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A conceptual framework for timber adoption in the construction industry
(South African Institute of Industrial Engineers, 2025-08-29) Verhage, B.; Hassan, Ferdinand S.; Grobbelaar, Schalk; ferdinand.hassan@tuks.co.za
ENGLISH : This study explored the key human behavioural factors influencing the adoption of timber and engineered wood products in the construction industry by integrating the key constructs of the theory of planned behaviour and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. The study identified relationships between attitude towards behaviour and performance expectancy, subjective norm and social influence, perceived behavioural control and facilitating conditions, and effort expectancy in the context of timber adoption. The proposed framework provides a theoretical foundation for further research on the adoption of timber in the construction industry.
SAGES dyspepsia guidance
(Medpharm Publications, 2025-09) Simmonds, W.M.; Brand, Martin; Coovadia, K.; Lala, V.; Naidoo, V.; Seabi, N.; Setshedi, M.; Sonderup, M.; Watermeyer, G.; Fredericks, E.
Dyspepsia is a common condition characterised by upper abdominal symptoms, including epigastric pain, bloating, and nausea. This guidance document provides a framework for managing dyspepsia, emphasising initial clinical assessment, risk stratification, and tailored treatment approaches. Non-invasive testing for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and empiric proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy are recommended for low-risk patients. High-risk patients, or those with persistent symptoms, require upper endoscopy to evaluate for underlying pathology. Lifestyle and dietary modifications, acid suppression therapy, and H. pylori eradication therapy are the key treatment components. The guidance also outlines algorithms for managing dyspepsia, promoting informed decision-making and improving patient outcomes. By implementing these, healthcare practitioners can enhance patient care, alleviate symptoms, and improve the quality of life and health outcomes for patients with dyspepsia.
Capital structure decision-making for business turnarounds based on distress severity and reasonable prospect confluence
(AOSIS, 2025-07-24) Van Beek, Coenraad J.S.; Pretorius, Marius; marius.pretorius@up.ac.za
BACKGROUND : The relationship between financial distress severity and the prospect for rescuing a distressed company significantly impacts capital structure decisions. When a company faces distress, its interactions with funders change, directly affecting rescue prospects.
AIM : This research proposes objective frameworks to assess distress severity and rescue prospects, aligning them with practical capital decisions.
SETTING : This study, set in South Africa with its nascent financial distress legislation and industry, proposes new frameworks to assess distress severity and the likelihood of company rescue. These findings align with capital structure theory and have applications beyond South Africa.
METHOD : Using Q-methodology to understand how the confluence between distress severity and rescue potential is crucial for capital structure decisions in business turnarounds.
RESULTS : The factor array and loadings point to a confluence of distress severity and the prospects to rescue a business and align with the three main capital structure theories of irrelevance, trade-off and pecking order theories.
CONCLUSION : The findings link theories of the severity of distress, reasonable prospect and capital structure in an alternative way and provide a framework for capital structure decision-making in financially distressed companies. This research aims to stimulate further academic research and to have practical applications.
CONTRIBUTION : For the first time, this study by using Q-methodology explored different stakeholder perspectives and proposed expanded frameworks for determining the severity of distress and the prospects for rescue. It adapted existing frameworks to be less subjective and more aligned with practical capital structure decisions.
Can MS Excel help finance students to excel? A study in student work readiness
(Higher Education South Africa, 2025-07) Kirsten, E.; Van Hoepen, R.; Du Toit, Elda
Microsoft Excel is vital in the finance sector, and preparing students for the professional arena involves honing their spreadsheet skills. A study investigated the efficacy of a finance-centric Microsoft Excel workshop as an intervention to enhance students' skills and readiness for work. Pre- and post-intervention tests assessed students' perceptions and abilities. The results revealed a significant improvement across basic, intermediate, and advanced Excel skills, positively impacting students' self-perceptions. The majority recognized Excel as a critical job market skill. The study recommends integrating Excel assignments into finance modules to elevate skills and enhance finance knowledge retention, promoting self-directed learning.
Improving organisational learning in project-based organisations through the translation of project lessons learnt into project risks
(South African Institute of Industrial Engineers, 2025-08-29) Bredell, C.; Tshuma, Brighton
ENGLISH : This study examines the translation of lessons learnt into risks in project-based organisations to improve organisational learning through the development of a knowledge transfer model. A qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews, a focus group interview, and an organisational repository reviewing a single case study organisation revealed that framing lessons as risks enhances organisational learning by strengthening critical practices such as systematic problem-solving, learning from past experiences, and efficient knowledge transfer. The proposed model configures the application of risk-phrased lessons learnt to promote the transfer of knowledge and to foster organisational learning in project-based organisations.