DSpace Repository

Welcome to the NWU Repository, the open access Institutional Repository of the North-West University (NWU-IR). This is a digital archive that collects, preserves and distributes research material created by members of NWU. The aim of the NWU-IR is to increase the visibility, availability and impact of the research output of the North-West University through Open Access, search engine indexing and harvesting by several initiatives.

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Global trends in clinical trials and interventions for the metabolic syndrome: A comprehensive analysis of the WHO International Clinical Trials platform
(Elsevier Inc., 2024) Muvhulawa, Ndivhuwo; Dludla, Phiwayinkosi V.; Ndlovu, Musawenkosi; Ntamo, Yonela; Mayeye, Asanda; Luphondo, Nomahlubi; Hlengwa, Nokulunga; Basson, Albertus K.; Mabhida, Sihle E.; Hanser, Sidney; Mazibuko-Mbeje, Sithandiwe E.; Nkambule, Bongani B.; Ndwandwe, Duduzile
Metabolic syndrome has emerged as a significant global public health concern, necessitating comprehensive examination alongside cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). This study provides a comprehensive analysis of clinical trials, drawing upon data sourced from the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), until April 2023. Information pertaining to trial attributes and intervention features was gathered and subsequently summarized. Among the 2379 studies found on ICTRP from 18 clinical registries, ClinicalTrials.gov was the most popular with 55 % of the studies, based on data emerging from the United States. Most trials were for treatment (44 %) and prevention (17 %), with fewer focused on basic science, and diagnostic purposes. Diet and exercise were the most prominent, with 710 and 247 studies, respectively. Metformin and statins emerge as leading pharmacological therapies, reflecting the prevalence of CVD and T2D in the context of metabolic syndrome. However, there is growing recognition of other promising interventions, such as Glucagon- Like Peptide-1 agonists and Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV inhibitors, which offer potential in slowing the progression of metabolic syndrome-related conditions. Notably, clinical trials primarily assessed diagnostic markers like lipid profiles, insulin, and blood pressure, rather than body mass and body mass index. These parameters are crucial for evaluating the effectiveness and safety of interventions for metabolic syndrome due to its multi-condition nature. Most studies aimed to address general symptom relief, while highlighting a need for additional well- designed treatment trials with rigorous methodologies in accordance with the World Health Organization’s guidance for consistent evaluation and treatment.
Recommendations for cybersecurity awareness for the South African local government using a gamification approach
(North-West University (South Africa)., 2026) Hlungwani, Giyani; Malele, V.
Although most cases of cybersecurity challenges are reported by large private organisations, it should be noted that public organisations are not immune. For example, in recent years, several government departments have experienced cyber-attacks and threats. The latter created a cybersecurity risk that needed to be addressed. The main aim of this study was to make recommendations for cybersecurity awareness using gamification approach for South African local government. This study was guided by three theoretical frameworks: (i) Cybersecurity Frameworks (CSF), (ii) Line-of-Defence (LoD), and (iii) Gamification. To achieve the main aim, several objectives (subdivided into primary and secondary) were put into place. Due to the nature of this study, an action research case study research methodology with a focus on local government was adopted. It was implemented using structured methods for data collection, analysis (drawing patterns), and development of recommendations. In this regard, the researcher conducted a literature review using different techniques, field research, and a qualitative interpretation case study approach. Action research was carried out using three phases. In the first phase of this study, the contextualisation and interaction process was used through a systematic literature review (SLR) aimed at exploring existing cybersecurity strategies and frameworks related to local governments. Furthermore, a selection of an appropriate game tool was made to promote gamification by collecting rich contextual data during game play to improve awareness of cybersecurity in the local government was conducted. The second phase, ‘Abstract and Reasoning’, focuses on critically assessing the selection of appropriate research methods to understand the unique cybersecurity challenges facing local governments. The objective of this phase was to develop a theoretical view of how local government employees perceive and react to cybersecurity threats and to formulate literature recommendations for gamification awareness. In this regard, a brief survey using questionnaires was conducted. III The third phase, ‘Multiple Interpretations and Suspicions’, allowed local government employees to formulate focus groups that were exposed to different experimental processes. In this regard, semi-structured interviews were used as a form of collecting employee knowledge, perception, and adoptability of the cybersecurity strategy using gamifications. The quality data from the focus group meetings was analysed and synthesised to produce recommendations. In this regard, content analysis was used to extract meaningful patterns and insights that were used. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews were used to validate the draft recommendations which were also compared to literature. Results indicated that gamification significantly improves engagement and retention of cybersecurity practices. Employees exposed to game-based learning demonstrated higher motivation and adaptability, suggesting that gamification can effectively bridge the gap between theory and practice. This study recommended integrating gamified modules into existing cybersecurity programmes, developing localised framework aligned with national standards, and implementing continuous monitoring and feedback. Policy support and resource allocation are essential for sustainability. This research was limited to a single local government, which may affect generalisability. Future studies should include multiple local governments and examine the long-term impact of gamification-based training.
Exploring workplace flexibility of early childhood development practitioners and managers within the Sedibeng District
(North-West University (South Africa)., 2026) Bartlett, Ryan; Gresse, Werner; Keyser, Elsabé
This dissertation aimed to explore workplace flexibility within the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector through the lens of both the manager and practitioner to identify the importance that it has within this specific sector. The dissertation in article 1 further investigated the importance of the phenomenon for both employee (practitioner) and employer (manager/owner) and to assess its impact on job satisfaction, work-life balance, retention, professional development, and well-being. The dissertation through article 2 further explored the perceived perceptions of workplace flexibility among managers and practitioners with a specific focus on the Sedibeng District. The first article presents a systematic review, utilising Amstar 2 for quality control purposes and the research was guided by the Preferred reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses (PRISMA) framework whilst being supported by a PEOS table (Participants, Exposure, Outcomes, Studies), synthesising existing literature on Flexible Work Arrangements (FWAs) in the ECD sector. Once all the data had been filtered through a thematic analysis ensued to further refine the data and provide a clearer understanding of the research. The findings highlighted that the ECD sector should consider adopting more FWAs to enhance practitioner satisfaction and retention however they need to be tailor made to the specific needs of the ECD sector. The second article adopts a qualitative approach, utilising semi-structured interviews and framed by Social Exchange Theory (SET), to explore the lived experiences of ECD practitioners and managers regarding workplace flexibility. Findings from this article show that while FWAs contribute significantly to improving practitioner satisfaction and organisational sustainability, their success hinges on leadership support, clear policies, and targeted investment. It was also important to note that participants in the data collection in article two also viewed government’s support as inadequate and hindered the sectors potential in many ways, thus rendering them unable to achieve workplace flexibility due to lack of financial support, amongst other issues. The findings of article 2 support the need for policy changes that address the burnout, mental health concerns, staffing shortages, and financial strain the ECD sector faces. SET further suggests that policies like FWAs will result in more committed and satisfied staff. Staggered shifts and part-time options may also further assist with the financial strains the ECD sector faces.
Performance evaluation using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)
(North-West University (South Africa)., 2025) Marudulu, L.; Sonono, M.E
The study proposes the use of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to analyse the performance of Decision Making Units (DMUs). DEA models are optimisation models, whereyou have an objective function to minimise or maximise based on data. Efficiency in DEA heavily relies on this concept. However, the optimal value is a single value which changes as the sample data changes. In other words, DMUs may be deemed efficient under one data set and inefficient under another. Due to the sample data nature used in statistics and DEA is a data driven method, the question is: How does one conclude whether a particular DMU is or is not efficient? This study attempts to answer this question by creating confidence intervals for such DMUs using the non-parametric bootstrap resamplingmethod. The core concept of bootstrapping involves using resampled data from an original sample to mimic the process of making inferences about a larger population. Since the actual population remains unknown, determining the accuracy of a sample statistic compared to its true population value is challenging. However, bootstrapping resolves this issue by treating the sample as a proxy for the population, allowing for measurable assessments of inference quality when applying the resampled data to the original sample. More formally, the bootstrap works by treating inference of the true probability distribution, given the original data, as being analogous to an inference of the empirical distribution, given the resampled data. The accuracy of inferences regarding the true probability distribution using the resampled data can be assessed because we know its estimate. If the estimate is a reasonable approximation to the true probability distribution, then the quality of inference on the true probability distribution can in turn be inferred. This study explores the concept of efficiency and its evolution within the framework of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), motivated by the need for objective performance evaluation across various domains. A comprehensive theoretical foundation is laid out, detailing key DEA models and mathematical extensions, including those that accommodate ratio data which are critical for real-world applications. The study also incorporates the non-parametric bootstrap resampling method to enhance the robustness of the efficiency analysis. The models considered include the Banker, Charnes, and Cooper (BCC) model, the Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) model, and the Additive (ADD) model. The DEA methodology is applied to two primary domains: professional football and finance. In the context of football, the study evaluates the performance of players during the 2020/2021 season across 18 top leagues and competitions worldwide. It critiques the current FIFA awards selection process, which heavily relies on subjective expert voting and often favours players from European teams or those in attacking positions. DEA is proposed as a more objective alternative, focusing on individual player performance based on 20 selected variables such as minutes played, assists, penalty goals, and clean sheets. The DEA results aligned with the FIFA rankings for 4 of the 11 nominees: Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi, Mohammed Salah, and Karim Benzema, whilst offering contrasting evaluations for others like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. Ultimately, the models supported Lewandowski’s win but highlighted inconsistencies in the current selection system. In the financial domain, DEA models are employed to evaluate the performance of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Top 40. The goal is to identify efficient companies based on fundamental performance metrics, such as dividends per share, current ratio, and quick ratio, rather than stock price behaviour. This approach is especially beneficial for investors prioritising dividend income. The results showed that both classical and bootstrap versions of the SBM and BCC models were consistent in selecting efficient companies, while the bootstrap version of the Additive model was overly conservative, labeling all companies as inefficient. Building on the financial analysis, the study applies portfolio theory to the DEA identified efficient companies. Optimal portfolios are constructed and tested using out-of-sample data, with their performance compared to that of the JSE Top 40 index. While the index outperformed most portfolios, the medium-risk portfolio derived from the classical Additive model exceeded the index in terms of profitability. This portfolio included stocks such as Amplats, Anglogold, Bats, Capitec, Richemont, Firstrand, and Pepkorh. Overall, the research demonstrates the value of DEA as a rigorous, data-driven tool for evaluating performance in both sports and financial markets, offering a more objective foundation for decision-making and recognition.
Using critical systems thinking to develop instructional guidelines for improving the employability of data analytics students
(North-West University (South Africa)., 2025) Coetzee, Wilma; Goede, R.
See attachment.