Browsing by Type "Plan or blueprint"

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Construction SMEs versus economic growth : the Eastern Cape perspective
(B P International (a part of SCIENCEDOMAIN International), 2023-05-30) Flepisi, Lubabalo; Womack, Anna Johanna Catharina; Lekhanya, Lawrence Mpele; Twum-Darko, Michael
Globally, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are recognised as the engine and backbone of economic growth, especially for emerging countries such as South Africa. However, construction SMEs in South Africa are faced with some major challenges that hinder their contribution to the economic growth of the country. The study sought to investigate the factors that hinder the contribution of construction SMEs to the economic growth in the Eastern Cape province, in South Africa. The sample size of the study comprised 303 construction SME owners/managers in the Eastern Cape province. Nevertheless, for this conference, the findings of the study are based on the reviewed literature, supplemented by a pilot study with 30 construction SME owners/managers as participants. The study revealed key factors that influence the contribution of construction SMEs to economic growth in the Eastern Cape province. These factors include insufficient/inadequate financial resources, innovation, business management skills, and investment in human capital, as well as a lack of Information Technology use, along with skills shortages, and too many government regulations. The South African government and private sector thus need to develop mechanisms that will cushion construction SMEs through the development of policies that will enable these firms to contribute to economic growth.
Exploring industry's contribution to the labour-intensive construction of low order rural community access roads
(2020) Jairam, Santosh; Allopi, Dhiren
The Government of South Africa supports labour-intensive work methodologies as a means of alleviating unemployment in South Africa. In 2004 the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) was formed to promote labour-intensive work methods due to the high unemployment situation. The EPWP is a nationwide programme using public funds to encourage employment by using labour-intensive work methodologies with the intention of reducing national poverty. The programme covers four sectors. The four sectors are environment and culture, infrastructure, social and non-state. The largest component is infrastructure; roads being part of the infrastructure component provides the highest potential for employment creation. Both international and local experience has revealed that by having trained supervisory staff and a proper employment framework, labour-intensive work methods can be successfully used for projects such as roads, sidewalks, storm water drains, trenches, buildings, sanitation and water. The national government, based on this experience and due to high levels of unemployment, has encouraged the use of these type of infrastructure projects as a way of contributing to the alleviation of unemployment. “Only twelve per cent of the road sector budget is used for labour-intensive projects” (Public Works 2012b: 1). This implies that there have been no drastic changes in the extent to which labour-intensive work methodologies have been used in the road works programme. This study focused on exploring parastatals’, consultants’ and contractors’ contribution to the labour-intensive construction of low order rural community access roads in the Outer West region of eThekwini’s Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, in accordance with the EPWP Guidelines. The population consisted of 101 individuals from the contracting, consulting and parastatal fields of employment who had worked on EPWP related labour-intensive road projects in this region. All 101 individuals were chosen as the sample size A qualitative and quantitative approach was used in this research to gather data on the contribution made by the civil engineering industry to the promotion of labourintensive road construction methods. This approach allowed for an understanding of the motivation and the experiences of consultants, contractors and parastatals regarding the design and construction management choices they have made. Data was collected via a questionnaire containing open-ended questions and rating scales from 87 civil engineering staff that were employed by parastatals, contractors and consultants who were involved in designing, constructing and managing labourintensive construction of low order rural community access roads in the Outer West region of eThekwini Municipality. In addition, interviews were conducted with same 87 civil engineering staff that were involved in designing, constructing and managing these labour-intensive road construction projects during the period from 2015 to 2019. Data collected overwhelmingly suggested that very little practically is being done to promote labour-intensive construction of low order community access roads. The nature of engagement that does occur is largely through the filling in of basic reporting forms and providing basic small scale informal training and work to labour. No standard specification document is in place to enforce labour-intensive construction of rural community access roads. The documents that are in place merely serve as guidelines and administrative data collection tools rather than helping to promote labour-intensive road construction.
Factors affecting the improvement of service quality at Universities of Technology: the case of South Africa
(IFRD, 2014) Green, Paul; Adekanmbi, Oluwole
Several research studies have been conducted on the evaluation of service quality at conventional universities. However, this study focuses on universities of technology which are fast growing value-based educational institutions in South Africa. The uniqueness of this study highlights the issues that can affect the improvement of service at universities of technology. Three factors namely: Organizational issues, Educational issues and Staff &Student issues were extracted as the main foci in the improvement of service at universities of technology. A mixed method methodology and an action research approach were employed in this study. The results obtained using factor analysis provides a basis for driving an equation system for evaluating the impact of the issues with respect to the factors named above. The results also show that some extraneous factors that are external to service delivery, have a substantial effect on the quality of service at universities of technology.
Imperatives for good Governance: a case study of the implementation Batho Pele Principles at Durban Home Affairs Regional Level
(Kamla-Raj Entreprises, 2014) Dorasamy, Nirmala; Ngidi, Telesphorus Lindelani
Good governance, the rule of law and systems of accountability are essential elements in guaranteeing that resources are equitably shared. These resources are to be used efficiently, effectively and economically. Prior 1994, quality service was only reserved for whites. Given this legacy, the transformation of the South African Government had to be initiated. The endeavours by the African National Congress (ANC) to deal with the ills of the past gave birth to the White Paper on the Transformation of Public Service Delivery (1997). This initiative is underpinned by these principles: consultation, service standards, access, courtesy, information, openness and transparency, redress and value for money. This paper seeks to investigate the importance of good governance. The paper adopted an interpretive qualitative, quantitative methodology. The data suggests that while initiatives are in place to ensure good governance, challenges still exist. Recommendations focus on enhanced procedures relating to Batho Pele to improve good governance.