INNOVASIEKENMERKE WAT DIE BYWONING VAN NIE-FORMELE BOERDERYBESTUURSKURSUSSE BEINVLOED / Innovation characteristics which influence the attendance of non-formal farm management courses
Abstract This article considers the innovation characteristics which influence the attendance of non-formal farm management courses. These characteristics are the relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability. Results show that the relative advantage which could be obtained by attending a non-formal farm management course is the most significant characteristic which influences the attendance of non-formal farm management courses.
Farm Management In South Africa: The State Of The Art
ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to evaluate the present situation of farm management (FM) in South Africa in its professional context. The evolution of FM in the USA, the UK and Australia has been used as the norm to evaluate the progress of FM teaching and research in South Africa. In order to review the development of FM in South Africa over the past 60 years, the period has been divided into three phases. The outstanding feature of FM in Phase I (1925—1950) was its multidisciplinary nature in contrast with the dominating role of production economics in FM in Phase II (1950—1970). The last 15 years (Phase III) in the evolution of FM is typified by the greater role played by management science in FM. As in the USA, the UK and Australia, it can be said that FM is regarded basically as FM economics (narrower approach) in South Africa today, but attempts are being made to integrate the various disciplines. As far as FM teaching is concerned, the integration is accomplished in two alternative ways. I...
Ceramic microwave antennas for mobile applications
Due to their medium to high permittivity values, ceramic microwave materials are attractive as building blocks for miniaturised antenna solutions. Further advantages are low dielectric losses and an excellent temperature stability of standard ceramic materials. Yet, the permittivity of the ceramic material also has a strong influence on the radiation efficiency and bandwidth of the antenna. This implies that in the design process a suitable compromise has to be found between the degree of miniaturisation on the one hand and the antenna efficiency and bandwidth on the other. We describe two approaches towards efficient miniaturised ceramic microwave antennas: the dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) with partial metallisation and the shorting post patch antenna. We focus on design steps taken to ensure both a high degree of miniaturisation and high values of the radiation efficiency, the choice of the ceramic material and the experimental performance of the antennas.