Faculty of Management Sciences
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Item Transforming the European migrant crisis into rural developmental opportunities : the case of Latvia(David Publishing Company, 2019-09-28) Bakre, Olayemi Rahman; Dorasamy, NirmalaThe European migrant crisis has been accentuated as the most momentous challenge that the European Union has faced since its establishment in 1993. The magnitude of this migration crisis is been amplified by political instability in the Middle East, wars, limited economic opportunities, and climate change. Migration analysts have viewed this “polycrisis” from an optimistic and pessimist perspective. The paper however pursues that of optimism and explores how the integration of skilled political migrants can be integrated into shrinking Latvian communities with an agendum to transforming the economically stagnated rural communities into viable rural spaces. The researcher interviewed 91 immigrants from nine countries to gain an insight into perception of political migrants amongst other variables. Furthermore, inductive and deductive approaches were used in synthesizing pertinent information from official records and reports on the above subject matter. A core emphasis of the paper was that the shrinking population of Latvia will adversely impede its future economic development. Hence, the paper advocates a systematic integration of skilled political migrants into the Latvian rural economy as an agendum to accelerating rural development.Item School-based evaluation to improve learner performance(Business Perspectives, 2016) Mathaba, Richard Siphamandla Ryan; Dorasamy, NirmalaThe article focuses on the periods of program and school evaluation in particular. The article traces school evaluation through various periods. These periods are: Age of originality (1444-1700), Age of reform (Prior 1900), Efficiency and testing (1900-1930), Tylerian period (1930-1945), Age of innocence (1946-1957), Age of development (1958-1972), Age of professionalism (1973-1983) and Age of expansion and integration (1984-2000). From these ages, the article is able to identify as to how Whole-school Evaluation in South Africa has been able to draw important lessons towards ensuring quality assurance in education.Item Creating economic viability in rural South Africa through water resource management in subsistence farming(Business Perspectives, 2016) Bakre, Olayemi Rahman; Dorasamy, NirmalaThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the role water resources management can play in improving subsistence farming in rural South Africa, as well as reducing poverty. The study followed a mixed research approach where attributes of qualitative and quantitative methods were used. This paper indicates that due to water scarcity experienced amongst subsistence farmers in case study area, several farmers have opted out of farming. This has a negative consequence on food security and poverty among many subsistence farmers. The paper suggests the pathways for sustainable subsistence farming aimed at creating an economically viable rural community while addressing poverty through the implementation of an efficient water resources management practice. As highlighted in this paper, development is a gradual process, and water resources management can possibly be the first step in creating an economically viable community while alleviating poverty among subsistence farmers in water scarce rural areas of South Africa. Revamping the subsistence farming, as well as improving the standard of living amongst rural subsistence farmers requires a purposeful co-ordination and exchange of ideas between experienced agricultural extension workers, researchers in the field of context, policy makers, as well as other stakeholders. Such purposeful co-ordination should have an agenda of transforming the subsistence farming to a commercialized form of farming in the long term. The resultant effect will possibly result in an economically viable community; increase in household income, as well as food security, thereby reducing poverty.Item Rural redress through investment in water resource management for subsistence farming(Environmental Economics, 2015) Bakre, Olayemi Rahman; Dorasamy, NirmalaRural development is a topical issue in South Africa. Several studies, policies and strategies as regards rural develop-ment are discussed at various levels and platforms. However, despite the efforts made by government and non-governmental bodies, rural communities such as the Mtubatuba community situated in the north-east region of KwaZu-lu-Natal and many other rural communities still wallow in poverty. In consonance to the high prevalence of poverty and stagnation of subsistence farming, the paper aims to suggest other approaches to addressing the cyclical poverty and defunct subsistence farming in this community. To accomplish this aim, a mixed research approach was used; as elements of qualitative (interviews) and quantitative (questionnaire) research approaches were used to obtain relevant information. The study reveals that water shortage has adversely undermined the development and growth of subsistence farming in this poor community. Furthermore, the difficulties experienced by the marginalized people of Mtubatuba are typical of many rural areas which have not fully benefitted from transformation in a post-apartheid South Africa. To address this concern, the study suggested the reallocation of the municipalities surplus budget to the investment of water resource management with the intent of transforming the subsistence farming into commercial farming; thus improving the standard of living and reducing poverty to a reasonable extent.Item The effectiveness of gender equity policies in higher education : the case of the Durban University of Technology(Kamla-Raj, 2016) Awung, Mabel; Dorasamy, NirmalaRecent research has shown that despite the progress women have made in the workplace, they still lag behind in terms of higher level and rewarding positions. This situation is attributable to the policies that do not meet the needs of female employees. This paper therefore seeks to examine the effectiveness of gender equity policies in advancing the careers of women in higher education, using the Durban University of Technology as a case study. A mixed method design was adopted in which a sample of 250 women was drawn from academic and administrative units using stratified random sampling. A questionnaire was used to collect data, which was analyzed in order to highlight the factors influencing the career progression of women in higher education. The findings revealed that more policies need to be designed and effectively monitored in order to improve the working conditions of women in higher education.Item The extent of debt financing within state-owned corporations in Kenya(Virtus Interpress, 2015) Nyamita, Micah Odhiambo; Garbharran, Hari Lall; Dorasamy, NirmalaThe public sector reforms’ programme in Kenya, has witnessed five state-owned corporations being privatised, and several more, from hotels to banks, have been scheduled to be privatised. However, many of Kenya’s state-owned corporations are in considerable debt, which reduce their value in the process of privatisation. This study attempted to determine the extent and the theory suitable for explaining debt-financing within the state-owned corporations in Kenya from 2007 to 2011. The study applied both descriptive statistics and a hybrid of cross sectional and longitudinal quantitative surveys. The results observed some level of stability on the aggregate long-term debt ratios, with minimal use of stock market instruments, which implied the application of the agency theory.Item Job and career satisfaction in higher education institutions: a case study of university “A” in South Africa(Business Perspectives, 2015) Dorasamy, Nirmala; Letooane, Mpho KennethOrientation: This article focuses on the job and career satisfaction of a higher education institution in South Africa. The findings from this investigation will assist employees and management alike to understand factors that can improve career and job satisfaction, in order for university “A” to be an employer of choice that will attract, develop and retain suitably qualified employees. Research aim and objective: This study investigates job and career satisfaction amongst university “A” employees. The objective that was set for this research was to determine the level of job and career satisfaction within university “A” and therefore make recommendations to university “A” management on how to purposefully improve the job and career satisfaction and quality of work life (QoWL) of its employees. Motivation for the study: Job and career satisfaction is a challenge in higher education institutions. For organizations to achieve their strategic objectives or goals, employee’s satisfaction should be at a high level. Research design, approach and methods: The quantitative approach was employed where structured questionnaires were distributed to the population size of 160 of which 142 were completed, with the response rate of 89%. The reliability score of (0.896) was reached. This indicates a high degree of acceptable consistency. The qualitative data were collected by open ended questions that were presented to the participants and these were analyzed by N-VIVO N10. The researcher also observed the participants and recorded information relating to the research in a field diary. Findings: The findings of this research suggest that career advancement is one of the main reasons identified to lead to job and career dissatisfaction. Even though a high majority of the study participants agree that they have a clear set of goals and aims that enable them to do their job, only a marginal number agree that when they have done a good job it is acknowledged by their line manager. The findings furthermore indicate that employees are not satisfied with the training they receive. Other factors that lead to job and career dissatisfaction include poor organizational culture, disintegrated systems, lack of communication, poor facilities, poor registration processes, remuneration, unfair allocation of duties, work overload and division amongst departments. The finding also show that there are other considerations that may not be regarded as the principal functions of the employees, but these may be very critical determinants of job and career satisfaction such as job insecurity, which was one of the prominent concerns of respondents. Practical/managerial implications: The results from this research could be utilized by management and supervisors, in order to minimize the potential factors that could negatively impact on the job and career satisfaction of employees in higher education institutions. Contribution and value added: Given the importance of job and career satisfaction, it is important to ensure a good QoWL for employees. The study will assist in identifying the critical dynamics of job and career satisfaction at university “A”, and highlight those that are a cause for concern and need to be addressed with a view of improving job and career satisfaction and QoWL of employees.Item Factors impacting on employee performance: a case study ofthe Royal Swaziland police service(Virtus Interpress, 2015) Dorasamy, Nirmala; Mabila, Ndiphethe OliveThe principal challenge for most organisations is to ensure that the performance of employees will result in the effectiveness and success of any organisation. The Royal Swaziland Police Service (RSPS), in order to differentiate itself from other organisations and ensure survival effectiveness and competitiveness, must render services of high quality. The key findings of the RSPS study suggest that the most positive factors of job satisfaction are receiving respect from the community and relations with colleagues, while the negative aspects are that salaries are not equal to effort put into the job and fear of victimization after voicing a personal opinion.Item Education within public management in South Africa: a focus on external whole-school evaluation process’ contribution in Mpumalanga Province(Virtus Interpress, 2015) Mathaba, Richard Siphamandla Ryan; Dorasamy, NirmalaThe study focused on the role played by public sector management in South Africa towards the country’s total development and improvement. This article also analyses how through the Whole School Evaluation (WSE) process, the education system in South Africa seeks to ensure that the schooling is effective. This paper examines public management, public administration as well as new public management (NPM). The aim is to illustrate a view of how education fits in the broader public management and how the WSE process assists schooling in South Africa and Mpumalanga in particular. This is to ensure that the schooling is effective and contribute towards service delivery and the country’s overall development and improvement. Furthermore, WSE as a process, is viewed through five of NPM undisputable and debatable characteristics of accountability for performance; performance measurement; performance auditing; policy analysis and evaluation; and strategic planning and management. Public management functions and public management principles are discussed from a point of how the WSE process strives to ensure that it complies with these function and principles, and how this compliance benefit school improvement. This paper came to a number of conclusions regarding education within public management from a WSE perspective. Firstly, education through the external WSE process conforms to this principle of New Public Management in that evaluation is aimed at improving the quality of education. Also, the external WSE, as a process, and education in general, through the NPM principles can be performed within public management. Furthermore, external WSE conforms to public management principles as well as Batho Pele principles.Item Predictors of Whistle-Blowing intentions: an analysis of multi-level variables(Sage Publishing, 2015-05-27) Pillay, Soma; Ramphul, Needesh; Dorasamy, Nirmala; Meyer, DennyThe purpose of this study was to examine the variables impacting on whistle-blowing intentions in the public services of two developing countries, South Africa and Mauritius. In particular, this study considers the barriers to whistle-blowing and the effect of demographic and cultural values on the perceptions of these barriers. The study finds major differences between South Africa and Mauritius with minor differences in regard to gender and education.