Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Management strategies'

Bakgrund: I dagens samhälle präglas organisationer av ekonomiska förändringar, detta genom globalisering, förändrade kundförhållanden och en ökad konkurrens. Organisationer behöver hela tiden förbättra sin konkurrenskraft genom att effektivisera sin verksamhet. Idag ses medarbetarna som organisationers viktigaste tillgång eftersom att de förser organisationer med viktiga källor för att bli konkurrenskraftiga. Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) är ett arbetssätt som handlar om att utforma HR-strategier som gör att medarbetarnas kunskap och kompetens bidrar till att nå organisationens övergripande mål. Syfte: Syftet med studien har varit att undersöka hur organisationen använder ett strategiskt HR-arbete (SHRM) och om det är ett framgångsrikt arbetssätt. Vår studie har bidragit till en ökad förståelse om begreppet SHRM och hur det kan användas samt hur SHRM kan påverka organisationen. Metod: Insamlingen av vårt empiriska material bygger på en kvalitativ metod där vi genomfört djupgående intervjuer med HR-chefer som arbetar i en organisation som är verksam inom fordonsindustrin. Slutsats: Vi har kommit fram till att organisationen använder SHRM som arbetssätt. Vi kan dock inte dra några konkreta slutsatser om hur SHRM påverkar or-ganisationen men det finns tydliga indikationer på att SHRM har en positiv inverkan och bidrar till en ökad produktivitet och effektivitet. Vi har även kommit fram till att det är viktigt att organisationen utövar ett ledarskap som främjar SHRM.
Background: In today's society organizations are characterized by economic changes, this by globalization, changing customer circumstances and increased competition. Organizations need to constantly improve their competitiveness by streamlining its operations. Today, employees are seen as the organizations most important asset, this because they provide organizations with important sources to become competitive. Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) is an approach that is about to build HR-strategies that make employees knowledge and skills to contribute the organizations to achieve the overall goals. Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine how the organization is using a strategic HR-work (SHRM) and if it is a successful strategy. Our study has contributed to a better understanding of the concept of SHRM and how it can be used and how SHRM can affect the organization. Method: The collection of our empirical material is based on a qualitative approach where we conducted in-depth interviews with HR-managers working in an organization that is active in the automotive industry. Conclusion: We have concluded that our survey shows that the organization uses the SHRM as working strategy. However, we can not draw any concrete conclusions in which way SHRM affect the organization, but there are clear indications that SHRM has a positive effect, contributing to increased productivity and efficiency. A further conclusion of our study is that it´s very important that the organization have a leadership that promotes SHRM.

The first part is devoted to the analysis of the features of the financial crisis of 2020 and its impact on the principles of entrepreneurship management strategies formation. The second part presents methodological of digitalization as a basic strategy for the development of entrepreneurship in modern conditions and details the questions like the main stages of digitalization of entrepreneurship in Ukraine and the practice of implementing a startup project using the trends of digitalization of entrepreneurship. Practical calculations for determining the expected profitability of startup project are also given. The third part identifies the main psychological aspects of formation of entrepreneurship strategies as aspects of self-identification in business and the importance of the emotional intelligence in business. The factual basis of the thesis consists of data from the Internet, periodicals, laws and regulations, as well as information on public data on stock returns.

Managing employee engagement is critical to the success of an organization, but 85% of managers struggle with engaging employees. The purpose of this single-case study was to explore effective communication strategies within an organization and determine how managers used these strategies to increase employee engagement, productivity, and organizational effectiveness. Data were collected from organizational documents, observations, and semistructured interviews with 6 managers of a corporation located in the midwestern United States. All participants were working full-time for at least 3 years, had a managerial title, and were responsible for departmental communication. Moustakas's modified van Kaam method was used for data analysis. Communication theory provided the conceptual framework for the study. Three themes that emerged from the participants' interviews, observations, and data analysis were coaching employees, motivation, and consistency in communication. The findings of this study may impact positive social change by improving the organizational competitive environment through engagement in the community and society. The implications for positive social change include the potential for managers with direct reports to improve their understanding of the causes of engagement and disengagement, internal communication strategies that cause disengagement, and the benefits of implementing engagement strategies. The results of this study may provide managers with knowledge about employee engagement strategies used to improve productivity and organizational effectiveness within the industry. Community relationships could also improve as a result of effective communication.

Background: It is important to develop and execute human resource practices that generate employee competencies and behaviours the company needs to achieve its strategic goals. SHRM is about how to align HR strategies with corporate strategies, and implemented in a correct way SHRM can be an efficient tool to use for enhancing organisational performance.

Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to evaluate the alignment between EWES Stålfjäder AB´s corporate strategies and its HR strategies.

Method: To study this we believe it was accurate to use a qualitative method approach. The empirical study consists of semi-structured interviews as well as written documents.

Analysis: The structure of the analysis follows the theoretical framework. We have used the model developed by Dessler (2008, p. 95), “How to Align HR Strategy and Actions with Business Strategy”.

Conclusions: We found that EWES Stålfjäder AB need to clarify their corporate strategies throughout the whole organisation. This will help them to identify and implement HR strategies that are in line with them. Working in this manner, we believe it will help EWES to conceptualize and execute accurate changes the organisation needs to accomplish their corporate strategies. Furthermore, we found that most of EWES’ HR practices become more like add-ons than strategic activities that are aligned with their corporate strategies.

Agricultural producers face many sources of variability which can affect the cash flow, net returns, and economic progress of the farm firm. The risks which producers face and the risk management responses available to producers have been significantly affected by the 2008 Farm Bill. The Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program appears to significantly risk management strategies and impact direct payments, marketing loans and loan deficiency payments. Less than fully equity in the farm business creates financial risk which may compound the effects of the business risks which all farmers face. Farmers typically combine production, marketing, and financial responses to risk and practice risk balancing. Past research has often failed to consider the sequential nature of the decision-making and knowledge which becomes available during the production process. For example, grain storage investments are often analyzed assuming storage will be used each year without considering the effect of alternative market situations. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/36039

The absence of adequate crisis management strategies in small firms could result in a premature small business closure. A qualitative multiple-case study was used to explore the crisis management strategies that 3 small business owners have used to survive an unexpected operational interruption. The small business owners in this study were from different industries in the southeast region of the United States and each owner owned a business for more than 5 years and had survived at least a single crisis. The theory of crisis management and crisis intervention theory were the conceptual frameworks for this study. Data collection occurred through semistructured face-to-face interviews with small business owners; observations; and a review of company documents comprised of business plans, insurance policies, floor plans, and emergency exit routes. Data were thematically analyzed and then triangulated to ensure trustworthiness of interpretations. The findings included 3 emergent themes: the importance of developing survival strategies; transparency, open communication, and relationship building; and creative thinking as a survival strategy. Recommendations for action include securing adequate insurance coverage, investing in a worker's compensation policy, and maintaining transparent and fluent communications with vendors and consumers. Small business owners who implement survival strategies may contribute to positive social change by continuing to create employment opportunities that improve economic conditions in local communities.

The phenomenon of declining industries has been sparsely researched and few scholars have investigated whether firms pursue, or should pursue, growth in industries that are in decline. This study aims to find out if and how firms pursue growth when they perceive the industries in which they operate as experiencing a decline. The study also aims to examine the key factors that influence firm strategy in declining industries. We interviewed managers in firms operating in two declining industries, the Swedish retail fuel industry and the Finnish printing industry.   Our finding is that the studied firms operating in these two industries are aware of the declining state of their industries. However, all of them believe that their respective industries will transform instead of perish. Consequently, these firms pursue growth through various strategies to better position themselves within the changing conditions and declining state of their respective industries. Both internal and external factors influence firm strategy, and the factors were both industry and firm-specific. The firms studied tended to employ strategies based on their perception of their industries. In addition, the strategies were developed to both suit the current and the future industry environment. We label these strategies transformational strategies. We build on this new strategic option and construct a guiding framework that aims to facilitate firms’ strategic decision-making in declining industries.

This study investigates the aspects of resilience in the management strategies of the key stakeholders of flood risk management in the city of Accra, Ghana. The overall objective is to analyse the response capacity in the strategies of the key stakeholders in flood risk management for managing the unexpected course of flood disasters in addition to the expected features of flood risk. To achieve the set objective, the following research questions are addressed: Who are the key stakeholders of flood risk management in the city of Accra? How are these stakeholders dealing with the unexpected course of flood disasters in addition to the expected features of flood risk in their management strategies? How could the capacity of the strategies for responding to the unexpected course of flood disasters be advanced? The inductive case study design applies document analyses, semi-structured interviews as well as key stakeholder identification and validation methods. Scientific and policy documents about resilience and flood risk management were reviewed. The research participants were mainly directors and representatives of organisations in flood risk management of the study. Empirical findings include key stakeholders in flood risk management as well as aspects of resilience and anticipation in flood risk management strategies. The main finding on the key stakeholders of flood risk management are national, district, civil society, and private sector organisations as well as traditional authorities (local chiefs). Aspects of resilience in flood risk management strategies comprises omnivorousness, agile and timely flow of response resource, homoeostasis, flatness of the response structure and process, redundancy of the response resources and buffer capacity. Findings revealed resilience regarding diversity in sources of resource and responses for dealing with unexpected course of flood disasters. The aspects of anticipation are described as resistance to known risk, maintenance of boundary conditions of the management strategies and specialisation for dealing with specific flood risk within and among organisations. Regarding anticipation, results indicate that there are measures for resisting known flood risk but their implementation is ineffective. Based upon the findings, hypotheses are derived for advancement of resilience and anticipation in flood risk management strategies. Involvement of the local chiefs, Slum Union of Ghana, Local Development Associations of flood-prone communities and key private sector organisations in flood risk management strategies in the city of Accra would amend their response capacities in diversity of sources of response resources and allow for advanced resilience regarding their responses to the impacts of land-use changes and the waste disposal in watercourses. Recommendations refer to prospects to advance the response capacity of key stakeholders of flood risk management strategies by integrating traditional authorities and private organisations in flood risk management in the city of Accra
Diese Arbeit untersucht Aspekte von Resilienz in den Strategien von Schlüsselakteuren des Hochwasserrisikomanagements in der Stadt Accra (Ghana). Das übergeordnete Ziel besteht darin, das Reaktionsvermögen dieser Akteure in ihren Management-Strategien nicht nur hinsichtlich des erwarteten, sondern vor allem hinsichtlich des unerwarteten Verlaufs von Hochwasserkatastrophen zu untersuchen. Die folgenden drei Forschungsfragen werden untersucht: Wer sind die Schlüsselakteure des Hochwasserrisikomanagements in der Stadt Accra? Wie berücksichtigen diese Akteure in ihren Management-Strategien den unerwarteten Verlauf von Hochwasserkatastrophen zusätzlich zu dem erwarteten Verlauf? Wie könnte das Reaktionsvermögen bezüglich des Umgangs mit dem unerwarteten Verlauf von Hochwasserkatastrophen in diesen Strategien ausgeweitet werden? Im Rahmen des induktiven Fallstudiendesigns werden Dokumentenanalysen, halbstandardisierte Interviews und Gruppendiskussionen eingesetzt. Die daraus resultierenden empirischen Befunde beziehen sich neben der Identifikation der Schlüsselakteure des Hochwasserrisikomanagements auch auf die Aspekte von Resilienz und Antizipation in ihren Management-Strategien. Zu den Schlüsselakteuren zählen nationale und lokale Organisationen, aber auch solche aus der Zivilgesellschaft, dem privaten Sektor und traditionelle Autoritäten. Bei den Aspekten von Resilienz in den Hochwasserrisikomanagement-Strategien handelt es sich um ganzheitliche Herangehensweisen, regen und zeitnahen Einsatz von Ressourcen zur Ereignisbewältigung sowie Pufferkapazitäten. Die Ergebnisse zeigten Widerstandsfähigkeit in Bezug auf die Vielfalt in den Quellen von Ressourcen und Antworten auf den unerwarteten Verlauf von Hochwasserkatastrophen. Die Ergebnisse hinsichtlich der Antizipation von Hochwasserrisikomanagement-Strategien umfassen den Widerstand gegen das bekannte Risiko, die Aufrechterhaltung von Rahmenbedingungen der Management-Strategien und die Spezialisierung auf bestimmte Hochwasserrisiken. Auf den Erkenntnissen über die Aspekte von Resilienz und Antizipation in den Hochwasserrisikomanagement-Strategien aufbauend werden Hypothesen abgeleitet. In den Handlungsempfehlungen werden die Chancen einer Integration traditioneller Autoritäten und anderer Interessensgruppen in das Hochwasserrisikomanagement der Stadt Accra aufgezeigt, wodurch eine Weiterentwicklung der Resilienz in den Hochwasserrisikomanagement-Strategien für die Zukunft erreicht werden kann

More than 38% of the U.S. public workforce will likely retire by 2030, which may result in a labor shortage. Business leaders may adopt strategies to mitigate knowledge loss within their organizations by capturing knowledge in a knowledge management system (KMS). The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies that information technology (IT) managers use to develop and implement a KMS. The target population consisted of IT managers in a small-sized organization located in northwestern Florida who had implemented a KMS successfully. The conceptual framework for this study was organizational knowledge creation theory. The collection of public documents, execution of semistructured interviews with 5 qualified participants, literature on the topic, and member checking formed the determination of the findings of the study. Using triangulation and coding the data for emergent themes, 6 themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) training, (b) customer focus, (c) policy and governance, (d) leadership and management support, (e) communication and marketing, and (f) business process management. The application of the findings may contribute to social change by identifying strategies that leaders and IT managers from communities and government agencies use in implementing a KMS that may facilitate transparency and open flow of information to citizens, and allow access to timely, civic, and potentially life-enhancing information.

Title: Corporate Strategies for Currency Risk Management

ackground:Currency fluctuations are a global phenomenon, and can affect multinational

companies directly through their cash flow, financial result and company

valuation. The exposure to currency risks might however be covered against or

‘hedged’, as it is called, by different external and internal corporate strategies.

However, some of these strategies might include a risk themselves as they can

be expensive and uncertain. It is therefore an interesting question whether if

these strategies are actually applied in practice, and if so which strategies are

favored and why.

Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to present and explain the different external and

internal hedging techniques and to see which, or if any, strategies are favored by

large, medium-sized and small companies and for what reasons.

Method: Regarding primary data, interviews with a mostly qualitative profile have been

used to discuss the subject with respondents from six companies, diversified in

size using the classification from the European Commission. Secondary data has

been collected through literature from the university library and internet sources.

Conclusion: Large companies primarily use the strategy of forwards, since they carry high

elements of risk aversion, predictability and simplicity. For internal strategies,

large companies prefer netting. Small companies extensively use matching

because the routine is easy to establish and handle. Medium-sized companies

can use either one so much depends on the risk-aversion and cash-flow

management of the company.

Large companies continuously regard currency risk a big factor, whereas small

companies have just recently started due to the dollar depreciation. Translation

exposure should be considered a big risk regardless of the company size, if the

company is the main one in a corporate group. Finally, the subject of

currency risk management is very theoretically broad, but its appliance in

practice is very slim as only a few strategies are actually favored and frequently

used.

The use of site-specific data can enhance management decisions in the field. Three different uses of site-specific data were evaluated and their outcomes are promising. Historical yield data from yield monitors and height data from the HMAP (plant height mapping) system were used to select representative areas within the field, and areas of average conditions were used as sampling sites for COTMAN, a cotton management expert system. This proved to be effective, with predicted cutout dates and date of peak nodal development similar to the standard COTMAN approach. The HMAP system was combined with historical height data for variable rate application of mepiquat chloride, based on the plant growth rate. The system performance was evaluated, but weather conditions in 2004 did not allow a true evaluation of varying mepiquat chloride. A series of multi-spectral images were normalized utilizing the soil line transformation (SLT) technique and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was calculated from the transformed images, from the raw image and for the true reflectance images. The SLT technique was effective in tracking the change in true reflectance NDVI in some images, but not all. Changes to the soil line extraction program are suggested so that it more effectively determines soil lines.

Engineering is believed to be one of the oldest professions and it is estimated that engineering existed 10 000 centuries B.C (Before Christ). Engineering plays an important role in making the environment safer, making daily lives more convenient and also contributes to countries’ economic developments. Engineering has advanced in such a way that it is difficult to survive without some kind of engineering these days. The same as engineering, knowledge management also dates back to biblical times just after creation. Knowledge management is not only applied in organisations, but also within communities, societies, and families. Engineering organisations rely the most on past discoveries and product information (knowledge) in order to solve engineering related problems. Due to globalisation of markets and products, shortage of skills and technological advancement, knowledge has become one of the main competitive factors of many organisations. Therefore engineering organisations need to have knowledge management strategies if they are to stay competitive. Different engineering organisations might have similar knowledge management strategies or different knowledge management strategies depending on organisational size, structure and culture and service offered or product offered. Against this background, this study sought to discover what knowledge management strategies are currently implemented in engineering organisations and recommend on strategies that can be implemented and how they can be implemented. The study is based on a review of literature on engineering, engineering organisations, knowledge and knowledge management and a structured questionnaire on knowledge management in engineering organisations. The population for the study was all engineering organisation employees and the engineering organisations in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were sampled for the survey.

Long-term physical, chemical and biological monitoring (May 1990 to November 1994) was conducted in order to quantify water and sediment quality changes arising from the impoundment of Sutton Harbour, Plymouth (UK). Spore tracer studies revealed that 95 % water renewal times increased from 45 h to 72 h after impoundment. Semi-diurnal (tidal) salinity variations of circa 5 x10ˉ³ were observed, revealing a mechanism which shunts contaminated estuarine water into the harbour during flood tides. Salinity typically varied from 17 x 10ˉ³ to 34 x 10ˉ³ seasonally, and exhibited strong inverse correlations with total oxidised nitrogen and orthophosphate, demonstrating the riverine source of dissolved nutrients. These varied seasonally in concentration by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude. Impoundment restricted the flux of riverborne nutrients but greater retention of brackish bottom waters produced a stronger concentration gradient, resulting in possible nutrient storage by diffusion into the porewaters. Sewage outfalls and sediments were the main sources of ammonium. Following impoundment, the evidence suggests that a balance between nutrients from reduced external (riverine) fluxes and increased internal (porewater) fluxes has developed. Phytoplankton blooms were regular but short-lived features in summer, and continued after impoundment. Sewage contamination, with faecal coliform bacteria occasionally exceeding 30,000 cfu 100 mtˉ¹, improved unequivocally after impoundment, but stricter controls on internal sources are required. The permanently anoxic harbour sediments, consisting mainly of silt, contained Cd (1.8 µg gˉ¹), Cu (160 µg gˉ¹), Hg (1.2 µg gˉ¹), Pb (200 µg gˉ¹) and Zn (290 µg gˉ¹) in the <63 µm fraction. Sedimentary Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations increased during the monitoring period. The benthic macrofauna consists mainly of polychaete worms, with species diversity decreasing during construction, and then attaining a new, impoverished equilibrium after impoundment. Multivariate analysis revealed changes in community structure involving loss of sensitive taxa and appearance of opportunists. The ecological impact of impoundment was minimal, in that the harbour ecosystem was able to withstand the imposed environmental stresses. The management strategy adopted will ensure that water and sediment quality are maintained in Sutton Harbour; recommendations equally applicable to future harbour impoundment projects.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The macro-element uptake and distribution by higher density central leader ‘Donnarine’ nectarine trees was studied through the sequential excavation of trees. A large portion, 41.5%, of the nitrogen manifested in the new growth from dormancy up to pit-hardening, originated from nitrogen reserves in the permanent structure. The permanent structure was also an important source of phosphorous reserves. Of the phosphorous in the fruit, leaves and new shoots at pit-hardening, 35.0% came from reserves in the permanent structure. Potassium did not act as an important reserve in the nectarine trees and was taken up throughout the season. From pit hardening to harvest the fruit represented the most important sink for potassium. Calcium and magnesium, like potassium, did not play significant roles as reserves in the nectarine tree and must be available for uptake from the beginning of the season for new growth and development as well as fruit quality. The micro-element uptake and distribution was also studied through the sequential excavation of the same ‘Donnarine’ nectarine trees. Little scientific data is available on this topic. Manganese and iron was found to act as important reserves in the tree with 46.2% of manganese and 59.5% of the iron found in the new growth at pithardening coming from reserves translocated from the permanent structure. Zinc and boron reserves also play a role in nectarine trees, but to a lesser extent than manganese and iron. The seasonal mineral nutrient demand of the same ‘Donnarine’ nectarine trees was determined through the sequential excavation of trees and losses and fixation was calculated. Guidelines regarding nutritional requirements per ton of fruit produced per hectare by higher density nectarine orchards are respectively 3.82kg nitrogen, 0.35kg phosphorous, 4.43kg potassium, 1.53kg calcium, 0.52kg magnesium, 32.45g sodium, 9.44g manganese, 37.46g iron, 3.24g copper, 13.95g zinc and 10.52g boron. Sodium is not commonly considered to be essential to higher plants, but was included in the trial. Nutrient solutions with four different EC (electrical conductivity) levels were applied to ‘Donnarine’ nectarine trees under pulsating drip fertigation for three periods of different lengths, before harvest. Raising the nutrient solution EC to positively affect fruit quality is a technique widely utilised in the vegetable industry. This technique did, however, not have similar positive effects on nectarine fruit grown under a pulsating drip fertigation system. Good production practices such as accurate nutrition and irrigation as well as the correct horticultural inputs should be the primary focus of producers who wish to alter or improve the fruit quality of their crop.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Voedingbestuur strategieë in nektarien boorde Die makro-element opname en verspreiding deur hoër digtheid sentrale leier ‘Donnarine’ nektarien bome is bestudeer d.m.v. opeenvolgende opgrawings van volledige bome en die ontleding van monsters. ‘n Groot hoeveelheid, 41.5%, van die stikstof wat tydens pitverharding in die nuwe groei teenwoordig was, is d.m.v. translokasie vanuit die permanente struktuur van die boom afkomstig. Die permanente struktuur was ook ‘n belangrike bron van fosfaat reserwes. Teen pitverharding was 35.0% van die fosfaat in die nuwe groei afkomstig vanuit die permanente struktuur. Bevindings het getoon dat kalium nie as ‘n reserwe in die nektarien bome opgetree het nie en dié element is deur die groeiseisoen opgeneem. Vanaf pitverharding tot en met oestyd was die vrugte die sterkste setel van aanvraag vir kalium. Kalsium en magnesium het, soos in die geval van kalium, nie ‘n belangrike rol as reserwe vertolk nie. Beskikbaarheid van hierdie elemente vir opname vanaf die begin van die groeiseisoen is dus baie belangrik vir nuwe groei en ontwikkeling asook vrugkwaliteit. Die mikro-element opname en distribusie van dieselfde ‘Donnarine’ nektarien bome is ook bestudeer d.m.v. opeenvolgende opgrawings en analise van volledige bome. Min wetenskaplike literatuur oor hierdie onderwerp is beskikbaar. Bevindings het getoon dat mangaan asook yster baie belangrike reserwes in die nektarien boom is. Tydens pitverharding was 46.2% van die mangaan en 59.5% van die yster wat in die nuwe groei teenwoordig was, afkomstig vanaf reserwes uit die permanente struktuur van die boom. Verder het sink en boor ook as reserwes opgetree, maar tot ‘n mindere mate as mangaan en yster. Die seisoenale behoeftes aan minerale voeding van dieselfde ‘Donnarine’ nektarien bome is bepaal d.m.v. opeenvolgende opgrawings en analise van volledige bome asook die bepaling van verwyderingsverliese en vaslegging. Voedingsriglyne is vasgestel i.t.v. die hoeveelheid voedingstof wat per hektaar benodig word om een ton nektariens te produseer. Die riglyne is as volg: 3.82kg stikstof, 0.35kg fosfaat, 4.43kg kalium, 1.53kg kalsium, 0.52kg magnesium, 32.45g natrium, 9.44g mangaan, 37.46g yster, 3.24g koper, 13.95g sink en 10.52g boor. Natrium word nie in die algemeen as ‘n essensiële plantvoedingselement beskou nie, maar is by die berekeninge ingesluit. Voedingsoplossing met vier verskillende vlakke van EG (elektriese geleiding) is vir drie periodes van verskillende lengtes aan ‘Donnarine’ nekarien bome toegedien. Die verhoging van die EG van voedingsoplossings ten einde kwaliteit te verbeter is ‘n tegniek wat met groot suskses in die groentbedryf toegepas word. Hierdie tegniek het egter nie soortgelyke positiewe effekte op die nektarien vrugkwaliteit gehad nie. Produsente wat hul vrugkwaliteit wil verbeter behoort primêr te fokus op goeie produksiepraktyke soos akkurate voeding en besproeiing asook die korrekte tuinboukundige insette.

Recent years have witnessed an increase in agricultural commodity price volatility. This thesis analyzes different models to derive optimal hedge strategies for commodity processors, with two components addressed. One is the dependence structure and joint distribution among inputs, outputs, and hedging instruments that impact hedging effectiveness. The second refers to different procurement and sales scenarios a processor may encounter. A domestic flour mill company is used to demonstrate alternative hedging strategies under different processing scenarios. Copula is a relatively new method used to capture flexible dependence structure and joint distribution among assets. The applications of copulas in the agricultural literature are recent. This thesis integrates the concept of copula and widely studied risk measurement Value at Risk (VaR) to derive the optimal risk management strategy. Mean-VaR with copula calculation is shown to be an efficient and confident approach to analyze empirical studies.

Award-winning jazz musician, Dave Grusin said, "Outside-the-box thinking works best if you know what's inside the box first." When applied to the defining characteristics of leadership and management, this philosophy reveals how business, ideas, and profits are propelled forward through a clear understanding of the qualities of strategic management. This thesis sets out to analyze business situations of an architectural firm in order to obtain a unique point of view of a firm's operational actives, structure, and policies. In order for this research to be of most value to the participating architectural firm, this thesis will result in a detailed report that includes an evaluation of its industry structure, an assessment of the firm's resources and capabilities, as well as a set of detailed recommendations designed to help the firm improve its competitive position.

Investigation and characterisation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in raw and treated water from six case study sites located across Scotland identified the main aspects that influenced the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) during and after disinfection. DOC and temperature were the main drivers of THMs found in this research. However, other variables such as bromide also played an important role in driving reactions towards brominated species of THMs. DOC quality, essentially of humic and fulvic origin remained constant along the year, but quantity affected THMs yields due to seasonal changes. Further DOC characterisation showed that treatment by coagulation or membrane filtration successfully removed hydrophobic DOC leaving a larger proportion of hydrophilic DOC in treated waters. This investigation identified two main groups of organic substances that corresponded to the hydrophilic fraction of DOC: phenolics and carboxylic acids. The final stage of the experimental work lead to the application of adsorption with activated carbon (AC) to remove these compounds from the treatment although at large doses. This work also presents a cost benefit analysis of two potential strategies to manage THMs precursors: the use of Ultraviolet (UV) scan sensors and AC adsorption. These technologies contribute to the enhancement of the industrial sponsors’ processes by improving compliance with regulatory quality and public health standards.

The increasing popularity of inclusion classrooms has placed a large number of students with special needs with the ones without disabilities. Often, general education teachers lack sufficient training in proven inclusion practices that is necessary to cope with the increase in diverse learning needs. The absence of sufficient training can lead to disruptive behavior and also, induce more stress in the classroom for the educator and the students. The qualitative case study aimed to explore the strategies and techniques used by elementary school teachers to successfully manage inclusion classrooms and to learn how the teachers handled stress. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. The data collection methods involved observing school classrooms and interviewing teachers. A total of 6 teachers were interviewed and 3 observations were made in the classroom settings of these teachers. All the participants were teachers located in a small rural district of South Central Texas. The collected data were analyzed using cross-case analysis. The findings of this study indicate the most common methods of classroom management, that include the centers formed by small groups of students, and the tailoring of activities based on students' needs. Further, it was learnt that the teachers used a variety of techniques to mitigate their stress levels and to manage their classrooms in a calm manner. Also, using appropriate classroom management techniques can help the students with special needs to learn ways in which they can adapt their own behavior through self-regulation, to function more effectively with others.

During the delivery of healthcare services, hospital employees use enormous amounts of water, energy, and nonbiodegradable carcinogenic plastics. In the U.S., hospital staff generate an average of over 7,000 tons of waste per day at an average cost of $0.28 per pound for the disposal of regulated medical trash, which if efficiently managed or reduced, could result in substantial cost savings. Using the organizational learning and the transaction cost economics theories as the conceptual frameworks, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore strategies healthcare leaders used to minimize their waste management operational costs. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with 4 managers at a healthcare system in the Midwestern United States and reviewing financial documents as well as the participants' hospital website. Based on the thematic analysis, 4 primary themes emerged: (a) engaged leadership, (b) incorporate sustainability into the mission, vision, and values of the organization, (c) create an organizational culture of sustainability, and (d) innovation. Because society's health is largely dependent on the environment around them, these findings could assist hospital leaders in the implementation of cost-effective waste management strategies and contribute to positive social change.

The Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 dramatically increased teleworking opportunities for federal employees. The increase in the number of teleworking employees presented numerous challenges for federal managers attempting to establish social networks, teamwork, and organizational commitment for their employees. This study used the case study design with a socio-technical conceptual framework as the basis to explore the strategies managers used. Data were collected via semistructured interviews with federal managers of teleworkers located in the Midwest region of the United States. A coding strategy was employed to organize the transcripts from the interviews into themes, and methodological triangulation was utilized by comparing the interview data with data from federal teleworking documents. From these analyses, 10 themes emerged: group meetings, knowledge-sharing networks, management of teleworkers, teleworker agreements, teleworker equipment, challenge of team building, telework as a reward, limitation on days teleworked, training, and flexibility of teleworkers. Managers incorporating these themes into best practices could have the tools and strategies to effectively implement and manage teleworking programs by helping to improve organizational commitment, teamwork, and socialization. The strategies could also help alleviate the isolation that some federal teleworkers experience. Widespread adoption of these strategies by managers could lead to increased teleworking opportunities for employees, thereby saving energy, reducing greenhouse gases, and reducing traffic congestion.

Some business leaders in the manufacturing industry lack strategies to optimize green supply chain management strategies that increase profitability while reducing the carbon footprint. The lack of green supply chain strategies sub optimizes the use of resources business leaders use to meet their financial goals. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore successful green supply chain strategies leaders used to increase profitability while reducing the carbon footprint. The participants were 7 business leaders in one manufacturing organization headquartered in Massachusetts who have sophisticated green supply chain strategies in place. The natural resource-based view theory was the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and organizational documents. Through thematic analysis, 3 key themes emerged: environmental management strategies, profit-increasing strategies, and governance strategies. The findings of this study might be of value to business leaders to reduce costs and create sustainable, competitive supply chains using responsible methods. The implications for social change include the potential for leaders to preserve finite natural resources for future generations and reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing organizations.

This study was conducted to establish whether risk management strategies could be developed to enable stock market investment portfolio managers to reduce the risk involved in stock market trading. The awareness of stock market risk elevates the requirement for risk management strategies as discussed in Chapter 1. The research scope is identified, and an overview of the study gives further guidance as to what lies ahead. The theory behind macroeconomic forces and how they influence share prices is discussed in Chapter 2. It is established that market sectors and companies within those sectors react differently to macroeconomic forces. Technical analysis is discussed as a mechanism to identify buying and selling signals. In Chapter 3, risk management strategies are developed from the literature. The hypothesis of the study as described in Chapter 4 is that these risk management strategies are able to reduce the risk associated with trading in the stock market. The market simulation in Chapter 5 offers the opportunity to observe the risk management strategies at work in a simulated stock market investment portfolio. In Chapter 6, the outcome of the market simulation is compared to the criteria set in Chapter 4, and the conclusion that the risk management strategies were able to reduce the risk involved in stock market trading is drawn.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1991.
Title as it appears in the June, 1991 M.I.T. Graduate List: Newspaper pricing strategies.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 39-40).
by Philip Ashford.
M.S.

Cognitive Radio (CR) paradigm represents an innovative solution to mitigate the spectrum scarcity problem by enabling Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA), defined in order to conciliate the existing conflicts between the ever-increasing spectrum demand growth and the currently inefficient spectrum utilization. The basic idea of DSA is to provide proper solutions that allow sharing radio spectrum among several radio communication systems with sake of optimizing the overall spectrum utilization. This dissertation addressed the problem of modelling cognitive management frameworks that provide innovative strategies for spectrum management suitable to different scenarios and use cases in the context of DSA/CR Networks (CRNs). The first solution presented in this dissertation initially addressed the development of a framework that provides spectrum management strategies for Opportunistic Networks (ONs) defined as extended infrastructures created temporarily to serve specific regions following the policies dictated by the operator. The development of systems based on the CR paradigm to support the ONs is considered a key aspect to allow autonomous decisions and reconfiguration ability mechanisms because of the temporarily nature of these networks and the highly dynamic nature of the radio environment. Then, in order to expand the design of cognitive management frameworks providing spectrum management solutions that have applicability in a number of different scenarios and use cases, a cognitive management framework that exploits the Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) concept has been proposed to combine the CR capabilities of radio environment awareness with a statistical characterization of the system dynamic. Finally, the framework based on POMDPs has been further extended with new functionalities able to characterize the environment dynamic through long-term predictions carried out exploiting the so-called belief vector. These frameworks as a whole aimed at demonstrating that a reliable characterization of the radio environment that combines awareness of its surrounding with a statistical evaluation of the system dynamics is able to guarantee an effcient utilization of the available spectrum resources. From a methodological point of view, the development and assessment of the proposed cognitive management frameworks and the corresponding spectrum management solutions involved analytical studies, system-level simulations and a real-time platform implementation. Overall, the research conducted in the context of this dissertation has revealed that proper cognitive management functionalities can be extremely beneficial to support spectrum management in a wide variety of scenarios and use cases.
El paradigma de radio cognitiva (CR) representa una solución innovadora para mitigar el problema de escasez de los recursos radio, permitiendo el acceso dinámico al espectro (DSA), definido con el fin de conciliar los conflictos existentes entre el crecimiento de la demanda de espectro, cada vez mayor, y la utilización de los recursos radio actualmente ineficiente. La idea básica del DSA es proporcionar soluciones adecuadas que permitan compartir el espectro radioeléctrico entre varios sistemas de comunicaciones radio con el objetivo de optimizar la utilización general del espectro. Esta tesis doctoral aborda el problema de la modelización de marcos de gestión cognitiva que proporcionan estrategias innovadoras y adecuadas para la gestión del espectro en diferentes escenarios y casos de uso en el contexto de las redes de radio cognitiva (CRN). La primera solución que se presenta en esta tesis aborda inicialmente el desarrollo de un marco que ofrece estrategias de gestión del espectro para redes oportunistas (ONs) definidas como infraestructuras extendidas, creadas temporalmente para servir a regiones específicas siguiendo las políticas dictadas por el operador. Debido a la naturaleza temporal de estas redes y a la naturaleza altamente dinámica del entorno radio, el desarrollo de sistemas basados en el paradigma de CR para apoyar las ONs se considera un aspecto clave que permite decisiones autónomas y mecanismos de reconfiguración. Luego, con el fin de ampliar el diseño de los marcos de gestión cognitiva para proporcionar soluciones de gestión del espectro con aplicabilidad en una serie de diferentes escenarios y casos de uso, se ha propuesto un marco de gestión cognitiva que explota el concepto de Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) para combinar las capacidades de conocimiento del entorno radio del CR, con una caracterización estadística de la dinámica del sistema. Finalmente, el marco basado en el POMDP se ha ampliado con nuevas funcionalidades capaces de caracterizar el entorno dinámico a través de predicciones a largo plazo llevadas a cabo explotando el concepto de belief vector. Estos marcos en su conjunto tienen el objetivo de demostrar que una caracterización fiable del entorno radio que combina el conocimiento de su entorno con una evaluación estadística de la dinámica del sistema, es capaz de garantizar una utilización eficiente de los recursos disponibles del espectro. Desde un punto de vista de la metodología, el desarrollo y la evaluación de los marcos de gestión cognitiva propuestos y las correspondientes soluciones de gestión del espectro han involucrado estudios analíticos, simulaciones y la implementación de una plataforma que permite evaluaciones en tiempo real. En general, la investigación llevada a cabo en el contexto de esta tesis doctoral ha revelado que funcionalidades adecuadas de gestión cognitiva pueden ser extremadamente eficientes para apoyar la gestión del espectro en una amplia variedad de escenarios y casos de estudio.

Depuis plusieurs années, on observe une multiplication des services de communication en temps réel de type Over-The-Top (OTT). Ces solutions utilisent l¿Internet « best-effort » et s¿adaptent aux fluctuations du réseau. Néanmoins, il est discutable que l¿approche OTT soit suffisante pour fournir une qualité de service de communication acceptable quelles que soient les conditions réseaux. Dès lors, est-il possible d¿utiliser l¿assistance réseau pour améliorer la qualité de service des solutions OTT ?Pour traiter cette question, nous étudions tout d¿abord les solutions OTT, et particulièrement la technologie WebRTC. Nous identifions trois stratégies de couplage lâche qui permettent de tirer parti des mécanismes réseaux pour améliorer la qualité de service des solutions OTT.Nous vérifions la pertinence de ces stratégies dans le contexte de la gestion du trafic. On identifie deux approches de gestion du trafic adaptées à WebRTC : 1) qui assure des délais d¿attente courts quel que soit le trafic ou 2) qui isole le trafic sensible. On évalue ces solutions et leur impact sur WebRTC, pour les réseaux d¿accès filaire (uplink, ADSL et fibre). Les résultats obtenus montrent que les pratiques actuelles de gestion du trafic ne sont pas adaptées au trafic WebRTC. De plus, les solutions proposées assurent plus d¿équité entre le trafic WebRTC et TCP et elles permettent d¿éviter que le trafic WebRTC soit désavantagé et elles améliorent la qualité de communication.Enfin, ces solutions de la gestion du trafic sont positionnées dans le contexte des stratégies de couplage proposées. A partir de là, on fournit des recommandations pour améliorer la qualité WebRTC avec l¿assistance du NSP
The number of real-time Over-The-Top (OTT) communication services has increased in the recent years. OTT solutions use the best-effort Internet delivery and rely on mechanisms built into the endpoints to adapt to underlying network fluctuations. Nevertheless, it is questionable if this approach is enough to provide acceptable quality of communication regardless the network conditions. Therefore, can network assistance be used to improve the quality of OTT real-time communication services?To address this question, we study OTT solutions with a focus on WebRTC. We identify three loose coupling strategies that leverage network mechanisms for improving OTT communication services quality.We verify the pertinence of these coupling strategies in the context of traffic management. We identify two approaches of traffic management solutions adapted to WebRTC traffic: 1) aiming at assuring lower queuing delays regardless the traffic or 2) isolating the sensitive traffic. We study the impact of identified traffic management solutions on WebRTC for wireline access networks (uplink, ADSL and fiber). The obtained results show that current Internet engineering practices are not well adapted to the WebRTC traffic, but are optimized for TCP traffic. Furthermore, the proposed solutions ensure more fairness between WebRTC and TCP flows and consequently enable avoiding WebRTC traffic starvation and improve the overall quality of the communication.In the final analysis, the evaluated traffic management solutions are positioned in the context of identified coupling strategies. Based on this assessment, we provide recommendations of improving WebRTC quality with the assistance of NSP

A field lysimeter experiment was conducted on a sandy loam soil during the growing seasons of 1989 and 1990. The experiment tested the effects of four water table treatments on soybean (Glycine max) yields. The water table depths were 40, 60, 80, and 100 cm in depth.
Yields were measured in terms of: total seed mass per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and speed protein content at harvest.
The water management simulation model DRAINMOD, was used to develop irrigation and drainage strategies for soybean production. Three water table management methods were tested with each of three water table depths. The methods were conventional drainage, controlled drainage, and subirrigation, and the water table depths were 40, 60, 80, and 100 cm.
It was shown that for the driest year highest yields are obtained with subsurface irrigation and a weir setting of 40 cm. For the average year, highest yields are obtained with subirrigation and a 60 cm weir setting. For the wet years, best results are found when controlled drainage is used with 80 cm weir setting. It was found that in all but the driest and wettest years controlled drainage improved yields by 10% or more.

Thesis (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2004.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-115).
Banking channel management has become a crucial component in the drive for improved efficiency. Since the channel is the interlocutor between customers and products, banks are leveraging their knowledge of channels to efficiently address perfect product portfolio through the most cost-effective and profitable channel. This thesis describes some ideas currently influencing banking channel management strategy and how banks can manage and take advantage of these factors through focusing on efficiency, customer segmentation and channel interaction versus cost structure. It first provides a global perspective of the banking industry through a survey of four regions and countries, and then reviews current trends and strategies applied by banks and consulting firms. On this foundation, it makes recommendations as to how the industry can best adapt to changes in banking channel management in order to remain competitive and efficient.
by Renato Teixeira Catalan.
S.M.M.O.T.

Thesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, System Design and Management Program, 2013.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references.
The benefits of Cloud are quite well known and many companies are trying to harness its potential. They are doing so to increase productivity, deploy newer applications fast, reduce upfront costs and optimize resource utilization. However, some companies are still trying to realize its full potential while dealing with technical challenges such as legacy systems, complexities of integration and other operational implications. The goal of this thesis is to identify the top benefits that companies are gaining through Cloud adoption and the main challenges they are facing in light of this transition. Much has already been written and discussed about these issues in literature. This thesis attempts to seek answers by directly reaching out to top executives of companies to gain real insights and understand the management strategies and best practices that are enabling this transition. By comparing reviewed literature and information gathered through interview analyses, this thesis brings clarity to areas of overlap and the major issues in Cloud computing that were not emphasized or as clearly evident in the literature. Based on the findings, key recommendations are made to help companies effectively transition into the Cloud.
by Harish Doddala.
S.M. in Engineering and Management

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) continues to be an important cause of mortality and neurological disability in resource-limited countries. Many questions remain about the best approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat TBM, and there are still too fewanswers. The aim of this dissertation was to challenge current management strategies in childhood TBM. Accurate prediction of outcome in TBM is of critical importance when assessing the efficacy of different interventions. I conducted a retrospective cohort study of 554 children with TBM less than 13 years of age admitted to Tygerberg Children’s Hospital over a 20 year period (1985-2005) and reclassified all patients according to the criteria of all the currently available staging systems in childhood TBM (chapter 4). In this study, I found that the “Refined Medical Research Council (MRC) staging system after 1 week” had the highest predictive value of all TBM staging systems. It is created by subdivision of stage 2 (2a and 2b) of the existing MRC staging system. Additionally, I proposed and validated a simplified TBM staging system which is less dependent on clinical ability and neurological expertise than current staging systems. The simplified staging system was termed the “Tygerberg Children’s Hospital Scale” (TCH) and relies solely on the patient’s ability to visually fixate and follow and the motor response to pain on both sides. It demonstrated excellent predictive power of outcome after 1 week and did not differ significantly from the “Refined MRC staging system” in this regard. The optimal anti-TB drug regimen and duration of treatment for TBM is unknown. It has been suggested that intensive short-course (6 months) anti-TB therapy may be sufficient and safe. I conducted a prospective descriptive study of 184 consecutively treated children with TBM and found that short-course intensified anti-TB therapy aimed at treating TBM patients (anti-TBM therapy) is sufficient and safe in both HIV-uninfected and HIVinfected children with drug susceptible TBM (chapter 5). The overall study mortality of 3.8% at completion of treatment compares favourably with the median mortality rate of 33% (range 5-65%) reported in a recent review describing outcome in TBM treatmentstudies. TB-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is a potentially life-threatening complication in HIV-infected children with TB of the central nervous system. Little is known about the incidence, case fatality, underlying immunopathology and treatment approaches in HIV-infected children with neurological TB-IRIS. In a case series, I found that neurological TB-IRIS should be considered when new neurological signs develop after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in children with TBM (chapter 6.1). Manifestations of neurological TB-IRIS include headache, seizures, meningeal irritation, a decreased level of consciousness, ataxia and focal motor deficit. I also discussed the rational for using certain treatment modalities, includingthalidomide. Neurological tuberculous mass lesions (tuberculomas and pseudo-abscesses) may develop or enlarge in children on anti-TBM treatment. These lesions respond poorly to therapy, and may require surgical excision, but may be responsive to thalidomide, a potent inhibitor of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The optimal dose and duration of thalidomide therapy and the correlation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is yet to be explored. The primary objective of our next study was to investigate whether serial MRI is useful in evaluating treatment response and duration of thalidomide therapy (chapter 6.2). A secondary objective was to determine the value of thalidomide in the treatment of these lesions. In a prospective observational study over three years, serial MRI was performed in 16 consecutive children compromised by TB pseudo-abscesses who were treated with thalidomide. The rapid clinical response of most patients suggests that thalidomide provides substantial clinical benefit in this clinical context. I also identified a MRI marker of cure that is evolution of lesions from early stage “T2 bright” with edema to “T2 black.” This finding could be useful in the future management of these patients. Transcranial Doppler imaging (TCDI) is potentially a valuable investigational tool in children with TBM, a condition often complicated by pathology relevant to Doppler imaging such as raised intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral vasculopathies. Serial TCDI was performed on 20 TBM children with the aim of investigating cerebral haemodynamics and the relationship between pulsatility index (PI) and ICP (chapter 6.3). In this study, I found that TCDI-derived pulsatility index (PI) is not a reliable indicator of raised ICP in children with tuberculous hydrocephalus which I attributed this to individual variation of tuberculous vascular disease, possibly compromising cerebral vascular compliance and resistance. The study did confirm the efficacy of medical therapy in children with tuberculous communicating hydrocephalus. In all cases, the ICP normalized within 7 days after initiation of acetazolamide and furosemide. In the same cohort of children with TBM I also measured cerebral blood flow velocities (BFV) in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) on admission and after day 3 and 7. I found persistent high BFV in all the basal cerebral arteries suggesting stenosis due to vasculitis rather than functional vasospasm. Additionally, I found that complete MCA occlusion, subnormal mean MCA velocities (less than 40 cm/s) and a reduced PI (less than 0.4) correlated with radiological proven large cerebral infarcts. No side-to-side differences in MCA BFV or subnormal PI’s were detected in four TBM children with territory infarcts on admission. I attributed this to the occlusion of a limited number (one or two) of the 9 MCA perforators which has been shown not to affect the hemodynamics of the MCA. I concluded by highlighting the many questions that remain about the best approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat TBM (chapter 2). In a second literature review, aimed at clinicians working in resource-limited countries, I describe novel approaches to the management of childhood TBM, including a treatment algorithm for tuberculous hydrocephalus, the role for short-course intensified anti-TBM treatment and home-based anti-TBM treatment (chapter 3). Even with the best diagnostic and treatment modalities, outcome in childhood TBM will remain poor if diagnosis is delayed. Our efforts should be on increased awareness and earlier diagnosis.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tuberkuleuse meningitis (TBM) bly ‘n belangrike oorsaak van mortaliteit en neurologiese ongeskiktheid in lande met beperkte hulpbronne. Baie vrae oor die beste benaderings tot voorkoming, diagnose en behandeling van TBM bly bestaan en daar is steeds te min antwoorde. Die doel van die verhandeling was om huidige behandelingstrategieë van tuberkuleuse meningitis (TBM) in kinders uit te daag. Akkurate voorspelling oor die uitkoms van TBM is van kritieke belang wanneer doeltreffendheid van verskillende ingrypings beoordeel word. Ek het ‘n retrospektiewe kohort studie van 554 kinders jonger as 13 jaar met TBM wat in Tygerberg Kinderhospitaal toegelaat is oor `n tydperk van twintig jaar (1985 tot 2005) uitgevoer en al die pasiënte volgens die kriteria van al die huidig beskikbare stadiëringsisteme vir kinder TBM geherklassifiseer (hoofstuk 4). Die waarde van die verskillende stadiëringsisteme in die voorspelling van neurologiese uitkoms is toe bepaal. In hierdie studie het ek bevind dat die “Verfynde Mediese Navorsings Raad (MNR) stadiëringsisteem na 1 week” die TBM stadiëringsisteem met die hoogste voorspellende waarde was om neurolgiese uitkoms te voorspel. Dit is geskep deur onderverdeling van stadium 2 (2a en 2b) van die bestaande gemodifiseerde MNR stadiëringsisteem. Daarbenewens het ek ’n vereenvoudigde stadiëringsisteem vir TBM wat minder afhanklik van kliniese vermoëns en neurologiese kundigheid sal wees as die bestaande stadiëringsisteme daargestel en getoets. Die vereenvoudigde stadiëringsisteem is die “Tygerberg Kinderhospitaal Skaal (TKH)” genoem en dit is slegs gebaseer op `n pasiënt se vermoë om visueel te fikseer en te volg en die motoriese respons tot pyn aan beide kante van die ligaam. Dit het uitstekende voorspellingswaarde gehad vir uitkoms na die eerste week van siekte en het in hierdie verband nie betekenisvol verskil van die “Verfynde MNR stadiëringsisteem” nie. Die optimale anti-TB middel regimen en duurte van behandeling vir TBM is onbekend. Sommige kenners stel voor dat ‘n intensiewe kort-kursus (6 maande) van anti-TB behandeling veilig en voldoende mag wees. Ek het ‘n prospektiewe beskrywende studie op 184 opeenvolgende kinders met TBM uitgevoer en bevind dat intensiewe kort-kursus anti-TB behandeling gemik op die behandeling van kinders met TBM (anti-TBM behandeling) in beide menslike immuniteitgebrekvirus (MIV)-ongeïnfekteerde en MIV-geïnfekteerde kinders met middel-gevoelige TBM voldoende en veilig was (hoofstuk 5 ). Die mortaliteit in my studie met voltooing van behandeling vergelyk gunstig met die mediane mortaliteit van 33% (reikwydte 5-65%) wat onlangs in ‘n oorsig van uitkoms in TBM gerapporteer is. TB immuun rekonstitusie inflammatoriese sindrome (IRIS) is ‘n potensieël lewensbedreigende komplikasie in MIV-geïnfekteerde kinders met TB van die sentrale senuwee sisteem (SSS). Min is oor die voorkoms, mortaliteit, onderliggende immunopatologie en behandelingsbenaderings in MIV-geïnfekteerde kinders met neurologiese TB-IRIS bekend. In `n gevalle-reeks het ek gevind dat neurologiese TB-IRIS oorweeg moet word as nuwe neurologiese tekens na aanvang van antiretrovirale terapie (ART) in MIV-geïnfekteerde kinders met TBM ontwikkel (hoostuk 6.1). Simptome en tekens van neurologies TB-IRIS behels hoofpyn, konvulsies, meningiale prikkeling, ‘n verlaagde vlak van bewussyn, ataksie en fokale motoriese uitval. Ons bespreek ook die rasionaal vir die gebruik van sekere behandelingsmodaliteite, insluitende thalidomied. Neurologiese tuberkuleuse massaletsels (tuberkulome en pseudo-absesse) mag ontwikkel of vergroot in kinders op anti-TBM behandeling. Hierdie letsels reageer swak op terapie, vereis soms chirurgiese verwydering, maar kan op talidomied behandeling reageer, ‘n kragtige inhibeerder van tumor nekrose faktor-alfa (TNF-α). Die optimale dosis en duurte van thalidomide behandeling en die korrelasie met magnetiese resonansbeelding (MRB) moet nog ondersoek word. Die primêre doel van my volgende studie was om te bepaal of seriële MRB van waarde is om die respons op behandeling te evalueer asook die duurte van talidomied behandeling. Die sekondêre doelwit was om die waarde van talidomied in die behandeling van hierdie letsels te bepaal. In ‘n prospektiewe waarnemingstudie wat oor 3 jaar gestrek het is seriële MRB uitgevoer op 16 opeenvolgende kinders met TB pseudo-absesse wat behandel is met talidomied (hoofstuk 6.2). Die spoedige kliniese verbetering van die meeste pasiënte dui daarop dat thalidomied `n aansienlike kliniese voordeel bied in hierdie kliniese konteks. Verder het ek `n MRB merker van genesing geïdentifiseer naamlik evolusie van die letsel van vroeë stadium “T2 helder” met edeem na “T2 swart”. Hierdie bevinding is van groot waarde in die toekomstige behandeling van TBM pasiënte wat hierdie komplikasie ontwikkel. Transkraniale Doppler beelding (TKDB) is potensieël `n waardevolle ondersoekmetode in kinders met TBM, `n toestand wat dikwels gekompliseer word deur patologie verwant aan Doppler beelding soos verhoogde intrakraniale druk (IKP) en serebrale vaskulopatieë. Seriële TKBD is op 20 TBM kinders uitgevoer om serebrale hemodinamika en die verband tussen die pulsatiele indeks (PI) en IKP te ondersoek (hoofstuk 6.3). In hierdie studie het ek gevind dat TKDB-afgeleide PI nie `n betroubare aanduiding van verhoogde IKD in kinders met tuberkuleuse hidrokefalus is nie en dit aan individuele variasies van tuberkuleuse vaskulêre siekte toegeskryf, wat serebrale vaskulêre toegeeflikheid en weerstand benadeel. Die studie het die doeltreffendheid van mediese behandeling in kinders met kommunikerende tuberkuleuse hidrokefalus bevestig. In alle gevalle het die IKP binne 7 dae na aanvang van asetosoolamied en furosemied genormaliseer. In dieselfde groep TBM kinders het ek die serebrale bloedvloei-snelhede (BVS) in die anterior serebrale arterie (ASA), middel serebrale arterie (MSA) en posterior serebrale arterie (PSA) met toelating en na dag 3 en 7 gemeet. Ek het volgehoue hoё BVS in al die basale arteries gevind wat op stenose sekondêr tot vaskulitis eerder as funksionele vasospasma dui. Daarbenewens het ek gevind dat volledige MSA afsluiting, subnormale gemiddelde MSA snelhede (minder as 40 sentimeter per sekonde) en `n verminderde PI (minder as 0.4) met radiologies-bewysde groot serebrale infarksies gekorreleer het. Geen kant-tot-kant verskille in MSA BVS of subnormale PI’s is in vier TBM kinders met kleiner infarksies met toelating bespeur nie. Ek skryf dit toe aan die afsluiting van `n beperkte aantal (een of twee) van die nege MSA perforators wat nie nie die hemodinamika van die MSA beïnvloed nie. Ek het afgesluit om al die vrae wat nog bestaan oor die beste benadering ten opsigte van voorkoming, diagnose and behandeling van TBM uit te wys (hoofstuk 2). In die tweede literatuuroorsig, wat gemik is op dokters wat werk in hulpbron-beperkte lande, beskryf ek nuwe benaderings tot die hantering van pediatriese TBM, insluitend `n behandelingsalgoritme vir tuberkuleuse hidrokefalus, die rol van kort- kursus versterkte anti-TB behandeling vir TBM en tuis-gebaseerede anti-TBM behandeling (hoofstuk 3). Selfs met die beste diagnostiese en behandelingsmodaliteite, is die uitkoms van kinder TBM swak indien diagnose vertraag word. Ons pogings moet daarom op groter bewustheid en vroeёr diagnose berus.

ITC/USA 2009 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Fifth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 26-29, 2009 / Riviera Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
This paper describes research aimed at investigating how to help decision makers devise optimized frequency scheduling and management strategies, both for advanced planning and real-time metrics adjustment. Part of these investigations include research to (i) define the metrics, objectives, and constraints involved in optimal frequency allocation decision-making; (ii) harmonize competing, orthogonal goals when devising candidate solutions; and (iii) devise an architectural strategy for dynamic spectrum allocation and management.

The purpose of this project was to improve the monitoring of chronic pain patients at a rural primary care clinic by creating and implementing a chronic pain flow sheet and pain visit template within the electronic health record. These evidence-based tools were developed using published guidelines regarding the monitoring of chronic pain patients. The clinic has three providers, one physician and two advanced practice providers, and provides primary care along with an extensive amount of chronic pain management. An initial survey was performed on the three providers via a questionnaire along with open discussion regarding their current chronic pain management practice. All providers reported treating chronic pain patients was difficult and the electronic health record was currently not user-friendly when monitoring chronic pain patients. The flow sheet and pain visit template was designed by the project leader (writer) and created by the Computer Information Systems (CIS) department. Once it was created, an initial chart review and flow sheet implementation was performed on a sample population of adult chronic pain patients at the clinic. Providers were educated on the available flow sheet along with the pain visit template available for use. A six-month chart review was conducted to evaluate the project and determined how the flow sheet and template were utilized. A post-implementation survey, similar to the initial questionnaire, was also dispensed and analyzed. Results indicate providers do plan to use the designed monitoring tools but there were some barriers standing in the way of consistent use. The chart review found an increase in presence of pain contracts signed and filed within the last year, but a decrease in the presence of a pain visit within the last four months, urine drug screen within the last six months, and the prescription drug monitoring program checked within the last six months.

This study examines the use of databases to improve marketing techniques and customer segmentation in lending institutions. Specifically, this study examines the use of products and services by agricultural customers, and then determines the relationship between the use of those products and services with farm business characteristics. Information is also obtained on the interest rate sensitivity of the producers and correlated with farm business characteristics. The importance of technology and strategic alliances and other influences in the decision making process are determined after survey analysis. The survey was sent to producers who had some type of loan. Respondents from this study used an average of 3.2 loan products and 7.6 services for a total of 10.8 loans and services. Only 1 percent of the respondents indicated that they did not have a personal checking account. Twelve percent of the respondents indicated that they did not use a credit card. Only 16 percent of the respondents indicated that they used leasing services. Investment products did not have a high percentage of use. Thirty-three percent indicated they were using certificates of deposit, while only 21 percent indicated the use of money market funds, and 30 percent indicated the use of mutual funds. Thirty-seven percent indicated they were using IRAs. However, most of the respondents were using some form of insurance. Three-fourths of the respondents were using life insurance, while only 21 percent indicated that they did not possess disability insurance. Other services were also analyzed in this study. Only 15 percent of the respondents indicated that they were utilizing estate planning services, despite the 67 percent of respondents who were greater than age 41 and the 58 percent of respondents with greater than $500,000 in assets. Seventeen percent of the respondents were using an appraisal service. Due to the lower levels of usage for the investment products, this study focused on the relationship between farm characteristics and the investment products. This study showed that a relationship existed between farm and non-farm income with IRA usage. iii Only farm income had a relationship with money market fund usage and mutual fund usage. While, the use of estate plans was related to asset level. The analysis on interest rate sensitivity was determined by the amount an interest rate would have to decrease for a producer to switch lending institutions. The producers who were found to be less interest rate sensitive were those who had lower farm and non-farm incomes, lower asset levels, lower education levels, higher debt-to-asset ratio, and those who owned a computer. This implies that these are the more loyal customers to an institution or perhaps these producers have fewer opportunities to switch institutions. Producers in this study indicated that when selecting a lender/service provider, a competitive interest rate (76 percent of respondents) and the institution being a dependable source of credit (75 percent) was important. Knowledge of agriculture was also very important (69 percent of respondents). Internet banking and educational seminars rated as the characteristics that were least important, 3 percent and 9 percent, respectively. However, in the decision making process, lenders (69 percent of respondents), accountants (53 percent), and veterinarians (38 percent) were shown to be very important. The spouse/partner has considerable influence also on decision making. Sixty-seven percent of the respondents indicated that the spouse/partner had a considerable influence on investment decision, while sixty-one percent of the respondents indicated that the spouse/partner had a considerable influence on credit decisions. Five specific recommendations were made to the institutions following this study. These recommendations include: use of technology, institutional use of databases, use of influencers, and targeting and segmenting the marketplace.
Master of Science

A systematic review was conducted to explicitly identify interventions that alone, or in combination, were effective in improving antibiotic prescribing. The citation search strategy used in the present review provided a database of 365077 studies, of which only twenty-five were included in the final review (“review studies”). Analysis of the interventions used within the review studies indicated that a combination of “guidelines” and “pharmacy” interventions have the greatest potential to improve antibiotic prescribing. Two types of qualitative research were conducted, semi-structured interviews and the collection of naturally occurring data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in order to determine NHS managers? perceptions of current policies used to improve antibiotic prescribing within selected Primary Care Trusts and highlighted the importance of pharmacy intervention, formularies or guidelines and improved prescribing analysis (IT based intervention) on improving antibiotic prescribing. This was supported by the collection of naturally occurring data, which was used to provide further insight into interventions used to improve antibiotic prescribing. The Specialist Antibiotic Pharmacist (HD) produced and implemented an innovative electronic antibiotic prescribing analysis tool (the Antibiotic Database) to analyse and improve antibiotic prescribing in a consistent manner. The key advantage of the Antibiotic Database was the time and money saved on producing visual electronic outputs containing an inaccurate outcome measure or time period for analysis. The results concluded that an IT based intervention, such as the Antibiotic Database should be used, in addition to the use of antibiotic guidelines and pharmacy intervention, within all sectors of the NHS in order to improve antibiotic prescribing and its analysis.

The world is experiencing an era which has been termed the “knowledge age” or the “knowledge economy”. In this new context, knowledge is the primary commodity, and knowledge flows are regarded as the most important factors in the economy. The management of knowledge flows within organisations has become a crucial activity because many of the activities of organisations and the broader economic and social life today are knowledge-driven. In recent years, this managerial activity has become known as Knowledge Management. Equally important are the associated Knowledge Management implementation strategies. Driven by a need expressed by the South African Motor Vehicle Industry for a knowledge management implementation strategy tailored to their needs, this research aimed to develop a knowledge management implementation strategy suited to the needs of this industry. Following an extensive literature survey and a study of the target industry using Duffy’s Knowledge Benchmarking Questionnaire, a model of knowledge management implementation is proposed that is suited to the needs of the South African Motor Vehicle Industry. The model consists of three main interlinked components: Knowledge Management of the Organisation, People, and Infrastructure and Processes. Furthermore, the model recommends a holistic approach to managing knowledge. The critical success factors of the model were tested by means of a survey of industry opinions that validated certain aspects of the model and motivated for changes in others. Additionally, despite the focus of the model on the target industry, it is considered sufficiently appropriate for use by other organisations.

This thesis investigates the behaviour management practices used by beginning AFL coaches. It examines beginning coaches’ perceptions of their role, and whether they believe it is their responsibility to manage athlete behaviour. The nature of coaching is multifaceted requiring them to take on many responsibilities. Consequently, coaches can have both a positive and negative effect on the athletes they train. Negative effects range from athlete drop out, injuries, and loss of confidence. On the other hand, positive effects include engaged and motivated athletes, increased self esteem and low attrition rates. It is for this reason that coaches need to ensure they create positive environments for athletes. A postmodern ethnographic approach was used to explore the experiences of AFL beginning coaching candidates. Data was collected via questionnaires, interviews and observations. Data analysis techniques were employed to identify themes and issues around beginning coach’s perceptions, strategies and practices in managing athlete behaviour. Analysis also included the use of a methodological tool that was developed, pilot tested and implemented as a mechanism for evaluating the effectiveness of behaviour management practices.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Griffith Business School
Griffith Business School
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