating sustainable agriculture and sustainable nutrition-sensitive agriculture. Agriculture
holds significant potential as it can contribute to addressing the primary causes of nutritionrelated problems, enhance worldwide food accessibility and availability and improve family
food security, nutritional value, salary, and female empowerment. For these reasons, a
sustainable nutrition-sensitive agriculture toolkit for small-scale female farmers with agribusiness and agro-processing components was developed from the Lesotho data and shown
to improve household vegetable production and consumption. Agrifood systems contribute
to high employment of females worldwide. Agrifood systems also contribute more to the
livelihoods of females compared to males, mainly in developing countries. Enriching females
and ending genderinequality under agrifood systems can improve the lives of the females and
their homes, decrease starvation, increase earnings and strengthen resilience.