Browsing by Author "De Kock, Imke"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Development of a health system framework to guide the analysis of innovation adoption in low and middle income countries
    (South African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2018) Leonard, Elizabeth; De Kock, Imke; Bam, Wouter
    Healthcare systems face numerous challenges that put strain on the system. This is despite the countless resources that are expended on creating innovative healthcare solutions (ranging from innovative healthcare technologies, organisational innovations to pharmaceutical innovations). The literature on innovation and healthcare has shown that the adoption of innovations in practice within the healthcare system is hindered and limited. There is a need to explore and evaluate the role of the innovation system in South Africa insofar as it impacts the adoption of innovations into the national healthcare system. As a starting point, for assessing innovation adoption into health systems, it is necessary to be able to thoroughly describe a health system. In this paper a consolidated health system framework is developed. The purpose of this framework is to be utilised when developing a healthcare innovation adoption framework, i.e. as an input to the healthcare innovation adoption framework. The methodology used to develop the consolidated health systems framework are the eight phases of Jabareen’s conceptual framework. Jabareen’s framework is a qualitative technique for developing conceptual frameworks. The advantages of using this conceptual framework methodology include its capability to be modified, its flexibility and the focus being placed on understanding, rather than on predictions. The results of this research paper are a consolidated health systems framework which was created by considering existing health system frameworks. The consolidated health systems framework thoroughly describes all aspects of a health system by combining elements from six existing health system frameworks. The elements of the existing frameworks were categorised, integrated and synthesised, as per Jabareen’s methodology, to create a complete view of a health system; which includes health processes, building blocks, intermediate objectives and goals. This paper contributes to the field of health systems engineering by providing an extensive list of existing health system frameworks and by providing a framework that combines the major aspects of a health system to thoroughly and completely describe health systems.
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    Implications of biofuel production in the Western Cape province, South Africa : a system dynamics modelling approach
    (University of Cape Town, Energy Research Centre, 2017) Jonker, Willem; Brent, Alan Colin; Musango, Josephine Kaviti; De Kock, Imke
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The national government instated a mandatory blending policy to facilitate the uptake and establishment of a biofuels sector in South Africa. Uncertainty exists, however, regarding the implications and effects of producing biofuels within the Western Cape province, as part of a strategy of the province to transition to a green economy. This investigation was carried out as an effort to simulate the biofuel production within the Western Cape under certain project and policy considerations. A system dynamics model was developed to identify key strategic intervention points that could strengthen the business case of biofuel production. The model showed a feasible business case for bioethanol production, with the best case showing an internal rate of return of 23% (without government subsidy), and an emissions reduction of 63% when compared with coal. It is recommended that special consideration be given to the location of bioethanol production facilities, as operational costs can be minimised by incorporating invasive alien land-clearing schemes as part of the bioethanol production. The model further showed that medium-to-large-scale biodiesel production in the province is not feasible under the given model assumptions, as the positive effects of local biodiesel production do not justify the required government subsidy of ZAR 4.30 per litre. It is recommended that a different approach be investigated, where multiple on-site small-scale biodiesel production facilities are used, thus utilising multiple feedstock options and minimising capital expenditure.
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    An integrative review of the potential barriers to and drivers of adopting and implementing sustainable construction in South Africa
    (Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2020-11-11) Marsh, Ralmar; Brent, A. C.; De Kock, Imke
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: While sustainable construction has gained increasing international attention, a limited number of studies address the issue of sustainable construction in South Africa. The adoption and implementation of sustainable solutions in the South African construction industry is also not apparent. The objective of this paper was to examine the most significant barriers to and drivers of the adoption and implementation of sustainable construction through an integrative review by systematically analysing the existing literature. This review identified six key themes in the literature: 1) socio-cultural barriers and drivers; 2) economic barriers and drivers; 3) stakeholder barriers and drivers; 4) political barriers and drivers; 5) technological barriers and drivers; and 6) the environmental benefits of adopting sustainable construction. An empirical investigation is ongoing to understand and analyse some of these barriers and drivers, with the aim of facilitating the transition to the adoption and successful implementation of sustainable construction in South Africa.
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    Public-private supply chain integration as a possible means to improve public health supply chains
    (South African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2018) Botes, Jessica; Bam, Wouter; De Kock, Imke
    Struggling health supply chains and poor health outcomes in developing countries, have highlighted the need to improve these supply chains. A number of different methods have been used to improve health supply chains. However, it has been argued that the results are not sufficient and sustainable, neither do they aim to resolve impending challenges. In this paper, we put forward that public-private supply chain integration may be an important tool towards improving public health supply chains. However, further research is required to establish tools that support the determination to improve the supply chains and it. Moreover, research is required to determine whether improvements can be accomplished, as well as what the impact would be on the health supply chains in specific circumstances.
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    The state of the art of gendered energy innovations : a structured literature review
    (Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2020-11-11) Van der Merwe, Stefani; De Kock, Imke; Musango, Josephine K.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The impact of restricted access to sustainable energy is the worst in vulnerable urban poor areas, and so an alternative approach to energy innovations is needed. To explore the possibilities for energy innovations, gender needs to be taken into account. This is especially relevant in the sub-Saharan African context, as most households are female-headed. This paper aims to explore the current state of gendered energy innovations by using a multivocal approach; it thus focuses on the existing body of knowledge at the gender—energy interface. The study is conducted in two parts: first, ‘state of the art’ is conceptualised using a multilevel approach; second, a structured literature review on gendered energy innovations is conducted in light of the structured understanding of ‘state of the art’. There is definitely room for new innovations to use gender as a strategy for solving energy security problems in urban poor environments.