The production industry is getting more and more automated and that implies higher energy consumption. With the increasing awareness of the earth limited resources and the increasing energy prices, energy conservation grows in relevance, both due to cost reduction and environmental benefits. One way to conserve energy is to optimize the energy usage within the business and reduce the losses. Regenerative braking is already in use today for this purpose in vehicles. The aim of this thesis is to investigate how regenerative braking can be fitted into the production industry and what adaptations need to be made. This thesis is based on an earlier study that has set up a mathematical model for energy regeneration in mechatronic systems and the goal of this thesis is to build a test rig and verify the correctness of these models. One suggested improvement to the automotive systems are the introduction of super capacitors as a secondary energy source because they can charge more rapidly compared to batteries which is required during the expected fast accelerations. In the performed tests an efficiency improvement of 10 % was shown. The earlier study however suggests an efficiency rate of 60% but those models do not include frictional nor electrical losses. The results are complemented by a discussion were a number of changes to the design is proposed. A different motor control system would significantly enhance the rig and a result more like the expected can be achieved. / Det ökade antalet elektromekaniska maskiner i industriella tillämpningar medför en ökad energianvändning. Då våra begränsade resurser mer och mer belyses i media och med stigande energipriser ökar intresset hos företagen för att minska sin energianvändning, dels för att reducera sina kostnader och dels för att minska den miljöbelastning slutprodukten medför. Ett sätt att göra detta är att minska energiförlusterna inom sin produktion. Regenerativ bromsning är en teknik som används i fordon idag och kan användas för detta syfte. Detta arbete ska undersöka hur sådan teknik kan användas i tillverkningsindustrin och vilka förändringar som måste göras. Ett tidigare arbete har satt upp teoretiska modeller för detta och det här arbetet syftar till att bygga en tesrigg för att praktiskt undersöka modellernas korrekthet. En förbättring mot det system som används i dagens bilar är att införa superkondensatorer som parallell energikälla då dessa är snabbare på att lagra energi än ett batteri och därför passar bättre för de snabba accelerationer och retardationer som förekommer i industriprocesser. De genomförda testerna påverkades negativt av vissa begränsningar i hårdvaran men resultatet visar ändå att regenereringen kan återföra 10 % av energin till kondensatorerna, det motsvarar däremot inte den mängden som de tidigare uppsatta modellerna förutspådde. Orsakerna är olika förluster i systemet som inte modellerna tar hänsyn till. De viktigaste förlustfaktorerna beror på friktion och styrningen av elektroniken. Med en annan typ av motorstyrning kan förlusterna minskas och ett resultat mer likt det förväntade uppnås.

M. Tech. (Department of Human Resource Development, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / This objectivist, experimental study investigated the influence of virtual expert systems (VES) on the decision accuracy of non-expert consultants within a technology consulting contact centre environment. Because of the overwhelming availability of conceptual information, non-expert consultants experience challenges in making accurate decisions, and would benefit from augmented technologies, such as VES. VES hold the ability to capture and scale large volumes of decision variables for consideration by human experts when making decisions. A total of 40 participants were randomly selected from contact centres in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng provinces of South Africa for this study. Human logic was captured and scaled into a technology fault finding virtual expert and administered as an experiment to group participants. The experimental and control group participants were randomly assigned to the respective groups of 20 participants each. The control group was exposed to the paper-based, fault-finding manual. The pre-test and post-test data were collected based on four decision accuracy measures, namely individual performance, average call handling time, first call resolution and customer service. The Clarify performance system of the participating technology consulting company was used as data collection tool to record the findings used for Chapter 5. Statistical data analyses were performed using ANOVA and two-tailed significance tests to test the relationship between VES and decision accuracy in the pre-test and post-test phases of the study. The study found that the participant scores on the decision accuracy measures were only statistically significant on the measure of first call resolution measure (significance score of a p value <.05). On the other (three) measures, the scores obtained from experimental group participants showed more improvement than that of the control group participants. Consequently, the hypothesis that the use of VES enhance decision accuracy amongst non-expert technology consultants was accepted and the alternative hypothesis rejected. Some limitations pertaining to the resultant Hawthorne effect (the effect when some employees work harder and perform better when they are participants in an experiment) was noted amongst participants. This effect resulted from the use of team leaders in monitoring performance during the experiment and the involvement of the technology consulting company in determining the performance norms of the identified measures. Another limitation of the study related to the size of the sample where only two provinces were included. The limitation may affect the generalisation of results to other future settings when such a study is repeated. It was recommended that future studies in this field should make provision for a larger population, inclusive of other provinces to avoid these limitations.

Knowledge management and the strategy surrounding it has been highlighted as keys for achieving and maintaining competitive advantage, particularly for knowledge-intensive firms. Consulting firms are knowledge-intensive firms that generate revenue solely through offering the knowledge of their consultants, arguably making knowledge management even more crucial in their competitive fields. In some cases, consultants do not collaborate with their consultancy colleagues in their everyday work, but rather meet only in team activities and social contexts, making the sharing and maintaining of knowledge an even tougher challenge. It is thereby of interest to investigate various types of consulting firms to evaluate how they manage knowledge and how important it is. The purpose of this study is to enhance the understanding of knowledge management in consulting firms through analysing the case of a technical consulting firm. The study focused particularly on two dimensions: knowledge sharing activities and knowledge management strategy. Fifteen interviews were conducted, and the data was analysed through thematic analysis supported with models and frameworks from the knowledge management literature. The findings of the study point out that whilst not having stated a clear knowledge management strategy, the firm utilises a personalization strategy with a focus on encouraging knowledge sharing in personal contexts whilst putting less effort into documenting knowledge. Supporting the strategy, the firm houses a helpful and learning culture where seeking support from colleagues is encouraged and teaching your colleagues is part of personal development plans. The consulting teams’ collective meetings were seen as important boosters of knowledge sharing along with structured learning from colleagues, whilst the time constraints from client obligations were mutually deemed the main inhibitor. The suggested improvements for the firm were to first make a clear strategy regarding the knowledge management. Furthermore, an increasedcodification and to document highly demanded, novel knowledge was suggested, as well as simplifying the search for the right competence within the firm when a colleague needed help. Lastly, it was suggested that they look at improving the utilization of senior’s experience to support new recruits and reinforce their competence development.

Today, the current energy situation is particularly difficult for major French energy players. Indeed, they have to face high energy prices - that go up and down -, have to look at renewable energies – by integrating them into their energy mix or into their distribution model - and digitize to manage their customer relations - customers’ behavior has changed and utilities have to adapt to this new behavior. They must respond to these problems while being confronted with the arrival of new entrants to the energy market: multiplication of energy players but also appearance of players in telecommunications, data. To cope with this energy revolution, the great French utilities have no choice but to transform themselves. They must evolve technologically, digitally and also organically, structurally and culturally. The strategy of major historical energy players is therefore completely redesigned in order to give them the possibility of remaining competitive in their market and not losing their place in this revolution. They have to adapt to these new challenges and to transform themselves. Major French energy players, as ENGIE, EDF and RTE, have already started to imagine and implement new strategies to face the current energy challenges.  Operational strategy consulting firms such as Weave are there to assist them in their transformation. The consultants of Weave carry out indeed numerous missions to answer the problems of these companies. Weave is here to help these companies to evolve and transform by giving them accompaniment throughout a good overview of the current energy market and current challenges of the society. Weave helps the major French energy actors to deploy new strategies, from the design of the strategy to its implementation. Indeed, Weave has developed a recognized expertise to accompany its clients in the energy transition and respond to the challenges of development and transformation of their value chain. On the basis of innovative offers, Weave intervenes with general management and dedicated businesses. / Den nuvarande situationen på energimarkanden är en utmaning för många stora franska energiaktörer. Huvudutmaningarna består idag av höga elpriser som går upp och ned på en volatil marknad, en övergång till förnyelsebara energikällor samt en nödvändig och omfattande digitalisering där särkslit kundrelationerna förändras och utvecklas. Nya aktörer från andra branscher etablerar sig på energimarknaden med nya typer av tjänster och detta innebär att befintliga aktörer måste utveckla nya affärsmodeller. Nya preferenser och beteenden hos kunderna ställer även det nya krav. För att klara denna energirevolution, har franska etablerade energibolag inget annat val än att transformera sig. De måste utvecklas teknologiskt, digitalt men också organisatorisk, strukturellt och kulturellt. Stora historiska energiaktörer behöver därför nya strategier för att förbli konkurrenskraftiga på sina marknader och inte förlora marknadsandelar. Stora franska energiaktörer som ENGIE, EUF och RTE har redan påbörjat detta arbete och nya strategier utvecklas för att möta de aktuella utmaningarna på energiområdet. Strategikonsultföretag som Weave finns där för att hjälpa energibranschens aktörer i denna omvandling. Weave har redan genomfört många uppdrag inom detta område och kan med sin breda kompentens och erfarenhet hjälpa dessa företag att utvecklas och förändras via en god översikt av nuvarande energimarknad och aktuella utmaningar i samhället i allmänhet. Weave kan bistå de stora franska energiaktörerna i framtagande av nya strategier inklusive genomförande. Genom långsiktigt arbete har Weave utvecklat sin expertis och är därför väl lämpade att leda sina kunder i energiomställningen och svara på de utmaningar som en utveckling och omvandling av kundernas värdekedjor innebär.

Today, the current energy situation is particularly difficult for major French energy players. Indeed, they have to face high energy prices - that go up and down -, have to look at renewable energies – by integrating them into their energy mix or into their distribution model - and digitize to manage their customer relations - customers’ behavior has changed and utilities have to adapt to this new behavior. They must respond to these problems while being confronted with the arrival of new entrants to the energy market: multiplication of energy players but also appearance of players in telecommunications, data…. To cope with this energy revolution, the great French utilities have no choice but to transform themselves. They must evolve technologically, digitally and also organically, structurally and culturally. The strategy of major historical energy players is therefore completely redesigned in order to give them the possibility of remaining competitive in their market and not losing their place in this revolution. They have to adapt to these new challenges and to transform themselves. Major French energy players, as ENGIE, EDF and RTE, have already started to imagine and implement new strategies to face the current energy challenges. Operational strategy consulting firms such as Weave are there to assist them in their transformation. The consultants of Weave carry out indeed numerous missions to answer the problems of these companies. Weave is here to help these companies to evolve and transform by giving them accompaniment throughout a good overview of the current energy market and current challenges of the society. Weave helps the major French energy actors to deploy new strategies, from the design of the strategy to its implementation. Indeed, Weave has developed a recognized expertise to accompany its clients in the energy transition and respond to the challenges of development and transformation of their value chain. On the basis of innovative offers, Weave intervenes with general management and dedicated businesses. / Den nuvarande situationen på energimarkanden är en utmaning för många stora franska energiaktörer. Huvudutmaningarna består idag av höga elpriser som går upp och ned på en volatil marknad, en övergång till förnyelsebara energikällor samt en nödvändig och omfattande digitalisering där särkslit kundrelationerna förändras och utvecklas. Nya aktörer från andra branscher etablerar sig på energimarknaden med nya typer av tjänster och detta innebär att befintliga aktörer måste utveckla nya affärsmodeller. Nya preferenser och beteenden hos kunderna ställer även det nya krav. För att klara denna energirevolution, har franska etablerade energibolag inget annat val än att transformera sig. De måste utvecklas teknologiskt, digitalt men också organisatorisk, strukturellt och kulturellt. Stora historiska energiaktörer behöver därför nya strategier för att förbli konkurrenskraftiga på sina marknader och inte förlora marknadsandelar. Stora franska energiaktörer som ENGIE, EUF och RTE har redan påbörjat detta arbete och nya strategier utvecklas för att möta de aktuella utmaningarna på energiområdet. Strategikonsultföretag som Weave finns där för att hjälpa energibranschens aktörer i denna omvandling. Weave har redan genomfört många uppdrag inom detta område och kan med sin breda kompentens och erfarenhet hjälpa dessa företag att utvecklas och förändras via en god översikt av nuvarande energimarknad och aktuella utmaningar i samhället i allmänhet. Weave kan bistå de stora franska energiaktörerna i framtagande av nya strategier inklusive genomförande. Genom långsiktigt arbete har Weave utvecklat sin expertis och är därför väl lämpade att leda sina kunder i energiomställningen och svara på de utmaningar som en utveckling och omvandling av kundernas värdekedjor innebär.

Bakgrund: Telefonrådgivning är ett område som ständigt växer inom sjukvården. Telefonrådgivningens syfte är att göra en bedömning avseende vilket vårdbehov som finns, ge råd, samt hänvisa den vårdsökande till rätt vårdinstans. Arbetet som telefonsjuksköterska kan vara komplext med höga krav. Klinisk erfarenhet kan således underlätta i många avseenden. Syfte: Syftet var att sammanställa sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av telefonrådgivning.Metod: En kvalitativ litteraturstudie har genomförts innehållande tio vetenskapliga artiklar som har granskats, analyserats och sammanställts. Databaserna CINAHL och PubMed användes för datainsamling. Resultat: I resultatet framkom sex teman. Exempel på teman som fångats är bland annat att ge och ta råd, dokumentation och datoriserade beslutsstöd och att medvetandegöra stressen. Att visa empati och bygga tillit med den vårdsökande var viktigt för att vinna dennes förtroende och på så vis underlätta samtalet. De datoriserade beslutsstöden lovordades men ansågs även vara ett hinder vissa gånger när den personliga erfarenheten var av annan åsikt. Konklusion: Sjuksköterskorna upplevde ofta arbetet med telefonrådgivning som givande och något som gynnade deras kompetensutveckling. Det kunde emellertid även vara stressigt och upplevas som problematiskt då resurserna var begränsade. Att läsa in och tolka vad den vårdsökande förmedlade var essentiellt eftersom de visuella ledtrådarna saknades. / Background: Telephone consulting is a field that constantly grows within health care. The aim of telephone consulting is to make an assessment regarding which health needs that exists, give advice, and refer the care seekers to the appropriate healthcare provider. The work as a telenurse can be complex with high demands. Clinical experience can therefore facilitate in many regards.Aim: The aim was to compile nurses experiences of telephone consulting.Method: A qualitative literature review was done containing ten scientific articles that has been reviewed, analyzed and compiled. The databases CINAHL and PubMed was used for data collection.Findings: In the result six different themes emerged. Examples of themes caught are among others to give and receive advice, documentation and compututerized decision support and to be aware of the stress. To show emphaty and to build trust with the care seeker were important to win their confidence and in that way facilitate the telephone consulting. The computerized decision supports were commended but was also seen as an obstacle when the personal experience were of a different opinion. Conclusion: Nurses often experienced the work of telephone consulting as rewarding and something that benefited their skills development. However, it could also be stressful and experienced as problematic as resources were limited. To read in and interpret what the care-seeking was conveyed was essential because the visual clues were lacking.

С ростом числа компаний, оказывающих консалтинговые услуги, усиливается конкуренция между ними, что требует от руководства поиска путей увеличения конкурентных преимуществ. В работе были проведены исследования, позволяющие повысить эффективность учетно-аналитического обеспечения в области бухгалтерского консалтинга и аутсорсинга. Идентифицированы и систематизированы факторы риска финансово-хозяйственной деятельности в сфере бухгалтерского консалтинга и аутсорсинга для целей повышения эффективности управления процессом формирования финансовых результатов. Разработана модель интегрированного анализа финансовых результатов на основании объединения традиционных аналитических расчетов показателей «Отчета о финансовых результатах» и SWOT-анализа деятельности коммерческой организации. Проанализированы прикладные аспекты и разработаны практические рекомендации, позволяющие совершенствовать финансовую и учетную политику организаций, оказывающих услуги в области бухгалтерского консалтинга и аутсорсинга, для целей управления процессом формирования финансовых результатов. / With the growing number of companies providing consulting services, competition between them increases, which requires management to find ways to increase competitive advantages. The research was conducted to improve the efficiency of accounting and analytical support in the field of accounting consulting and outsourcing. Identified and systematized risk factors of financial and economic activities in the field of accounting consulting and outsourcing for the purpose of improving the efficiency of managing the process of generating financial results. A model of integrated analysis of financial results is developed based on combining traditional analytical calculations of indicators Of the "report on financial results" and SWOT analysis of the activities of a commercial organization. Applied aspects are analyzed and practical recommendations are developed to improve the financial and accounting policies of organizations that provide services in the field of accounting consulting and outsourcing for the purpose of managing the process of generating financial results.

The focus of this study was the unconscious dynamics in the consultant-client relationship as industrial and organisational psychologists seek to achieve change in client organisational systems. Twelve psychodynamic themes were used to interpret a journal maintained by the consultant throughout one consulting assignment, in an effort to understand the unconscious processes influencing the effectiveness of the consulting relationship. Analysis found that the client system imported the consultant to carry nurturing and healing on behalf of the system, but projected onto and into him the confusion, pain, hostility and incompetence in the system, stripped him of authority and manipulated him out of his role as change agent. The consultant unconsciously accepted the projections, failed to contain the system&#8217;s anxiety, gravitated towards the paranoid-schizoid position and was unable to effect meaningful change. Recommendations where made for the use of this form of psychodynamic analysis as a self-evaluative tool in the consulting context. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A.

Text in Afrikaans / This research dealt with the contribution of psychodynamic group interventions to organisational development (OD). The research consists of a qualitative investigation and was based on a case-study design with the use of multiple cases. Three different cases were presented, namely where a psychodynamic group intervention was used together with another intervention, where obstacles in a group were to be solved and as an in-house working conference. Random sampling was also done within the cases. Three interventions were done, data was gathered and analysed by means of content analysis, and the results were reported. It was found in all three cases that a unique contribution was made. Regarding the first case, the intervention was the beginning of a process of change whereby the participants were enabled to develop their identity as a group, from a family business to a company. Participants became aware of underlying conflict, started to own their roles in it, and to take responsibility for addressing the dynamics themselves. In the context in which the intervention was used, the contribution was, however, restricted because its value was only experienced after the intervention. Regarding the second case, the obstacles influencing the functioning of the team were addressed efficiently after the intervention. Participants were authorised to manage their boundaries more efficiently and to address role differentiation, leading to more open communication and a better work climate. Regarding the third case, it was found suitable especially for learning diagnostic competencies from a psychodynamic paradigm. Learning occurred on a personal level resulted in the ability of participants to identify dynamics in their organisation and to present similar interventions in their work place. Recommendations were made for the use of psychodynamic group interventions from a qualitative paradigm, as well as regarding the necessary competencies and a training programme for presenting psychodynamic group interventions. / Hierdie navorsing hande! oor die bydrae van psigodinamiese groepintervensies tot organisasie-ontwikkeiing (00). Die behoefte om onbewuste dinamika in organisasies aan te spreek, hettot hierdie navorsing aanleiding gegee. Die navorsing is in die vorm van 'n kwalitatiewe ondersoek en is gebaseer op 'n gevallestudie-navorsingsontwerp waarin daar van meervoudige gevalle gebruik gemaak is. Drieverskillendegevalleisaangebied, naamlikwaar'n psigodinamiese groepintervensie saam met 'n ander intervensie gebruik is, waar blokkasies in 'n groep opgelos moes word en as 'n in-huise werkskonferensie. Daar is ook van ewekansige steekproefneming binne elke geval gebruik gemaak. Drie intervensies is uitgevoer, data is ingesamel en deur middel van inhoudsontleding ontleed. Daar is bevind dat al drie gevaiie 'n unieke bydrae gelewer het. Ten opsigte van die eerste geval was die intervensie die begin van 'n veranderingsproses waardeur die deelnemers in staat gestel is om vanuit 'n familiebesigheid hu! identiteit as 'n maatskappy te ontwikkel. Deelnemers het bewus geword van onderliggende konflik, begin om hulle rolle daarin te eien, en verantwoordelikheid te aanvaar om die dinamika self aan te spreek. In die konteks waarin die intervensie gebruik was, was die bydrae egter beperk omdat die waarde daarvan eers na afloop van die intervensie ervaar is. Ten opsigte van die tweede geval is die blokkasie wat die funksionering van die span bei'nvloed het na afloop van die intervensie doeltreffend aangespreek. Deelnemers is bemagtig om hul grense meer doeltreffend te bestuur en roldifferensiasie aan te spreek, wat tot meer openlike kommunikasie en 'n beter werksklimaat aanleiding gegee het. Ten opsigte van die derde geval is bevind dat dit veral geskik was vir die aanleer van diagnostiesebevoegdhedevanuit'n psigodinamiese paradigma.Leerwatoppersoonlike vlak plaasgevind het, het tot gevolg gehad dat deelnemers in staatwas om die dinamika in hul organisasie te identifiseeren om self soortgelyke intervensies in hul werkplek aan te bied. Aanbevelings virdiegebruikvanpsigodinamiesegroepintervensiesvanuit'nkwaiitatiewe benadering tot 0 0 is gemaak, sowel as aanbevelings oordie noodsaaklike bevoegdhede en 'n opleidingsprogram vir die aanbied van psigodinamiese groepintervensies deur bedryfsielkundiges. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D.Admin. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

A Study On Taiwan’s Management Consulting Industry ~ An Application Of The Structure-Conduct-Performance Analysis Student: Hui-Wen Chang Advisor: Dr. Yung-Chien Lou ABSTRACT Among the service industries, management consultancy is the most prominent due to its importance for the prosperity and competitiveness of enterprises. Therefore, the motivation of carrying out this study is to explore ways to facilitate the successful development of management consulting industry and ultimately revive Taiwan’s economy. The focus of this study is concentrated on the characteristics of Taiwan’s management consulting industry by understanding its evolvement path, current condition, composition of five competitive forces, and its organization economic model to discover the industry’s structure, behavior pattern of participants and overall performance. This study also aims at identifying fundamental causes of the industry’s long-lasting problems and factors that hinder the implementation of the most frequently proposed recommendations in the past two decades. Through the application of S-C-P paradigm and the feedback from industry experts, this study concludes that the most frequently raised pressing issues of Taiwan’s management consulting industry are actually symptoms of the industry’s unique structure with 88% of industry participants employed fewer than 10 people (i.e. the cause), which reflects the influence of the industry’s low entry barrier, as well as the nature of management consultation knowledge, mindset of consultants and clients’ behavior. And pertaining to factors hindering the implementations of most frequently proposed recommendations in the past 20 years, this study comes to the conclusion that lacking of legislation, characteristics of management consultation services, mindset of industry participants, and clients’ true needs are major issues adding difficulties to the execution of various recommendations proposed. Last but not least, this study also proposes several criteria to enhance the effectiveness of recommendations proposed by previous studies.