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NNs yield predictions, without aiding understanding of input-output relationship Fully connected networks mix signal from all inputs as information flows through the network Input parameter selection usually done

MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2018 Kosi Bay located on the subtropical east coast of South Africa bordering the south of Mozambique is a unique Ramsar system that is composed of four interconnected, roughly circular lakes that is considered the most pristine system left in KwaZulu-Natal. Kosi Bay is classified as an estuarine wetland which includes mangrove swamps, tidal marshes and deltas that are considered as an important nursing area and feeding source for marine and estuarine fish. According to the Water Research Commission (WRC), a workshop in 2013 indicated there is a general lack of aquatic biodiversity in selected Ramsar sites in South Africa. Limited sampling efforts have been done in Kosi Bay referring to more detailed health investigations. Studies on the fish of Kosi Bay have been done with limited detailed investigations on the fish health. The aim of the study was thus to assess the health on Oreochromis mossambicus, Rhabdosargus sarba and Terapon jarbua. This investigation is important because Kosi Bay is an important nursing and breeding area for fishes and the local community rely on the system to catch these fish. Fish collection surveys took place during the wet and dry seasons, August 2015, December 2015 and February 2016, using hand line and rod and reel. Water quality and sediment samples were also collected in the Kosi Bay and Lake Sibaya systems to determine the metals present in these areas. Only water and sediment samples of Lake Sibaya were collected during this study. The Fish Health Assessment Index protocol (FHAI) was used on the selected fish to determine the health of the fish with a detailed investigation of the abnormalities that may be present in the fish. Metal bioaccumulation, metallothioneins inductions and human consumption hazard of selected fish species in Kosi Bay were investigated. The fish of Kosi Bay was in a relatively good condition with no serious abnormalities present in the fish and the methods used on these surveys were successful with positive results Water Research Commission (WRC) Masters

Thesis (PhD.(Business Management) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2015 To be successful in the current highly competitive market a South African alcoholic beverage supplying company (SAABSC) must guarantee customer service and service quality. Such companies have to focus their efforts on quality customer service as a means of differentiation. Quality of service is a competitive advantage and serves as a marketing tool for many companies; it also contributes to customer loyalty and retention. Offering quality service is considered an essential strategy for success and survival in today's competitive business market. A commitment to quality must start from the top of any organisation, be it a service delivery company or a manufacturing or merchandising business, and spiral down to the bottom. It has been found from the literature review that these challenges present short-term insurers with a strategic imperative that they need to adopt a CRM approach, incorporating an integrated customer focus aimed at developing long-term relationships with customers. If they want to succeed in this pursuit, SAABSC need to understand their customers' perceptions of the service offering, their existing relationship with the company and their levels of satisfaction. The purpose of the study is to measure the service delivery expectations and realisations of customers that receive delivery from SAABSC based on their geographical location. It required the implementation of a descriptive research method. The research is cross-sectional in nature and was executed during April to June 2014. The study required a quantitative research approach, owing to the planned statistical analysis application to the data received. The target population comprised customers of SAABSC situated in the Gauteng, Western Cape and North West Provinces of South Africa. Only licensed customers were used in the study; licensed outlets renew their liquor license every year and sell alcohol legally. Shebeens do not have liquor licenses and have therefore been excluded from the study. All questionnaires were hand-delivered by fieldworkers. A sample size of 926 was realised. The results from the study indicate that customers expect the SAABSC to deliver on all five service quality dimensions but fail to do so to their satisfaction. Due to these results a proposed structure has been developed. If the SAABSC use this proposed structure it can improve on their service delivery and customer service. This, in the long run, will improve customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention. Doctoral

MCom (Business Management), North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2012 South Africa has a highly competitive alcoholic beverage market. All role-players in this market place a huge emphasis on service delivery and customer service, due to the fact that these two aspects can be the determining factors in terms of overall customer satisfaction and on overall business performance. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate what influence the volume an organisation buys from alcoholic beverage suppliers has on their service quality expectations. The research also investigated the following aspects: • To ascertain whether customers perceive customer service differently based on their purchase quantity. • To establish the perceptions customers have regarding service quality in relation to quantity purchased. • To establish whether customer service is of equal importance for customers with different purchase quantities. For the purpose of this study the target population comprised customers of alcoholic beverage supply companies situated in the North West Province of South Africa. The primary alcoholic beverage focus areas used in this study in the North West Province were Rustenburg, Mafikeng and Potchefstroom. A non-probability judgment sample method was used, and the sample size quantity was 220 respondents. The questionnaire requested respondents (high and low-volume) to rank their customer service expectations and opinions with reference to Parasuramans's service delivery dimensions. Ranking was done using a five-point Likert scale. In addition, the respondents were asked to provide certain demographic data. The findings of the study indicated that both the high and low-volume customers felt that alcoholic beverage supplying companies had to deliver on all five service delivery dimensions but failed to do so to full satisfaction. There were also differences between the high and low-volume customers' opinions and expectations. Thus, the results indicated that there are differences between customers' (high and low volume) expectations and opinions of service delivery from alcoholic beverage supply companies. These findings, if used strategically and as a guideline, can improve an alcoholic beverage supply company's retention and profit growth. Masters

South African alcoholic beverage suppliers (SAABS) have to focus their efforts on quality customer service as a means of differentiation. Quality of service is a competitive advantage and serves as a marketing tool for many companies; it also contributes to customer loyalty and retention. Offering quality service is considered an essential strategy for success and survival in today’s competitive business market. A commitment to quality must start from the top of any organisation, be it a service delivery company or a manufacturing or merchandising business, and spiral down to the bottom. SAABS need to understand their customers’ perceptions of the service offering, their existing relationship with the company and their levels of satisfaction. The study set out to measure the service delivery expectations and realisations of customers that receive delivery from SAABS based on their geographical location. It required the implementation of a descriptive research method. The target population comprised customers of SAABS situated in the Gauteng, Western Cape and North West Provinces of South Africa. A sample size of 926 was realised. The results from the study indicate that customers expect the SAABS to deliver on all five service quality dimensions but fail to do so to their satisfaction. If the SAABS used the proposed customer relationship management (CRM) framework, it can improve on their service delivery and customer service. This, in the long run, will improve customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention.