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It is hypothesised that benefits have had little effect on freedom of choice, done little to increase social order and integration in the firm, but have undermined redistributional measures taken by Governments, and influenced the principles on which social policy is based.

Enterprise Resource planning has gained prominence in the field of IS literature and is a significant phenomenon in practice in organizations and now also in higher educational institutions. These Institutions have their own unique method of operation and infrastructural facilities; and one of the biggest single most expenditure made by them is in their Enterprise Resource Planning Systems. The drive towards ERP is based on a desire to rationalize and streamline information systems across the whole organization seeking both improvement and business benefits. The ERP systems combine all discrete information into a single, integrated, real-time database. In the HEI context the ERP systems are seen as software solutions that address the diverse needs by tightly integrating all departments and functions within a single computer system configuration to serve particular needs such as students systems which manage all the student records/data and VLE systems like Blackboard which is a course management system. ERP addresses the institutions needs by providing a better service to its various users. The aim of this research study is to explore the quality, impact, benefits, utility and challenges of ERP systems specifically the student systems and VLE Blackboard in a Higher Educational Institution and analyse these ERP systems from a multiple perspective. The ERP systems have been applied by many Educational Institutions around the world as a key part of their organizational infrastructure and these systems tend to have a long life cycle in organizational use. The requirement is for the smooth functioning and utilization of these ERP systems while taking into consideration the changing demands as universities operate in a dynamic environment where there is a rapid change in technology. Millions of pounds and extensive deliberation is made on the implementation of the ERP system on the basis of expectations to align the institution objectives with business needs. This presents a huge challenge, if not properly addressed may lead to heavy investment without the corresponding institution efficiency.

Class of 2009 Abstract / OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of the general public in Arizona regarding random drug screening and obtaining and maintaining health care benefits. METHODS: Individuals entering and leaving a grocery store in Chandler, Arizona on one day were invited to voluntarily participate in the study by reviewing a subject disclosure form and completing an 11 item questionnaire. The Likert scale varied from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 6 = Strongly Agree. Individuals were eligible to participate if they were adults and living in Arizona. RESULTS: One hundred adults participated in the study. The results of the study showed general agreement for passing a drug test for illegal substances before being hired (5.0 ± 1.5, mean ± SD), and if testing positive for illegal drugs, being allowed to enroll in a drug treatment program to keep their health care benefits (4.8 ±1.6). Respondents agreed that employers should require random drug testing to maintain employment (4.4 ± 1.8). However, respondents neither agreed or disagreed that people should be required to pass a drug test to be eligible to receive health care benefits (3.9 ± 2.0) or that they should be required to pass a periodic drug test to maintain their health care benefits (3.7 ± 2.0). CONSLUSIONS: Respondents agreed with drug testing to obtain and maintain employment; however, respondents neither agreed or disagreed with the concept of obtaining or maintaining health care benefits with passing a drug test for illegal substances.

The research scope of the given thesis is the impact of the Social Security and Tax systems on the income distribution among population in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The study is constructed on the comparative analysis of the changes in taxes, social benefits and income among different groups of the local population. The findings of the thesis propose that while reforms in social security system may stimulate positive impact on the reduction of the gap in income distribution, tax security system in Azerbaijan does not have distributive power. Consequently, in comparison with tax reduction, an increase in social benefits is proposed as a policy with higher efficiency for the Azerbaijan. Furthermore, the analysis established that initially large gap in income distribution between older and younger families may gradually be decreased as a result of policy implementations in the social security system in Azerbaijan. Another important idea developed in the given work is possibility of applying innovative investment-based social security system in Azerbaijan.

Denna uppsats menar att den svenska bankbranschen genomgår ett miljöskifte. I enighet med Contingency Theory finns då ett behov av anpassning för de bankerna som äntrar den nya miljön. Den svenska storbanken Nordea används i denna studie som ett exempel på en bank i den nya miljön. Genom att intervjua sex medarbetare och sex kunder till banken antas ett dubbelt perspektiv för att diskutera hur Nordeas organisationstyp och strategi förhåller sig till den nya miljön. Kundintervjuerna har påvisat att personliga relationer värderas högt. Samtidigt visar medarbetarintervjuerna och en analys av Nordeas arbetssätt att den antagna organisationstypen och strategi ser ut att minska på de personliga relationerna. Diskussionen hävdar att en Flexibel, Organisk och Kundorienterad strategi som skapar Relational Benefits passar i den nya miljön; en strategi Nordea endast delvis antagit. Slutsatsen uppmärksammar en risk i att inte tillvara ta kundernas önskan om en personlig bankrelation i den nya digitala miljön.

The purpose of this study is to revisit the question of whether welfare benefit levels influence female headship, and whether the effect differs between the two main eras of welfare policy relevant to female headship, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). This study adds to the existing literature by including more up to date data allowing for a comparison between the AFDC and TANF eras. Results show that the effect of welfare benefits on female headship rates changes from negative to positive after welfare reform occurred among blacks, while no change occured among whites.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Boston University.

Background: Access to &quot high-cost medicines&quot under Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is characterised by strict eligibility criteria. The PBS access scheme for the anti-rheumatic biologicals (etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab) was examined for concordance with Australia?s National Medicines Policy. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with a range of stakeholders were conducted. National, aggregated prescription and expenditure data from Medicare Australia and dispensing data from the Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee were analysed. Access to biologicals was also examined from an ethical perspective. Results: Interviewees agreed that controlled access to high-cost medicines was broadly equitable and practical but specific concerns included: timeliness of access; bureaucracy of the process; contentious cases of individual patients being denied access; insufficient patient information; the quantum of resources required to administer the access scheme; inadequate stakeholder consultation. The access requirement of a history of failure of conventional anti-rheumatic drugs was supported. Recommendations included proactive review of the access criteria and outcomes; greater transparency and formal stakeholder involvement to increase public confidence in the definition of &quot target patient population" and a formal appeal mechanism to increase the fairness and accountability of the PBS. Establishment of an appeal mechanism is supported by &quot accountability for reasonableness&quot framework grounded in procedural justice. Data needed to examine the health outcomes associated with the use of biologicals on a national level was not easily available. This shortcoming is discordant with National Medicines Policy. Utilisation of biologicals over the first two years of PBS-subsidy was conservative but with considerable variability across States and Territories (an 8-fold difference between the jurisdictions), usage roughly correlating with access to rheumatologists. Introduction of PBS-subsidised biologicals did not alter the trends in utilisation of non-biological anti-rheumatic drugs. Conclusions: This research suggests that policy-makers focus upon: explicitly considering ethical principles and formally involving stakeholders when developing policies on access to high-cost medicines; improving communication and providing information based on increased transparency; and establishing formal mechanisms for review of and appeals against PBS decisions. The comprehensive evaluation of medicine use and outcomes post-subsidy is critical for the future of the PBS. The National Medicines Policy has proved a useful framework for evaluating this access scheme.

<p>The objectives of this study include: (1) to examine how exercisers understand the concept of a healthy person, and how satisfied they are with their health; (2) to examine goals and reasons to exercise and the perceived importance of health to reach the goals; (3) to examine strategies both to avoid injuries, overtraining, or burnout and to strengthen health among exercisers and if exercisers put their health under risk in order to achieve their goals; (4) to examine how exercisers perceive “benefits” and “costs” of exercise participation in relation to satisfaction with health and exercise. The sample consists of 12 regular exercisers (7 men & 5 women; age: M = 25.4  5.9). A semi-structured interview guide was created for this study, and based on earlier research and the working model. The qualitative data were analysed by means of both deductive and inductive analyses and 12 category profiles have been developed. Overall exercisers showed a positive perception/attitude and perception to exercise participation and most of them pointed out their satisfaction with their health. Exercisers presented much more data related to benefits of their exercise participation than to costs. Exercisers reported that health is important for them and the majority of the exercisers never put their health at risk. The results are discussed from the point of view of the Perceived health and sport/exercise participation model.</p><p>Keywords: Benefits, Costs, Exercise, Perceived health, and Satisfaction.</p>